Finance Officer – German Red Cross

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.”  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 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 delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

In 2012, German Red Cross (GRC) established its Regional Office in Beirut. Currently the RO provides support to 10 offices in the region that are implementing emergency relief, cash transfer programming, organizational development, disaster risk reduction and health programs in 10 MENA countries. 

Job Purpose

The Finance Officer is part of the GRC Finance team under the leadership of Regional Finance Delegate. The team has the overall responsibility for the accurate and timely financial reporting of 10 National Societies. The overall regional budget is currently above 80 millions Euros yearly. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

MENA country support

• Engage with HNS to receive monthly financial closing documents from countries on a timely basis.
• Check and verify the vouchers received to ensure correctness, eligibility, and completeness according to GRC financial procedures and donor requirements.
• Identify missing and non-compliant documentation and inform the Finance Delegate/ Manager regarding any irregularities.
• Ensure contractual compliance as part of the voucher verification, including checking against existing contracts, payment schedules and compliance with taxation terms
• Issue voucher clarification sheets summarizing the findings, and share it with the respective country financial teams
• Input Data into FundsPro financial system in an accurate, efficient & timely manner.
• Verify the un-booked vouchers received from countries and record them in the FundsPro accounting system.
• Autonomously follow up with the country financial teams on findings of voucher clarifications and ensure necessary actions have been taken, including collecting additional explanations or missing documentation
• Check and verify the Budget Line, Items used, booking dates, and booking descriptions of pre-booked vouchers. Inform the finance delegate/Manager in case of inconsistencies.
• Analyze CBAs and ensure they are allocated to the correct cost center and budget line and in line with GRC compliance rules and guidelines.
• Assist Finance Delegate in month end closure process

Partner Receivables

• Create, follow up and ensure clearance of the receivables
• Monitor the receivables issued, check and match the balances of GRC books and HNS books and obtain sign off on month end balance
• Calculate, reconcile and advise staff on the outstanding receivable amounts
• Identify pending receivables, inform the finance delegate on long outstanding receivables
• Track cash and bank receivables excel sheets with bank statement and the cash vouchers to ensure correctness

Petty Cash Transactions

• Responsible for all aspects of petty cash management, receipts into and payments out of petty cash, including ensuring that all transactions are correctly authorized and fully documented.
• Monitor the petty cash balances, and advise on any replenishment needs
• Daily cash counts and reconciliation of journal balances
• Preparation of the monthly cash count and obtain the required management signature for cash box.
• Facilitating bank transactions including cash withdrawals, cash deposits, check deposits, collection of bank statement, etc.

Administrative Tasks

• Perform translation of key information as required on vouchers, CBAs, quotations, contracts and agreements etc before documents are submitted to Berlin.
• Ensure proper archiving of all validated accountancies
• Sort and compile payments accrued by GRC MENA RO with countries’ accountancies.
• Ensure that originals are securely packaged/ labeled, and sent to Berlin on a timely manner.

Support Visits

• Visit countries under responsibility to support and train financial staff and delegates in finance related matters
• Inform the line manager in case if any problems with financial procedure or financial payments if any found during the visits
• Suggest finance delegates any improvements needed

Other tasks          

• Implement any other finance related tasks as assigned by Finance delegate/manager

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

Education

• BA in Accounting/Finance/Business/Administration - Required.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years work experience in a financial role with increased level of responsibility - Required.
• Experience with a Humanitarian Organization - Preferred.
• Experience of work and financial reporting for German and/or EU donors (GFFO, BMZ, DG ECHO, EU Trust fund)  - Preferred.
• Knowledge of Fundspro accounting system is a strong plus  - Preferred.
• Work experience within Red Cross/ Red Crescent Movement  - Preferred.
• Experience in on the job capacity building of counterparts  - Preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Financial Analysis: Ability to interpret financial data and advise decision-makers on the way forward - Required.
• Accounting Skills: Ability to quickly and accuratly process accounting data and identify potential risks  - Required.
• Budgeting: Capacity to mainatin an overview on budget and advise budget holders in order to maiantian steady and accountable budget implementation - Preferred.
• Risk Management: Capacity to identify, analyse and flag potential financial risks. - Preferred.
• Organization and planning skills: Capacity to organize and prioritize workflow: This position requires to process important amount of financial data received on irregular basis and with short and competing deadlines  - Required.
• Ability to work under pressure  - Required.
• Interest and ability to train counterparts on financial and auditing procedures  - Required.
• Commitment to the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement principles  - Required.
• Fluently spoken and written English and Arabic  - Required.
• French and/or German is a plus - Preferred.

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability - Required.
• Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust - Preferred.

IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities.