Finance Officer

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting nationals and refugees and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, the civil society, and the private sector. The current program portfolio in Uganda includes health, peace building, gender-based violence, economic recovery and agribusiness, and children & youth.

IRC works with Karamoja Women Umbrella Organization (KAWUO) to Implement UNFPA activities in Karamoja Region.

Job Overview: Under the direction of the Deputy Director Finance, the Partnership Finance Officer is responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day financial management functions are performed in accordance with IRC’s policies and procedures and in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The Partnership Finance officer will ensure that the partnership is managed as per IRC Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS).

Finance and Accounting: •Support IRC directly implemented activities through regular provision of program advances and ensuring that accountabilities are correctly and accurately liquidated in a timely manner. •Manage the bank accounts and mobile money accounts which includes requests for replenishments, disbursing and submit reconciliations to Kampala in a timely manner •Collaborate with supply chain and Admin officer to ensure that all documentation is done as per IRC procurement policies and procedures. •Capture of expenses in the accounting system (Integra) ensuring accuracy and completeness •Ensure timely payment of IRC vendors and service providers. •Act as a gatekeeper to ensure that finances are properly accounted for. •Provide capacity sharing support to the partners finance and supply chain team. •Provide finance and accounting training and mentoring support to partners, in accordance with partner project support plans, with a focus on supporting the partner to strengthen financial management systems and capacities that are responsive to the needs of the partner (rather than replicating IRC’s systems and policies). •Complete end-of-month tasks in a timely manner and ensure Partner report expenses are accurately captured. •Participate as gatekeeper in ensuring that all transactions are in accordance with IRC financial policies and grant agreements. •Provide support to both external and internal audit processes that are undertaken at the field office. •Work with the Partnership Finance Manager to review new and revised Partner budgets and support the partner to develop spending plans that inform Cash Requests. •Work with the Deputy Director Finance to ensure strong controls for IRC managed activities are established and complied with. •Support in month end and year end reconciliation of balance sheet items •Adjust entries to correct wrong postings as may be identified.

Budgets and reporting: •Support IRC programs to review monthly Budget vs Actual (BvAs) for IRC directly implemented activities and advise on any key issues identified. •Extract project consolidated BVA (both partner and IRC expenses) and presented to program staff and Kampala level for monitoring and decision making. •Support the IRC program teams to develop quarterly spending plans as the donor requirement. •Ensure IRC program requests are in line with donor approved budget. •Work with Kampala budgeting and reporting finance team to complete donor reports •Support project donor audits and donor project monitoring.

Partnership Management and support: •Support the implementation of the Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results (PEERS) system in all engagements with the partner. •Work with the Partnership Finance Manager to provide training to the partner finance and program team members in financial expectations of the donor and compliance. •Work collaboratively with the partner to develop budgets and budget amendments, monitor partner budgets and actual spending in collaboration with program teams, identifying issues and working proactively with partners to resolve them. •Act as a liaison between IRC and KAWUO to ensure smooth partnership in respect to the partnership principles of equality, complementarity, solidarity, mutuality, results -orientation and humility. •Regularly review financial documentation that will feed into the project financial monthly reports, and make necessary recommendations where need be •Review the partner finance reports submitted in collaboration with the partnership Finance manager and the Deputy Director Finance for accuracy, completeness, and approval for entry in the accounting system following the partnership accounting guidelines. Work closely with the Finance Manager-partnership to prepare and update the partnership tracker. •Work with the Partnership Finance Manager to develop KAWUO partner monitoring schedule per Partners Project Capacity Review results and generate an issue log and a risk register that is regularly shared with the Partnership Coordinator and the Deputy Director Finance for close monitoring and putting controls in place to mitigate any possible risks associated with the partnership. •Support the Finance Manager in reviewing Partner Cash Transfer (CTR) documentation. •Support the Partnership Finance Manager to prepare Partner transfer reconciliation worksheets. •Participate and provide technical support in Partnership cycle meetings including grant opening, implementation and closing meetings and capture effective finance practices. •Participate in the review of the performance of the partner, of the IRC, and of the partnership, including successes, challenges and lessons learned.

Qualifications

•University degree in Business related courses with accounting option (BBA, BCOM, BAF). A complete or partial professional course is desirable. •At least 4 years’ work experience in humanitarian/development accounting background, sub-grant management and/or local stakeholder engagement. •Experience working in a similar role with NGO is highly regarded. •Exceptional coordination and interpersonal skills and ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders. •Demonstrable experience working effectively in coordination with multi-functional (e.g., Program, operational, finance) teams. •Excellent written and oral communication skills. •Willingness to travel to IRC and partners’ field offices. •Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience using any accounting package is an added advantage.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity: We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous 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. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

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.

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, and Anti-Retaliation.