Assistant Finance Director - Beirut - FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES ONLY

Position Overview

The Assistant Finance Director assists the Country Office Deputy Director - Finance by managing the day-to-day operations of the budgeting unit and the partnership portfolio as per assigned tasks.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day budgeting operations and

accounting operations as assigned are in accordance with IRC and country office policy and

procedures. Specific responsibilities within each functional area are as follows:

Donor Reports

• Preparation of draft donor reports for review by the Deputy Director - Finance
• Analysis of actual to budget results to identify problems in accounting or compliance
• Identification of procedural or training issues to be addressed to improve the quality of report data.
• Preparation of the creation of detail level budgets in IRC Accounting system "SUN" format to ensure required donor reports can be produced from the accounting system 

Budgets

• Assisting in the preparation and maintenance of the country’s Operating Budget to ensure data is complete and maintained on a timely basis.
• Preparation of monthly management reports analyzing the use of unrestricted funding versus approved allocation.
• Assisting in the development and preparation of cost allocation processes for overarching costs that comply with donor regulations on allowable costs.
• Working with program staff to prepare grant budgets to support new proposals or realignments to ensure adequate coverage of country operating costs and NY direct and indirect costs.
• Review of actual vs. budget results to ensure maximum utilization of budgeted amounts and to provide recommendations for realignments as required.
• Prepare a draft Operating Budget for the country program
• Update the monthly SPC allocation for all country program offices, main and field

Partnerships

• Review the adequacy and effectiveness of IRC partners/sub-grantees systems and internal policies, rules, and guidelines, ensuring that these controls offer adequate protection against error, fraud, and loss of all kinds.
• Produce regular partner compliance reports with findings and issues identified during the audit, give appropriate recommendation and actions, providing advice and suggestions on improvements to systems and procedures where appropriate.
• Provide in-person and remote capacity building and/or training to partners in financial management, reporting and compliance.
• Build Finance staff capacity building on review of sub-grants financial report and uploading to financial system
• Review and monitor sub-grantees financial reporting and compliance. Provide additional assistance to partners as necessary to maintain high standard of compliance.
• Review partner procurement and financial transactions to ensure adequate supporting documentation, accuracy of amounts and control over payments 

Balance Sheet Accounts

• Reviewing all balance sheet account reconciliations on a timely basis, related to grants receivables/ payable, sub-grants accounts, prepaid expenses.
• Ensuring differences or discrepancies are brought to the attention of the DDF and that appropriate action is taken.
• Recommending standard formats for reconciliation’s and/or procedures to improve the underlying accounting, control, or processing of transactions to minimize errors or omissions. 

SUN Processing

• Control over and/or entry of changes to the Chart of Accounts, Analysis Codes
• Performing or supervising the posting of entries ensuring proper controls are enforced and appropriate systems in place to maintain all required supporting documentation.
• Production of required monthly and any additional reports.
• Developing expertise to control the system, develop new reports and be able to train staff in processing of data.
• Ensuring budgets are loaded on a timely basis
• Ensuring a backup and retention procedure is in place and followed for all SUN master files 

Communications

• Model and encourage active practice of the principles of the “IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct” throughout the NES team.
• Maintain a healthy and empowering office environment that encourages open, honest, and productive communication among IRC staff
• Communicate with Deputy Director - Finance on security issues within the office and outside the office.
• Report to the Deputy Director - Finance any irregularities that occur within the IRC office, staff compound and camps on policy and procedures.
• Hold monthly BVA meetings with key management from all departments.

Internal Audit

• Internal audit activities as required by Deputy Director - Finance  
• Reviews of controls and monitoring of compliance with established procedures.
• Preparation of written reports for review by the Controller which identify key issues and provide recommendations for improving control processes or procedures 

Capacity building

• Train, advice, and monitor field-based finance staff on the field implementation of IRC’s budgeting policies and procedures standards budgeting practices and reporting requirements, as necessary or requested.
• Train, advice program staff to better manage their budgets and enhance their capacity to perform their job according to IRC policies and procedures when it comes to budgeting practices.
• Promote cooperative professional relations between finance and other program and support staff, especially in the relation to provision of finance services and support.
• Contribute to the development of the IRC team by modeling positive and productive professional work relationships.
• Participate in professional development activities, as needed, or requested.

Job Qualifications

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized professional certificate in accounting (CPA or equivalent certification would be preferred).

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of Five (5) years of finance experience in a supervisory position.
• Experienced with various PC and financial related software (spreadsheets, accounting packages).

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Must be able to function comfortably in a loosely structured but complex work environment, working and prioritizing multiple tasks.
• Able to communicate effectively (written and verbal) in English with program staff, management, and employees
• Comfortable making decisions.
• Good supervisory, time management and interpersonal skills

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

INTERNAL:

Deputy Director - Finance and Country Office Finance, Operation and Program Staff.

EXTERNAL:

External to the Country Office: Regional Controller, Internal Auditor; IRC’s Program Directors and other key Program Staff.

External to IRC: Banking staff and local government staff (taxation and regulation related)

Position directly supervises:

Budgeting and Reporting Team

Working Environment/Travel and other requirements:

Staff will be based in Beirut Main office, with travel sometimes to the IRC field offices.