Finance Officer

Responsibilities: The Finance Officer is responsible for monitoring office financial activities; approving and reconciling office finances while ensuring compliance within legal and organizational guidelines.  S/he will ensure applying sound principles of accounting control procedures and recording all financial information and data. S/he will appropriately prepare financial reports through compiling information and preparing balance statements and budgets.    Accounting:   Responsible for quality and timely day-to-day accountancy operations: payments control and  preparation, ensuring that NPA payments templates are used and signed and that  vouchers have all the needed supporting documents Responsible for  electronic data-entry of all Bank and Cash vouchers Act as a liaison with support department for any issue related to payments Ensuring that authorized signatories sign on the vouchers. Ensure that adequate financial management routines and systems are in place, and that NPA’s accounting practices and standards are adhered to, and in accordance with requirements from donors, auditors and authorities: especially purchasing, authentication and payment procedures. Compile and analyze financial information to prepare entries to accounts, such as general ledger accounts, and document all project transactions and resolve accounting discrepancies. Maintain and coordinate the implementation of standardized accounting control policies and procedures. Follow up on the budget development of each project and accordingly review processes in collaboration with projects staff and managers. Support and monitor programme staff responsible for budget lines accounts so as to enable them to carry out their roles effectively. Conduct regular site visits to all local partners and carry out audits where necessary and when requested by the FM. Manage and ensure timely and due payments for local staff payroll. Perform monthly cash reconciliations (Cash and Bank) to ensure accuracy in cash management system. Assist the internal and external Auditors to perform initial financial department audits to ensure accuracy. Prepare financial statements according to monthly schedules Assist the FM with analyzing financial statements on a monthly basis and report on variances. Assist with tasks of Tyre Office when requested by FM Assist with preparing Governmental Requirements (tax declarations and reporting, NSSF declarations and settlements, and VAT reimbursement). Assist in documentation and monitoring of internal controls. Perform total balance reconciliation on monthly basis    Financial Reporting:   Ensure relevant, timely and accurate financial reports. Manage the finance activities and assists FM to meet the financial reporting deadlines. In coordination with the FM, communicate with partner organizations in order to establish good financial reporting practices. Assist FM in preparing financial reports on utilization of grants from external donors, as they are required (including original receipts, tenders, exchange rates, etc.). Support the external auditor to ensure timely audit report statements.  In coordination with FM, perform periodic reviews of partner organizations’ financial functions, and support them when required. Prepare cash flow forecasts and expenditure projections to each project. Control of Partners’ Financial reports.    Financial Systems:   Ensure the presence of adequate controls over cash and bank holdings. Oversee the proper protection and recording of NPA’s programmes assets. Recommend, develop and maintain the protection and backup of financial data bases, reports and receipts and an adequate filing system.     Filing:   Responsible to file properly all financial documentation according to guidelines. Should upload all electronic filing on the specified folder on SharePoint. Responsible to maintain physical and electronic Finance data filing and backup Upload Finance data on SharePoint.    Capacity Building: In coordination with line manager and programmes manager, train and advice local partners in the development programmes to ensure transparent, proper accounting procedures according to donor requirements as requested by the programmes Manager.  Perform other duties as assigned by line manager.    Functional prerequisite: Relevant education, education preferably at post graduate level in Finance and accounting or other relevant field. Minimum 3 years professional experience in Accounting and Finance Good experience in accounting systems and software. Good understanding of the Lebanese Accounting procedures. Knowledge of Income Tax and NSSF procedures. Knowledge of Microsoft operating systems and software. Good communications skills. Experience from capacity building, follow-up and training of partners and staff, including local NGOs Ability to work independently, and in a dynamic team. Good analytic and innovative skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural setting. Ability to work under pressure and adapt to diverse and complex work culture environments is necessary Good coordination skills. Managerial skills are an advantage. Good English and Arabic language skills, both written and verbally.  French is an advantage.