Regional Financial Compliance and Quality Officer

The Organisation

JRS began working in the MENA region in July 2008, responding to the needs of Iraqi refugees. Today JRS accompanies, serves, and advocates on behalf of refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees and vulnerable host community members in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. JRS programmes in the region deliver multisectoral interventions including home visits, emergency assistance, child and adult education, mental health and psychosocial support, social services, protection, health care, livelihoods, community building and advocacy programmes.

Job Purpose

The main purpose of the position is to ensure that JRS is conducting its activities in full compliance with regulations that pertain to its objectives as well as professional internal standards. The regional financial and compliance quality officer assists the finance department in strengthening the organization’s internal control process by supporting in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and tools. S/he as well provides capacity building through providing field offices with advice, guidance, and training on accounting processes and financial reporting.

Main Responsibilities of the Position

A- Finance

1. Works closely with the regional office finance department to ensure a high standard of financial reporting, maintaining accuracy whilst meeting targets and deadlines;
2. Updates all exchange rates on NAV for all the countries in the region, on a monthly basis;

B- Internal Control

1. Plans, organizes, and carries out the internal controls function including coordinating the preparation of external audit plans and end of year closure processes;
2. Is focal point for external audits (planning, preparation, checking, and follow up) and coordinates with relevant colleagues to monitor donor required audits;
3. Reviews the responses to internal and external audit management letter queries;
4. Ensures that recommendations are implemented and that all action items are addressed;
5. Works closely with the regional finance unit to evaluate compliance with existing JRS policies and procedures, identifying and proposing modifications as needed;
6. Analyses specific and general contracts requirements and amendments making recommendations for compliance with policies and procedures, accomplishment of objectives, reliability, and integrity of information;
7. Drafts thorough and timely reports and communicates the results of the work performed with the supervisor, who shares it as appropriate with relevant colleagues in the organization;
8. Reviews country offices documents for compliance and other external reviews/audits;

C- Policies and Guidelines

1. Supports the finance department in the development and implementation of an Internal Control Policy;
2. Reviews external audit guidelines;
3. Sets up procedures to ensure adequate quality (update policies, check lists, and develop/maintain procedures, workflow, memos …);
4. Develops and maintains the administrative manual for finance (a reference manual that specifies who does what/how it is done including procedures and memos);
5. Prepares a reference checklist for reporting to comply with donor requirements and unified templates for JRS reporting, instalments, exchange rates, etc;

D- Relationship Management

1. Conducts regular visits to country offices and project sites;
2. Promotes and maintains effective communication with the regional finance team the country finance teams;
3. Builds and maintains relationships with staff in JRS regional and country offices.

• Undertakes any other duties that are within the ambit of the position as assigned by the Regional Finance Officer.

    Qualifications, Skills, and Personal Attributes

• Compassion for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons and commitment to their cause;
• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or any other related field;
• At least five years of professional experience working in a finance and audit-related role;
• Experience in a similar role with international, faith-based organizations is an asset;
• Excellent knowledge of concepts, practices and procedures relating to accounting, financial controls, and financial information systems;
• Strong assessment, analytical, strategic thinking, planning, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent proficiency in written and verbal communication skills in Arabic and English;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and promote effective teamwork;
• Ability to deliver staff training and present data insights to colleagues in an easy and understandable way;
• Attentive to details;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision and technical support, to organize and prioritize workload effectively, and to work on multiple deadlines;
• Strong coordination and relationship management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics Navision is highly desirable.
• Willingness to occasionally travel to JRS projects and adapt to modest living and working conditions.