Finance Officer Lebanon - German RC

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The German Red Cross (GRC) is part of a worldwide community assisting victims of conflicts and disasters and people affected by social or health related crises. The Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement provides vulnerable people with assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions and adheres to the seven Fundamental Principles of the Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. The German Red Cross assists in health services, disaster risk management, disaster response and capacity building projects on appeals of their sister organizations within the Movement.

The Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), founded in 1945 as an independent National Red Cross Society, provides services to more than half a million persons every year. Its services are mainly focused on Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Medico Social Services (MS), Blood Transfusion Services (BTS), Disaster Management (DM) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Services are delivered through a network of around 12’000 volunteers and 400 staff working from 38 ambulance stations, 36 medico-social clinics, 8 mobile clinics, 13 blood banks (+ 1 mobile unit), 33 youth clubs and 16 disaster management teams in addition to a central headquarters. GRC supports LRC through exchange of technical knowledge and expertise, as well as strategic and managerial support. Currently, the programmatic focus of GRC is on LRC’s national programs (EMS & BTS & MSS), disaster management, community-based disaster risk reduction, anticipatory humanitarian action and institutional development. Further programmatic areas of potential engagement are currently explored, different National Society Development files are supported.

Job Purpose

The Finance Officer reports to the Country Manager Lebanon, and is technically line managed by the Regional Finance Manager. Based in Beirut, the officer supports the overall financial management of GRC projects implemented in partnership with the Lebanese Red Cross to ensure an optimal and timely performance. The Finance Officer will work closely with the national society (Lebanese Red Cross, LRC) on a weekly basis, ensuring project finance updates and adequate budgeting. Furthermore, the Finance Officer fulfills GRC accounting and financial reporting duties on a timely and concise basis. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting - Monthly documents

• Ensure monthly closings are received from the LRC on a timely basis.
• Checking the quality of vouchers and decide whether vouchers are fit for the entry into the booking system according to GRC Financial Procedures and Donor requirements.
• Ensure all documents are translated into English.
• Identify missing supporting documents, highlight and follow-up on those not in line with financial guidelines for the monthly closings and inform the Finance Delegate regarding any irregularities.
• Checking that financial codes are correct before booking the transactions.
• Input Data into FundsPro financial system in an accurate, efficient & timely manner.
• Verify the un-booked vouchers received from the LRC and record them in the accounting system (FundsPro).
• Ensure contractual compliance as part of the voucher verification, this involves checking the existing contracts, Payment schedules and whether Taxation terms are respected.
• Check whether inventories which are above EUR 100 are classified as inventories and booked in the FundsPro system accordingly.
• Prepare voucher clarification sheet with the findings and share with the respective country financial team; follow up on findings of voucher clarifications and collect necessary explanations or missing documentations for monthly closures.
• Maintain a proper filing system in accordance with filing best practices, donor document retention policies and GRC guidelines.
• Arrange and Prepare financial closures and courier to GRC HQ on monthly basis.

Receivables for Lebanese Red Cross

• Create, follow up & ensure clearance of the receivables from Lebanese Red Cross.
• Facilitate the link between the finance documents with the logistics/procurement documentation.
• Check bank journal and closely monitor the physical balances of each cost center.
• Advise and support LRC in the preparation of the quarterly cash request for each project, in coordination with the Program Coordinator and/or Country Manager.
• Follow-up on all ongoing general documents between GRC and the National Societies (Agreements, contracts, budgets, cash request etc).
• Monitor the receivables issued, check and match the balances of GRC books and Lebanese Red Cross books and obtain sign off on month end balances.
• Calculate, reconcile and advise staff on the outstanding receivable amount.
• Prepare quarterly reconciliations of LRC projects’ balances and GRC accounting system and correct/adjust any identified differences.
• Advise the Country Manager and Program Coordinator on any pending receivable which requires his/her action to solve the issue.
• Checking receivable reports received from national society, highlight key issues to GRC staff and book vouchers into Funds Pro.
• Track Lebanese Red Cross Financial Reports with submitted vouchers to ensure all expenditures are recorded properly.
• Ensure timely answers to auditing questions are received from LRC and share these with the Finance Delegate for further follow-up.

Program Finance Support

• Support GRC Lebanon office in the review of budget follow ups on a bi-monthly basis, in coordination with LRC Finance Dept. at HQs as well as sector/unit levels.
• Support the coordination of financial reporting requirements within the PPP consortium project.

The budget and country support setup for Lebanon: Responsible for above tasks for 4-6 running projects in Lebanon with an approximate yearly budget of 4-6 Million EUR.

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

• Bachelor in Accounts/Finance/Business/Administration. - Required
• Degree in Financial management. - Preferred

Experience

• Minimum 3 years work experience in a financial role. - Required 
• Experience of working with web-based accounting systems. - Required 
• Work experience with other international organizations, large NGOs and/or government developmental agencies, multicultural environment. - Required 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Advanced computer skills, working knowledge with windows, spreadsheets, word processing and accounting packages. - Required
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines. - Required
• Accuracy and attention to detail. - Required
• Organized and self-starter. - Required
• Analytical thinking. - Required
• Ability and willingness to travel to hardship locations. - Preferred
• Fluently spoken and written Arabic and English. - Required 

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values:

• Respect for diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Accountability

Core competencies:

• Communication
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Judgement and decision making
• National society and customer relations
• Creativity and innovation
• Building trust

IFRC provides equal employment opportunities