Finance Assistant

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes, and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding, and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the direction supervision of the Senior Finance Officer is responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day accounting operations and financial management functions are performed by IRC’s policies and procedures and by the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Responsibilities:

- Liaise with the bank for all funds and payment transactions from IRC bank accounts and any other activities between the bank and IRC: funds receivable, payment processing, cash withdrawal from the bank accounts, money conversion, bank statement, information regarding bank fees, bank signatories, bank documents update, etc. - Processing approved bank and cash transaction and/or payments after ensuring information included in payment documents are accurate and in line, and compliance with IRC and donor’s rules and regulations. Ensure bank payments are processed within 24 hours and check with the bank if any delay. - Prepare and update the Turkey bank and cash worksheet on a daily basis. Ensures mathematical accuracy, the accuracy of codes used, and that all transaction information is in line with payment documents approved. Send bank and cash worksheet to Senior Finance Officer for review as required. - Insure bank statements with bank worksheets are reconciled on weekly basis and inform SFO if any errors. - Follow the cash availability in the office for daily cash payments and expenditures according to weekly needs. Preparing and processing cash withdrawals from the bank. - Assist in cash forecast preparation. - Help Sr. Finance Officer with the calculation of tax payable according to the local legislation. Ensure that the outstanding amount of tax is paid on time by tax rules and regulations. - Maintain good documents filing system in the Gaziantep office for an effective audit trail. Update bank files and payment documents files. - Assist internal and external auditors during audits in the Country office, including collecting, scanning, and copying payment documents and appropriate filing after the audit process - Participate in professional development activities and perform other duties as needed and requested. - Completing monthly tasks checklists, particularly to ensure that processing and reconciliations and controls are complete - Assisting with preparing Year-end files, ensuring all information and supporting documents are electronically available, by the agreed timeframe

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

- Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies. - Develop and implement remote management capacity-building approaches to build the strengths the teams in Syria. - Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. - Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions. - Approve and manage time, attendance, and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews. - Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis. - Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing guidance on career paths. - As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies. - Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions. - Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff. - Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of a succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop the capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.

Qualifications

- Degree in accountancy, finance, or economics. - At least two years of work experience in the finance field with an international NGO or in the development sector. - Work experience within a similar position in another NGO or bank - Computer literacy, including proven experience with computerized accounting packages, word processing, and spreadsheets (preferably Word and Excel). - Ability to work as part of a team, - Good communication skills both written and verbal. - Good interpersonal skills - Systematic and organized. - Ability and willingness to travel to project sites. - Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines, with minimum supervision. - Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals of IRC.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

- A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct. - Credible written, presentation, and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development - Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution. - Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context. - Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience. - Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity. - Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop, and a sense of humor is a must. - Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

English is required, while Turkish is desired.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Senior Finance Officer

Position directly supervises: N/A

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Finance Manager

Key Internal Contacts: N/A

Key External Contacts: N/A

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing, and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, l and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.