Title: Finance Coordinator – Dynamics and Accounting

Location: Addis Ababa

Employment Category:  G

Reporting To: Country Deputy Finance Manager

Direct Reports: N/A

Start of Contract & Duration:  12 Months

Posting date: March 16, 2022

INTRODUCTION

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. The organization has offices across the region and has been operational in Ethiopia since 2009. With funding from bilateral and multilateral donors, DRC is currently implementing a range of activities across Ethiopia and Djibouti, including WASH and shelter provision, child and youth protection, Gender-based violence response, awareness-raising of migration risks, protection monitoring of migration routes, and livelihoods support for returning migrants or those at-risk of migration.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE: 

Provide overall advice, coordination, and technical support to the Country Finance team and field Finance teams with regards to DRC Dynamics Accounting-related tasks. Ensure compliance with the finance chapters of DRC’s Operations Handbook and DRC Dynamics User Manuals/workflows.

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country and area-related financial accounting activities.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Finance Manager, the Country Finance Coordinator will ensure that all financial functions in the DRC/DDG Ethiopia Country program including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, and Preparation of Financial Statements in IPSAS are adhered to effectively and in a timely manner. The Finance Coordinator ensures compliance with donor regulations as well as DRC/DDG’s internal policies and procedures and provides support to the program management teams as required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Support

• Support the development and implementation of financial management capacity building of staff in DRC Dynamics and provide technical support and advice to the country finance teams.
• Support the development and implementation of financial management capacity building of staff throughout DRC Ethiopia area offices
• Provide technical support and advice to the Finance team across field sites
• Provide on-the-job training in field locations as required to support the overall functioning and capacity building of the DRC Ethiopia finance team
• At times and at the request of the Deputy Finance Manager, backstop Finance positions in field locations where dedicated support is required for short deployments of up to 2 weeks at a time.

Accounting / Finance

• Oversee and manage daily accounting and finance functions including the timely recording of transactions, cash management, banking, receivables, payables, and timely submission of bank reconciliation and month end accounting closure tasks (as per DRC guidelines and timelines).
• Coordinate with Deputy Finance Manager to organize & submit Finance supporting documents (Scanned and hard copies) in relevant archives (One drive/Share point etc.) according to DRC/DDG Ethiopia & RO/HQ requirements.
• Ensure compliance with relevant country statutory and other financial obligations such as tax, levies, and statutory returns
• Monthly financial briefings to Deputy Finance Manager and Finance Manager regarding the month-end closure processes and outstanding balance account items for action.
• Collecting cash forecasts from all Programme Managers and requesting funds in a timely manner
• Maintain a continuous overview of funding levels and pay particular attention to shared support costs, including staff salaries
• Ensure all required documentation for financial audits in cooperation with Deputy Finance Manager, Program Staff, Regional Office, and HQ

Reporting

• Support the Dy Finance Manager on monthly tax payment reports, month end closure reports, and any other report as requested.
• Update the relevant portion of the DRC Ethiopia API’s on quarterly basis as assigned.
• Support the Dy Finance manager for Results Contracts as requested.

Budget, Financial Management and Control

• Support to Deputy Finance Manager to ensure that financial related information is accurate and is well maintained on DRC Dynamics and all transactions are recorded and allocated to projects on a monthly basis. This includes an overall planning, budget and control of expenditures for shared operational costs, but also coordination of budgeting and expenditure related to programme implementation.
• Support Deputy Finance Manager to implement relevant financial control tools in line with DRC Dynamics implementation within the country programme and across area offices.

Others

• With support of Country Finance staff, assess needs and identify issues/gaps in Area Finance office/staff and prioritize timely practical actions to respond to particular financial accounting issues.
• Develop technical skills of finance staff through on-job technical advice/trainings on financial management, accounting, and other finance duties.
• With support of Deputy Finance Manager, perform regular internal Finance audits (As per DRC/DDG Operations Handbook) and reviews as required to ensure compliance with DRC-DDG and donor requirements. Audits to be conducted on quarterly basis for all area/field offices and reports submitted to Finance Manager.
• Monitor systems for financial operations in both the main programme offices and in field offices in accordance with the DRC/DDG Operations handbook and DRC Dynamics User Guides and workflows, including systems for consolidation of accounting information, internal controls & financial record­keeping.
• Report to the Deputy Finance Manager and Finance Manager any irregularities that occur within the DRC/DDG office, staff compound and sites on DRC/DDG policy and procedures.
• Follow up on new procedures and guidelines designated in circulars.  

DRC Dynamics Specific tasks

Work closely with HR to ensure complete Employee Set up, including reporting, open positions, and compensation and benefits are completed to avoid errors with financial processing in DRC Dynamics.

Ensure Offline Local Payroll is imported to Dynamics Salary Expense Journal in collaboration with Finance team, and as per the month end closure timeline/checklist.

Ensure that all offline transactions for all field offices are replicated and completed in Dynamics and monthly cash and bank reconciliation is completed within the deadlines set forward for month end closure.

Backstop Timesheet Focal Point as required and ensure timely timesheets are generated and filed, including Result Sum Totals done for Payroll/ SC setup on all Projects sheets approved & posted 100%, as requested.

Work with Deputy Finance Manager to ensure required data for Run Distribution is correctly mapped and posted as per Shared Cost Allocation policy.

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Job Requirements

Experience and Technical Competencies: (include years of experience)

Essential:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in field of finance/accounting/book keeping in an NGO, UN or the commercial sector.
• Familiar with IPSAS accounting requirements; certification on IPSAS is a plus but not required (DRC may provide IPSAS training for the selected position holder if able to demonstrate familiarity with the IPSAS principles)
• Excellent proficient user of MS Excel, able to perform complex formulas, PivotTables, and conduct financial analysis utilizing Excel tools

Desirable:

• Experience with on-the-job training of colleagues
• Ability to prepare basic training modules on accounting management and conduct training.

Education (include certificates, licenses, etc.):

• University degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, Business Administration or Five years DRC experience in Finance/Accounting work.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in local spoken languages.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for Excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Acting in line with DRC's vision and values

How to Apply

CLICK HERE

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit an updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post.

We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. 

Please forward the application and CV, in English through the stated website no later than March 29, 2022.

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.ngo

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status or other protected characteristics

We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nationals to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.