Financial Officer

Diakonia is a Swedish non-governmental development organisation, created more than 40 years ago by five Christian denominations. Diakonia works in partnership with over 400 civil-society organisations in 34 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East andLatin America. Together with our partners we work with a long-term and rights-based perspective within the following thematic areas: democracy, human rights, social and economic justice, gender equality, and peace and reconciliation. Diakonia’s vision is for each and every human being to live a dignified existence in a just and sustainable world, free from poverty. Our mission is to change unfair political, economic and social structures that generate poverty, oppression and violence. Our Regional Office for the Middle East is situated inJerusalem; we work inPalestine,Egypt,LebanonandIraq.   Position:                                           Financial Officer     Placement:                                       Beirut - Lebanon Period:                                              One year with Possible Extension Work Percentage:                          100% Deadline for applications:            15 January 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Diakonia is seeking to appoint a Financial Officer at its Country Office in Lebanon   Main Responsibilities:   1.    Accounting   1.1.  Prepare payment requests, related cheques and transfers and record, process, post into proper general ledgers. 1.2.  Prepare cash, bank and related follow-ups on a monthly basis. 1.3.  Prepare balance sheets and income statements, budget and monthly reports related follow-ups and revisions for the Administration and Programme budgets and ensure no variances. 1.4. Opening and closing of the Country Office financial year  2.    To manage and secure administrative and financial routines within the Country Office on the basis of established guidelines, policy, strategy planning, budget and other steering documents. 2.1. Submit financial reports to Regional Office in and accurate and timely manner. 2.2. Ensure that all payments including salaries and staff costs are in accordance with Diakonia’s financial policies and procedures. 2.3.   Procure and support audit processes. 2.4. Follow up on the tax and national insurance with the national authorities. 2.5. Manage effective financial systems and procedures, sound administrative routines and internal controls and provide reasonable assurance to prevent unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets. 2.6. Ensure compliance with national legal requirements and seek legal advice, as directed by the Country Representative. 2.7. Liaise with the Regional Office to ensure adherence to global financial and administrative procedures and policies. 2.8.  Support Country Representative in the development of long-term financial strategies. 2.9.   Orient all staff in financial and administrative procedures and policies. 2.10.  Requisite funds for the Office Administration from Regional Office. 2.11.  Ensure procurement procedures are complied with in accordance with Diakonia guidelines.  To obtain price quotations and analyse offers, be a member of  the purchasing committee and issue receipts for suppliers. 2.12.              Procure and follow-up insurance policies. 2.13.              Be responsible for the safe. 2.14.              Monitoring the utilization of office equipment and stationery. 2.15.              Control of inventory and fixed assets. 2.16.            Maintain proper filling and archiving system for the Financial and Administration documents. 2.17.              Book hotels, travel arrangements, preparing visa applications for staff. 3.    Financial Control 3.1.        Assist the Country Representative in preparing financial reports and undertaking procurements meeting donor requirements. 3.2.        Orient and give capacity building to partners in existing financial and audit guidelines. 3.3.        Monitor the programme budget status and implementation level at partners and make projections for the annual programme budget and suggest actions to ensure no balances at the end of the year. 3.4.        Ensure prompt reception of financial and audit reports, assess them according to Diakonia’s manuals and recommend approval and payments. 3.5.        Ensure that a clear Programme management cycle with focus on the financial requirements, with set and respected dates in accordance to Diakonia requirements is in place, known and followed by all partners. 3.6.        Assess the terms of references for audits and the partners’ auditors according to the Audit Guidelines for partners’ audits. 3.7.        Assess partners’ internal control systems and recommend improvements.  3.8.        Report to the Country Representative on monthly basis if funds have been disbursed in accordance with the programmes’ objectives and detected weakness.  4.    Support the mainstreaming of gender in the organization and contribute to a more equal society through gender conscious behavior, role modeling, and openness towards capacity building.  5.    Assist the Country Representative Regional Office in other tasks whenever needed.   Requirements:   BA Major in Accounting/Economics, minor in Business Administration 2-3 years audit experience 3-5 years related work experience (in Accounting and Administration) in NGOs within the Civil Society sector Prior experience in programme financial reviews, i.e. budget reviews, financial report reviews and audit report reviews             Good command of English/Arabic             Good writing skills             Good Communications skills             Driver’s license is an asset   Cover letter and curriculum vitae, including references should be submitted by email to Diakonia by15 January 2012 to at vacancies@jslm.diakonia.se and Rodolph.Gebrael@diakonia-lb.org   Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.   Diakonia is an equal employment opportunity organization.