Deputy Finance Coordinator

ABOUT THE STRUCTURE…

Solidarités International is an International NGO working with vulnerable populations, mainly victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters. Specialized for nearly 40 years in the coverage of vital needs, S.I. takes charge of emergency and reconstruction programs.

With respect for cultures and close to the people, Solidarités International implements its programs by combining its skills with those of its employees and local managers.

Solidarités International's teams, made up of around 270 expatriates and nearly 2200 local employees, are today present in 18 countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Caribbean where they are particularly committed to fighting diseases related to unsafe water but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods.

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) has launched its operations in Lebanon in March 2013 to address immediate needs of both Syrian refugees and Lebanese affected by the Syrian crisis. Ever since, SI in Lebanon has transitioned towards more integrated programs to still address basic needs but also implement developmental and more sustainable interventions in WASH, shelter and Disaster Risk Reduction.

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL’s mission in Lebanon has two operational bases (Tripoli and Zahle) and a coordination office in Beirut.

The expatriate team consists of 1 staff members, while the national team represents about 115 staff members. At the time of writing, SI LEB budget volume amounts to roughly 15/16 M USD, Tripoli base counted for 60% of this amount and Zahle base for 40%.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

The Deputy Finance Coordinator supports the Finance Coordinator in processing accounting transactions, financial management, and administrative requirements of the mission.

He/she monitors and overviews the implementation of the financial process, assists the finance coordinator to define and implement financial policies at mission level and supports the base in the implementation of the process.

He/she takes on the functions of the Finance coordinator in case of absence.

The main challenges:

Rules, Regulations and Compliance:

Although SI as an international organization manages all financial matters under generally accepted accounting standards and generally accepted financial reporting, the policy and procedures might be slightly different than what the candidate has experience of. The new deputy finance coordinator will need to quickly get orientated with the financial practices and compliance requirements of SI Lebanon (and its main donors), in line with the local context SI is dealing with.

Coordination, Collaboration & Communication :

The deputy finance coordinator is not only limited working with fellow finance workers, but he/she must also communicate and collaborate other departments within the organization as well as external stakeholders. This new team member will need to engage with all relevant staff members and stakeholders and create a professional but comfortable level of understanding to ensure teamwork.
 

Responsibilities and main activities:

Analysis of the socio-economic context

• Gather information on the development of exchange rates  and prices
• Propose analysis to Finance Coordinator on socio-economic context

Team management

• Contributes to the recruitment of Financial Coordination team according to allocated resources and Solidarités International’s operational strategy
• Identify needs in administrations team and propose capacity building action plan to Finance Coordinator
• Train and appraise the financial administrative team in close collaboration with Finance Coordinator
• Plan and supervise the activities of the financial administrative team on request of Finance Coordinator
• Lead meetings for the financial administrative team in the absence of Finance Coordinator

Financial, accounting and budgetary management

• Consolidate the mission’s monthly closing accounts
• Verify the accounts before they are sent to headquarters
• Contribute to the consolidate and check the  Allocation boards upon Finance Coordinator request
• Prepare monthly frozen Budget follow up and contribute to consolidation if needed
• Train the mission’s senior staff in how to use the  Budget Follow up
• Prepare and assist with possible audits or inspections
• Integrate the new donor contracts into the financial management of the mission’s projects, adhering to Solidarités International procedures

Administrative management of the mission

• Review contract to partners and propose improvement to Finance Coordinator
• Coordinate paper and digital record-keeping, as well as ensuring the security of administrative documents
• Organize the quarterly mailing of administrative archives to headquarters after validation of the Internal  Control Department

Cash management

• Follows the cash flows between headquarters and the mission, and ensure that bases receive supplies
• Compile and monitor cash flow forecasts and forward them to headquarters

Reporting/communication

• Ensure that Solidarités International’s in-country registration is followed up
• Ensure proper archiving of financial contracts and correspondence with donors
• Support Finance Coordinator in relationships with the administrative authorities at the national level.
• Take part in meetings relating to administrative aspects, represent Solidarités International when asked/delegated to do so

• Act as a link between headquarters and the field for all matters relating to cash forecast and accounting

YOUR PROFILE

Specific skills and experience:

• Bachelor/Master’s Degree in Business or Public Administration or Accounting or related field
• Previous experiences as Deputy Finance coordinator with significant financial volume and multiplicity of donor’s contracts
• Knowledge in Administrative and Financial management
• Knowledge in Audit management
• Prioritization and self-organization
• Full working proficiency in English (read, spoken & written)
• Excellent knowledge of Excel and good knowledge of other Office suite
• Accounting software: Saga preferred and recommended
• Good analytical and reporting skills
• Ability to work in multi-cultural environment
• Ability to work under pressure
• Excellent interpersonal & communication skills

   

Soft skills:

Language: English, Arabic, French is a plus

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post: 2,300$

Vacation: 1.5 days/Month

Social and medical cover: