Finance Assistant

Job Title: Finance Assistant

Location: Lebanon, Beirut office (in person) with regular visits to the Palestinian refugee camps

Mission: Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works in partnership with Palestinian communities to uphold their rights to health and dignity. We do this by developing effective, sustainable and locally-led healthcare services, providing medical aid during emergencies, and campaigning to break down the barriers to Palestinian health and healthcare today and for the future. 

Job Purpose: The role involves reviewing partners’ financial reports, ensuring adequate documentation for the project’s financial transactions, collecting archiving supporting documents, and providing timely financial support to partners and during audits. The role is in the frame of the project titled “Strengthening Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Child Protection, Child Development, Gender Based Violence Prevention and Response Services for populations living within the Palestinian Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon”.

Hours: Full-time

Contract: 12 months fixed term with possibility for extension to 18 months. Project-based position subject to availability of funds

Reporting to: Finance Manager

Responsible for: Not applicable

Key internal Relationships: Director of Operations in Lebanon; Programme Officers

Key External Relations: MAP parnter organizations, suppliers

This job description does form part of your contract of employment and can be amended, with consultation, from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.

Duties and key responsibilities

• Work with the Finance Team on managing and organising the daily tasks.
• Develop good working relationships and maintain regular contact with the finance staff of partner organisations.
• Ensure appropriate and timely financial reporting from partner organisations.
• Review financial Reports for accuracy and completeness and ensure that the Reports have been fully approved before payment as per MAP and Donor rules and regulations.
• In coordination with the programme staff, review and correct of partners’ financial reports (including receipts/ invoices) and submission to the FAM.
• Monitor budget versus actual expenditures and promptly report any discrepancies or variances or ineligible expenditures.
• Assist in maintaining an up-to-date staff list for project teams, tracking new joiners and staff departures.
• Cross-verify and review staff contracts with payroll register, salaries payments, and attendance sheets for accuracy and compliance.
• Ensuring digital documents are properly organized and archived for easy access during audit and preparing financial reports.
• Maintain oversight of partners’ cash boxes and ensure accurate cash and bank reconciliations are conducted regularly.
• Assist the FAM in liaising with MAP’s auditors (internal and external) ensuring that any recommendations and changes are fully implemented.
• Provide support to local partners finance teams as needed.
• Assist the Finance Team as needed in financial reporting to the donor and internally.
• Assist in procurement if needed in coordination with line-manager.
• Work closely with the MAP Lebanon team and carry out duties as requested by Lebanon Director and the MHPSS Programme manager within the scope of this position.

General Responsibilities

• Support the mission, ethos and values of MAP.
• Carry out other associated duties as may arise in line with the broad remit of the position.
• Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
• Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work.
• Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.
• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private or sensitive information about individual organisations and or clients or staff and MAP data.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge / Experience

Experience

• A degree in finance or accounting.
• Two years proven experience as a Finance assistant, or similar role, covering all aspects of financial accounting and internal controls preferably with an INGO.
• Financial year-end and liaising with auditors
• Knowledge of general accounting principles and setting up accounting and ancillary support systems.

• Excellent Excel, and MS office skills
• Strong communications, interpersonal, organization, and listening skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Arabic;
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability in building and maintaining collaborative relationships
• Self-motivated and pro-active in seeking out answers to problems
• Evidence of strong work ethic in previous employments

Personal attributes and other requirements

• Commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation & abuse/safeguarding.  
• Able to work flexibly in emergencies and to meet specific deadlines including some evenings and weekends
• Able to conduct regular field visits to the Palstinian refugee camps where MAP works.
• Have a valid driving license

Disclaimer

NB: MAP reserves the right to close this advert before the confirmed closing date when we are in receipt of sufficient applications.        

We would therefore advise interested applicants to apply as early as possible. Due to the high volume of applications, we receive, we are unable to respond to every application. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the deadline, then you have not been successful in shortlisting.

Medical Aid for Palestinians MAP has a zero tolerance with regard to Safeguarding including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.  Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected candidates will undergo background checks against PSEA and will be required to always comply with MAP safeguarding policy, PSEA and Code of Conduct.