Finance Analyst

Organizational context (where the job is located in the Organization) The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization with 190 member National Societies.  It is guided by its Strategy 2020 which voices our collective vision and determination to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the present decade  The Secretariat of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is organised in business groups: five regional offices, one of which is Middle East and North Africa . Mena  Regional supports Mena National Societies to increase humanitarian and development standards, helping them to remain relevant within their country and sustainable and accountable for their actions, guided by the implementation of strategy 2020.  The Regional Finance Unit is responsible for the provision of quality financial services, quality control assurance, finance capacity building and technical advice.  It is located in Mena  Regional Office based in Beirut.  Job purpose Finance Analyst is responsible for ensuring a high level of financial control by providing financial management support and advice to the offices located in the Regional assigned by his/her line manager.  The main areas of his/her roles can be summarized as follows:  Financial Policies and Processes Financial reporting Budgeting Treasury Audit Financial Analysis and advisory role Field return feedback and documentation check Financial Systems Training Relationships with other stakeholders: manager or coordinator, Head of Office, auditors, Geneva staff and Regional Financial Controller Job duties and responsibilities   Financial Policies and Processes Provide continuous guidance, advice and support to finance staff in country office in regards to financial processes, systems, procedure and guidelines. Provide finance validation on various agreements, cash pledges, contracts, project agreements, memorandum of understanding and staff request as per the contract matrix and authorisation procedure (just to mention some of them). Provide finance validation to income transactions such as income reallocations between projects and others. Provide finance validation to the supplementary service draft invoices to be sent to Geneva.  2. Financial reporting Work closely with country finance staff to ensure timely and accurate submission of donor reports. Provide finance validation to the financial reports or invoices required by donors.   3. Budgeting Involve in validating the accuracy of information on budget and ceiling before loading into the system Monitor, highlight and notify to finance staff or project managers’ relevant variances between actual expenditures vs. budget lines.  Escalate the issue if it is required to the Head of Office  4. Treasury Validate the cash request analysis and submit the payment request to Geneva Treasury Follow up to ensure funds are transferred to delegation on time  5. Audit Assist the auditors during internal or external audits as per demand  6. Financial Analysis and advisory role Closely monitoring on a proactive basis the KPIs reflected on monthly financial report and following up with country finance staff to ensure adequate action is taken to minimise the risk or exposure. If needed message will be escalated to project manager and head of office Prepare financial analysis information to share among different stakeholders such as Head of office, Programme Staff and Finance Staff on a monthly basis Be preparing (if required) to assist to monthly meetings with the Head of the Office or Appeal Manager and unit staff to present the financial analysis of the programmes within the plan.  It is required to Interpret financial indicators to the Head of Office or Appeal Manager and provide quality advice to improve the financial performance, identify, minimize or mitigate risks Prepare ad-hoc financial analysis for the respective plans under the assigned portfolio Assess projects from the risk management perspective to do an initial diagnostic and recommendations of the project managers, monitor the progress of the recommendations and implement internal controls to avoid, minimize, mitigate or reallocate the risks  7. Field return feedback and documentation check Monitor monthly closing of each country office by reviewing the balance sheets, checking the exception reports and validating the financial information Screening thru monthly original supporting documents and field returns from country office and feedback if there were any discrepancies or anomalies Follow up all the recommendations and/or findings until they are solved.  If it is required, it should be escalated to the Head of Office if no action has been taken  8. Financial Systems Provide technical advice and ensure all financial systems being utilise by country finance staff is functioning well Ensure the adequate maintenance of the financial system (e.g. projects’ opening and closing, elements, reports, etc.) Processing of the international payroll through the on-line system (when it is necessary)  9. Training Training is provided to finance and non finance staff  10. Relationship with other stakeholders:  Head of Office, auditors, Geneva technical departments and Regional Financial Controller Liaise with Head of Office to provide her/him overall financial analysis of the portfolio of the region and financial advice Support auditors in terms of clarification or providing supporting documentation Be the focal point for communication between the field staff and the finance department in Geneva.  This post may provide support with other departments if relevant Liaise with the Regional Financial Controller to inform about relevant topics and the overall financial situation of the portfolio of this post in order to keep inform to the Senior Management Team and seek for recommendations 11. Others Carry out field missions to country office at least once or twice a year to ensure that the finance and accounting functions are working well Provide technical support in emergency operations during the initial phase   Duties applicable to all staff 1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals 2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles 3. Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager   Position Requirements Education   Required Preferred Professional qualification in finance or accounting (preferably Chartered Accountant) √   Advanced skills in computers (windows, spreadsheets, word-processing and accounting packages, email and internet √         Experience Required  Preferred Minimum of 3 years professional experience in a relevant position √   Experience in Budget preparation and control                                                                                                                    √   Experience of working with accounting systems   √   Experience of analysing and preparing financial data and its interpretation   √   Experience of managing and providing accounting services     √ Experience of supporting staff   √ Experience in training staff   √ Knowledge and Skills Required  Preferred Well developed interpersonal skills √   Management of self and others   √ Excellent practical knowledge of computers (e.g. accounting software package and MS Office Software).   √   Able to prioritize and meet deadlines √   Results focus and accountability   √   Time management skills   √   Languages Required  Preferred Fluently spoken and written English and Arabic √   Good command of French   √ Other languages:   √