Finance,Grant management and Compliance Senior Officer -British Red Cross

Job purpose

The focus of this role is to be responsible for the implementation and maintenance of all financial and administrative systems, processes and procedures that relate to the office’s programmes, partners and staff.

The post holder is expected to deliver all office financial requirements in a timely manner, and ensure compliance to BRC and donor policies, procedures, agreed standards, statutory obligations and grant agreements.

S/he will work with programme staff in BRC and partners (mainly SARC finance teams, IFRC and ICRC relevant staff) to ensure that systems are in place to be able to provide full assurance of funds spent and transferred.

S/he will follow-up and check together with the programme team that financial recommendations have been followed. The role will provide technical support to strengthen/establish financial mechanisms in the relevant national societies (mainly SARC). In particular, it is envisaged that this post will contribute to:

• building programme, country office and partners’ capacities ineffective financial mechanisms.
• capturing the learning from Syria crisis programme and using the learning to improve the interventions.
• developing tighter accountability for donor mechanisms.

  BRC financial management

• Manage all financial processes in the BRC office including bank and cash reconciliations, monthly office cash flow requests, monthly financial reporting and variance analysis in line with BRC and donor requirements, IFRC bills and working advances.
• Ensure that all payments are made in an accurate and timely manner, and correctly coded.
• Ensure that all BRC corporate financial policies and procedures are followed and that the BRC office has an up-to-date office finance handbook in line with BRC corporate financial policies.
• Ensure that BRC procedures are in line with the Integration Agreement with IFRC and that BRC is complying with Lebanese legal requirements for tax/VAT, staff provisions, banking regulations and any other financial matters.
• Support BRC country manager to prepare project budgets and forecasts, coordinating any revisions to ensure that the programmes are correctly included in the BRC corporate budgeting and forecasting processes.
• In collaboration with International Finance, support internal and external audits and assist the BRC’s organisational year-end and interim external audits, as required.
• Liaise with suppliers, vendors and contractors on support service agreements and contracts to ensure compliance, smooth running and delivery of service.
• Manage and maintain both electronic and physical document management systems for all financial, contractual and administrative information and records, translating paperwork e.g. invoices where necessary. 
• Provide financial guidance and advice to programme teams through meaningful analysis and interpretation of spend, results and forecasts.

  Programme financial management

• Administer and process grant agreements and grant transfers.
• Together with programme team and partners e.g. SARC, ICRC, maintain and improve realistic project monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems and schedules for financial forecasting and reporting for the grants, to ensure that BRC complies with donor requirements.
• Work with partners to agree to templates, processes and timelines for expenditure reporting, fund transfer requests and budget setting and revisions.
• Check and verify monthly financial reports showing progress against budget for all BRC-supported programmes, highlighting any variances as relevant and ensuring correct supporting documentation is included.
• Ensure that all programme expenditure, record keeping and reporting are compliant with BRC and donor policies and procedures, Grant Agreement Documents and donor requirements and that all reports are appropriately reviewed and fed back on.
• Carry out regular sampling checks, monitoring and compliance visits to partners to ensure financial documentation and policies are in line with BRC agreements.
• Finalise consolidated financial reports for BRC and the donor, based on the input and reports received from the programme teams.
• Cooperate closely with  BRC International Finance to ensure a close linkage between fund disbursement, expenditure on activities, financial reporting and fund replenishment, and ensure timely follow-up and monitoring of budgets.
• Support programme staff on all issues related to contract management and donor guideline compliance, including for mid-term and final financial reporting, project monitoring, reviews and modifications.
• Follow up and check with the BRC programme team that recommendations to partners have been implemented.

  Capacity building and institutional learning
   

• Carry out formal financial training for BRC staff and support financial training of partner staff to ensure successful implementation and reporting on BRC-funded projects.
• Support BRC-wide institutional learning in all financial aspects of proposal writing, contract management and donor compliance.
  General
   
• Ensure regular communication with relevant BRC teams in Beirut and London offices.
• Produce regular update reports, analysis and statistics as required on financial activities.
• Participate in relevant internal BRC meetings, development forums, workshops, courses, etc.
• Be available and willing to carry out short missions to the Syria crisis-affected countries including Syria to assure quality programming.
• Be willing to work in situations of political insecurity.
   

  Experience

  Required 

  Preferred

  Relevant professional experience in  financial and grant management

  X

   

  Experience working with and reporting to major institutional donors, particularly DfID

  X

   

  Experience in humanitarian operations

  X

   

  Experience in RC/RC movement

   

  X

  Experience developing and documenting financial, contracting and administrative systems, processes and procedures

  X

   

  Experience in budget and forecast preparation using different accounting systems

  X

   

  Experience of effective financial and compliance partner capacity building and training remote staff

  X

   

  Knowledge and Skills

  Required 

  Preferred

  Strong communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present concise oral and

  written reports, briefings, updates and other documentation to both finance and non-finance stakeholders

  X

   

  Strong quantitative data analysis skills and ability to understand complex information quickly and accurately

  X

   

  Strong audit and internal controls knowledge with the ability to highlight weaknesses and make appropriate recommendations

  X

   

  Strong planning and analytical skills, with proven problem-solving experience

  X

   

  Self-sufficient in computers (particularly Excel) and computerised accounts systems

  X

   

  Ability to establish priorities, plan, coordinate, implement and monitor work plans

  X

   

  Excellent relationship-building skills and willingness to work in a team

  X

   

  Strong organisational skills including accuracy, consistency and attention to detail

  X

   

  Teamwork: commitment to the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement; integrity & personal conduct; sensitivity to diversity; flexibility & adaptability; interpersonal skills; resilient; friendly. Have a positive attitude, proactive, resourceful, hardworking, trustworthy, mature and able to maintain confidentiality at all times.

  X

   

  Ability to develop and maintain effective remote working relationships with counterparts in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity

  X

   

  Ability to work independently and under pressure

  X