Background:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery, and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Position Overview

The Senior Finance Officer is responsible for finance documents review, payment processing, recording of transactions in the system, reconciling accounts and ledgers, providing inputs for financial analysis, working on cost pools and mapping. The position holder is responsible to ensures proper budget management through provide quality proposal review feedback, prepare budget vis Actual analysis to respective focal points, and prepare quality donor and gov’t report on timely manner. In addition, the senior finance officer is responsible to ensuring all available partnership management policies, guidelines and procedures are well exercised and implemented in the management consortium. The position reports to the Finance Manager.

Major key Responsibilities:

1)    Treasury Management

• Enforce internal controls and disbursement processes to ensure proper management of cash and bank accounts.

• Review safeguards for cash and cheques kept in the office; ensure controlled access, security and safety. 

• Monitor cash and bank balance to ensure sufficiency based on needs.

• Ensure that cash received including incoming funds transfers are receipted and accurately recorded.

• Perform weekly and monthly cash counts and reconciliations; address any differences.

• Oversee monthly reconciliation and ensure outstanding item addressed on time.

• Review cash projection submitted by field office and ensured timely cash transfer to the field.

• Prepare and review payroll with all the applicable taxes and deductions.

• Facilitate filling of tax returns with ECRA.

• Provide required weekly updates by specified deadlines to the Finance Manager as required.

2)    Month-end Activities

• Review journals and source documents from the Field & Addis office for completeness and accuracy.

• Post journals in SUN / ERP System.

• File posted JVs electronically as per the standard.

• Perform balance sheet account reconciliation’s and bring to the attention of the Finance Manager-Operation any matters that require his/her intervention.

• Perform SUN Backup for the master files.

3)    Document Management

• Review internal system of record retention to ensure compliance with IRC policy and the local laws.

• Ensure maintenance of uniform standards for documentation, including forms, support documents etc.

• Ensure sufficient procedures for retention of documents, proper and systematic filing for ease of access.

4)    Balance sheet Accounts follow –up & Reconciliation.

• Preparation of detail balance sheet reconciliation.

• Proper follow-up on advance/payables liquidations.

• Preparation of the CO Balance sheet report for NY submission per schedule. 

5)    Payment and Receipts Processing

• Supervise Finance Assistants responsible for the payment process.

• Ensure that payments are processed in a timely manner and in accordance with IRC policy and procedures.

• Assist and follow up the finance assistant internal control procedures are followed for all cash disbursements, receipts, and transfers

• Review/Ensure the accuracy of cash & Bank Books prepared by the Finance Assistant.

• Attend to vendors on matters concerning payments.

• Perform financial review of Bid Analysis and other Procurement Documents; to ensure conformity with IRC policies and procedures as well as donor regulations.

• Perform financial review of Payments Requests; ensure adequacy of supporting documentation and compliance with IRC policies and procedures.  

• Review monthly payroll and payroll related payments.

• Ensure statutory deductions (taxes, pension, and health insurance) are remitted on time.

• Work closely with supply chain unit to ensure procurement, warehouse management, vehicle movement and operational systems are adhered to finance's minimum standards, SOP policy and donor regulations.

6)    Audit

• Participate in both internal and external audits.

• Reviews of controls and monitoring of compliance with established procedures.

• Preparation of written reports for review by the Finance Manager which identify key issues and provide recommendations for improving control processes or procedures.

7)    Budgeting and budget management, donor reports and analysis

• Involve in budget development and realignment.

• Manage donors and partners’ budget. Involve in conducting partners account management, document verifications and report reviews.

• Develop salary mapping, verify coding, and cost allocation mapping.

• Ensure donor reports prepared and submitted to the donor after ensuring internal process with HQ and with high quality on monthly, quarterly, and yearly bases per reporting schedule.

• Financial management and planning, understanding particularly regarding donor requirement and reporting.

• Prepare BvA analysis report.

8)    Staff Performance and Management

• As part of his/her supervision responsibility, set and agree with Finance Assistant Key performance objectives for each financial year in line with the Finance Departmental Strategic Objective/ goals.

• Provide the Finance Assistant conducive work environment; business tools, support, and relevant training necessary for them to perform their work.

• Monitor the performance of Finance Assistant through the year providing regular feedback on progress towards meeting agreed objectives and any improvement needed.

Other Duties

• Contribute to the overall proper functioning of the Finance department by taking on any other duties assigned by supervisor.

• Contribute to the overall improvement of the financial and accounting system in ETHIOPIA by providing recommendation to supervisor for consideration on specific areas that could be improved.

• Contribute to teamwork and team play.

• Any other duties assigned by the supervisor. 

Job Requirements

Education:

• Bachelors’ degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA, and/or a master’s degree in accounting.

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience for BA Degree or one (1) year of relevant experience for master’s degree holders.  

• Extensive experience in working with donor grants, computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs.

• Experienced in preparing donor report, proposal review and subgrant management in NGO setting is advantageous.

• Experience in accounting processes and treasury management– payment processing, transactions recording, mapping, cash management, reconciling, generating reports and analysis. 

Skills and Abilities:

• Good written and verbal skills in the English language. Ability to communicate well in English

• Operating Excel, Word, and Access are required. Knowledge of Sun Accounting system/ERP system and/or other accounting software is advantageous.

• Basic proven managerial skill. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Must be comfortable in being a proactive member of the department.  Must seek to identify and communicate potential problems and propose solutions to the level of management appropriate to effect solutions.

• Must be able to function effectively in a loosely structured, but complex work environment and to set appropriate priorities and deal effectively with numerous simultaneous requirements.

• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support from within the organization. Ability to work under demanding environment.

• Must be a patient and good communicator who can function in an organizational environment involving a diversity of cultures, languages, and personal interests and agendas.

• Good at role of facilitator and team player in solving problems.

• Committed to staff training and development.   

• Positive and professional attitude, able to organize, maintain composure and prioritize work under pressure, able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.   

How to Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website:  CLICK HERE

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information. 

• Name of the position you have applied for

• Date of application

• Summary of  your qualifications and experience

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.