Financial Officer

Program Background

The Government of Lebanon, with support from the international community, is implementing the Reaching All Children with Education (RACE) II Program. First launched in 2013, with Phase II becoming effective in July 2018, RACE seeks to improve access to formal education for 460,000 Syrian refugee children and underprivileged Lebanese children in the country. Efforts under this second phase Program are expected to minimize the short and medium-term costs of displacement for refugee families, while strengthening the long-term capacity of the Lebanese education system to prepare children for life and work once regional stability returns. MEHE, with the support of CERD, is responsible for implementing the S2R2 program.

Program Objectives

The Program Development Objective is to promote equitable access, enhance quality of learning, and strengthen the systems in Lebanon’s education sector in response to the protracted refugee crisis. The key results are as follows:

Increase in the proportion of school-aged Lebanese and non-Lebanese children (3–18) enrolled in formal education;

Increase in the proportion of students passing their grades, and transitioning to the next; and

Improvement in MEHE’s capacity to review, evaluate, and update Program implementation.

Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Ensure the supporting documents for payments are duly collected from relevant stakeholders and follow on the approval cycle in a timely manner;
2. Check invoices and prepare payment vouchers;
3. Prepare accounting entries and financial transactions;
4. Prepare statements of expenditures;
5. Prepare and maintain fixed assets register;
6. Correspond with suppliers regarding invoice related inquiries;
7. Support in preparing bank reconciliations and monthly replenishments;
8. Assist the SFO in budget preparation and in establishing budget benchmarks;
9. Record financial transactions on the accounting system and tools where applicable;
10. Check expenses records of S2R2 projects and activities;
11. Support the SFO in preparing the monthly budget control statement for submission to CERD S2R2 Steering Committee;
12. Maintain an effective filing system both hard and soft copies for easy retrieval and future use ensuring confidentiality and accuracy;
13. Follow-up with relevant S2R2 program stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate submission of relevant documentation;
14. Support SFO in the preparation of S2R2 program’s interim financial reports (IFRs) on quarterly basis;
15. Prepare/present financial reports when requested;
16. Support in building the capacity of CERD’s accounting division and in recommending innovative solutions for increased efficiency;
17. Perform other tasks related to the program objectives as assigned by CERD President or S2R2 Steering Committee.

Educational Background

1. Bachelor degree in Finance and Accounting or relevant field.
2. An Accounting professional certification (CPA, ACCA, CIA, etc.) is a plus.

Previous Experience

1. Minimum 5 years of experience as a Financial Officer;
2. Proven experience with donor-funded projects is strongly preferred;
3. Solid experience with accounting systems;
4. Proven experience with public sector is a plus.

Languages

Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Arabic and English; French is a plus.

Behavioral Skills

1. Strong analytical skills;
2. Integrity and deep understanding of data privacy standards;
3. Excellent organizational skills with an ability to think proactively and prioritize work;
4. Ability to multi-task and to work under pressure;
5. Ability to demonstrate commitment to achieving the end result;
6. Ability to maintain a professional relationship with colleagues and stakeholders.

Technical and Computer Skills

1. Strong knowledge of the new laws and regulations issued by the Ministry of Finance;
2. Digitally savvy with advanced knowledge of MS Office and Excel functions specifically.
3. Strong experience with accounting software.