Finance and Assurance Senior Officer

Position: Finance and Assurance Senior Officer

Location(s): Based in Gaziantep

Unit: Finance and Operations

Background of the Programme:

Adam Smith International has been awarded a contract from FCDO to run a multi-donor pooled fund which will provide continuity of humanitarian funding to the northwest of Syria irrespective of United Nations cross-border access. The Fund was established in November 2022 to meet priority needs in the north of Syria with a primary focus on the northwest of the country. The Fund is additional and complementary to the overall response and is based on humanitarian needs alone.

The overall objectives of the Fund are:

• Save lives: Provide lifesaving and life-sustaining humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people with an emphasis on those in areas with high severity of needs.
• Contribute to transformational change: Integrate local development with humanitarian response by supporting community-based action that does no harm and contributes to gender, age, and ability equality; and that enhances opportunities for peace and stability.
• Enhance protection: Enhance the prevention and mitigation of protection risks and respond to protection needs through supporting the protective environment in Syria, by promoting international law, International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, and through quality, principled assistance.
• Increase resilience and access to services: Increase the resilience of affected communities by improving access to more sustainable livelihood opportunities and basic services, especially among the most vulnerable households and communities.

About ASI

Adam Smith International is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. Our clients are governments, international organisations, companies, and foundations. They come to us to develop strategies and to design, deliver and evaluate programmes that address the big challenges facing the world.

As a company with experience of delivering lasting results, including in fragile states and where there is conflict, we are prepared to manage a high level of risk to achieve our purpose.

Our core team of staff and technical experts, in multiple offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require.

ASI is owned and operated by its employees. We are committed to corporate integrity and a triple bottom line of social, environmental, and financial performance. This commitment was formally recognised when we became a certified B Corp. The certification indicates we balance profit and purpose through the highest standards of transparency and accountability as well as social and environmental performance.

We are also a participant in the UN Global Compact, which certifies our respect for standards of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.

Adam Smith International is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. We welcome applicants regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, or age.

About the Role

The Finance and Assurance Senior Officer will provide accounting and financial administration and logistics support to the Fund and ensure that fiduciary risk and due diligence work streams are proactively delivered and managed.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Accounting, Financial Reporting and Compliance

• Maintain comprehensive records of all receipts and expenditures to ensure transparency and accuracy in financial reporting.
• Execute various banking transactions in accordance with company policies and procedures to manage cash flow effectively.
• Perform monthly reconciliations for both bank and cash accounts to identify and resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Facilitate payments to creditors, including the preparation of payment documentation and reconciliation of payments, to maintain positive relationships and timely payments.
• Supervise the office petty cash fund to ensure proper control and documentation of small cash transactions.
• Establish and maintain an organized filing system for financial documentation to ensure easy access and compliance with audit requirements.
• Assist in addressing inquiries from internal and external audits by providing necessary documentation and information.
• Support the implementation of policies and procedures concerning AFNS Risk Assurance to identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks.
• Assist in meeting the financial reporting requirements of the client by maintaining detailed breakdowns of all expenditures and demonstrating their value for money.
• Review and verify payroll processes to ensure accurate and timely payment to employees and compliance with regulations.
• Maintain oversight of tax and social security liabilities and documentation to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
• Verify the compliance of regular payments with supporting documentation and ensure their prompt processing to maintain financial integrity.

Grants Management Contributions

• Initiate Disbursement Requests to approvers via Adobe Sign and ensure timely completion of all signatures.
• Maintain up-to-date records of grant disbursements, including gathering and storing supporting documentation and proof of payment in appropriate folders.
• Work closely with the PDU team to conduct financial spot checks on grants administered by partners and generate reports summarizing the findings of these spot checks.

Reporting, Management, and Accountability

This role will report to the Finance and Assurance Manager. It is not anticipated to have any direct reports.

Job requirements

About You

We are in search of a standout candidate who brings confidence, demonstrates a proficient command of financial principles, and possesses expertise in financial administration. We value diversity and inclusivity; female applicants are especially strongly encouraged to apply. If you are a proactive individual who thrives in collaborative settings, excels at prioritizing multiple tasks to meet deadlines effectively, and possesses the technical know-how coupled with a keen eye for detail, we extend a warm invitation for you to apply.

Essential

• Unrestricted eligibility to work in Türkiye (right to work).
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of financial principles, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting and compliance.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in a similar role.
• Excellent interpersonal, communicative and persuasion skills.
• Proven track record of building and sustaining effective partnerships among different stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and Turkish, both written and oral, is required.

Desirable

• Possession of a relevant professional certification such as ACCA, CPA, CMA, CFA.
• Familiarity with financial management software systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks) for efficient financial operations.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this vacancy.
• Fluency in Arabic both written and oral, is desirable.

What we Offer You

• Our people are at the heart of our strategy and our decisions. We offer a salary in GBP and learning and support to develop your skills to assist in progressing your career.
• The diversity of our workforce makes AFNS a great place to work, friendly, more creative and resourceful, and underpins strong partnerships.
• We’ve built a culture to reflect our values, full of likeminded professionals who are smart, passionate and great at what they do.