Finance, Operations, and Administration Manager, NDI-Lebanon

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), an international NGO headquartered in Washington, DC, seeks an experienced Finance, Operations, and Administration Manager for the organization’s field office in Beirut, Lebanon. The manager will coordinate with headquarters and the country-based team on the overall day-to-day management of all financial, operational, and administrative issues. The manager will work with NDI’s Lebanese partners in enhancing their financial management capabilities. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience working for international organizations and overseeing field office finances and administration in compliance with local Lebanese law and donor requirements and policies.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

FINANCE 

Provide oversight of financial operations in the field for programs funded by various US and international donors, including compliance with internal controls and accounting procedures;

Manage all aspects of accounting for the field office, including reconciling expenses, preparation of and overseeing payroll, preparing and submitting financial and tax reports according to Lebanese law, and monitoring changes in Lebanese financial and labor laws;

Monitor program expenditures and monthly field expenses, including budget to actual expenses, and reporting on financial results and cost projections to management in-country and in Washington, DC;

Assist program staff with budget-related issues;

Use accounting and financial systems to support quality delivery of work;

Oversee the implementation and disbursement of subawards to local organizations;

Provide training on financial reporting to NDI subgrantees and support partners’ organizational capacity for financial management;

Manage field grant audits and assist DC on grant audits.

OPERATIONS and ADMINISTRATION

Support the day-to-day internal operations and administration of the office;

Liaise with NDI’s DC-based Middle East and North Africa team and administrative departments to ensure all significant administrative issues are addressed and resolved appropriately, and that all follow-up is performed as requested;

Provide guidance and counsel to international and local staff on operational, administrative and human resource matters, in consultation with the Resident Country Director;

Facilitate collaboration with team leadership, other team members, and as required across other NDI teams to identify and coordinate operational and administrative priorities and program financial activities;

Ensure compliance with national laws, NDI and donor administrative and reporting requirements, as well as appropriate implementation of field office policy manuals and handbooks;

Implement operational, administrative and human resources systems, in consultation with senior management, DC Human Resources and other relevant DC-based staff, to support NDI’s programs in-country;

Regularly review security plans and adapt NDI’s practices and profile as necessary;

Serve as a point of contact for security issues;

Update job descriptions for national staff in coordination with the Resident Country Director to accurately reflect responsibilities and processes within the organization and ensure ongoing competitive compensation;

Perform any additional duties as required by the supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s Degree in finance, accounting, business administration and/or a related field; Master's degree preferred;

A minimum of eight (8) years in financial management, accounting, and administration, preferably for an international NGO working with US Government funding;

Knowledge of budgeting, budget oversight, generally accepted accounting principles and the practical application of financial systems;

The ability to design and implement accounting systems suitable to a challenging and volatile environment with unreliable and sometimes nonexistent infrastructure;

Demonstrated management experience for organizations with international operations;

Demonstrated experience interpreting and administering policies pertaining to relevant Lebanese financial, labor and administrative laws;

Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and with cultural sensitivity in writing and verbally with a diverse group of co-workers, partners, and the general public;

Previous experience with international grants administration or NDI experience preferred;

High level of attention to details in all aspects of work responsibilities;

Written and verbal communications skills combined with the ability to work collaboratively with Washington-based finance and human resource staff, as well as program staff in-country;

Experience with spreadsheet software (Microsoft Word and Excel preferred);

Experience with Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Drive, G+, etc.) strongly desired. Quicken/Quickbooks experience required;

English and Arabic language fluency required.