Finance Specialist

This role has a country focus and is responsible for providing specialized knowledge and operational know-how on financial matters and acts as “Technical focal person” to finance and program staff.

Under the supervision of the Finance Manager (FM), Finance Specialist supports the financial activities in DRC Dynamics, preparation of budget/budget revisions, donor financial reports, Master Budgets, Budget Follow Ups (BFUs) and Salary Allocation Tables and other duties as per the JD and is the lead focal point between the area office finance staff and Finance Manager.

Responsibilities:

Accounting / Finance

• Monthly Expatriate salary allocation in DRC Dynamics and preparation of monthly expat taxes.
• Review Monthly Resource Scheduling from Area Offices as per the Finance Calendar.
• Review monthly payroll and share feedback with Finance Manager and CO HR and Admin.
• Coordinate with the area finance staff to ensure adequate liquidity request and compiled and forwarded to Finance Manager.
• Review settlement of main accounts and other interim accounts and follow up with Area Office Finance staff to ensure all nominal/ledger accounts are cleared within an approved time frame. This includes but not limited to Amortization of prepaid costs and asset costs recoveries.
• In close cooperation with Managers (both area and country) reinforce existing procedures and systems for financial management and control in compliance with guidelines of DRC’s Operations Handbook, internal guidelines and donor requirements.
• Liaise with relevant Managers on key financial issues for all programs in the country, including co-funding, financial reporting, key variances and any remedial action.
• Ensure clearing of IC transactions from other COs, RO and HQ are cleared by charging to projects or relevant accounts as part of end month closure procedure.
• Liaising with Area finance team for consolidation and circulation IPAs on weekly basis for follow up and timely settlements.
• Prepare and post salary allocation tables in line with the master budget and in full reconciliation with the BFUs and ensure projects are posted only to the real available balances. This is to ensure that the master budget and project BFU assumption are considered during posting of the staff salaries to avoid front and backend loading.

Budgeting and Reporting

• Support to Develop annual budgets for DRC Somalia offices (Master budget) and ensure all data are accurate.
• Monthly and Weekly BFU/TDL preparations, reviews & monitor actual spending and advise AM/Program team to avoid overspending and plan on underspending. Execution of follow-up actions such as rebookings.
• Prepare donor financial reports support Program and Finance staff on the same.
• Support the Country Finance Manager in budget re-alignment.
• Timely delivery of quality financial reports to donors and internal reports to area and Country.
• Preparation of Interim/final donor reporting.
• Support area offices in preparing and reviewing partner financial reporting.
• Maintain a continuous overview of funding levels and pay particular attention to shared support costs, including staff salaries.

Others

• Support in roll out of DRC Dynamics including training of new staff and the existing light users.
• Minimize financial risks by ensuring that DRC/DDG financial policies and procedures as set in Operations Handbook and any other CO/RO/HQ instructions are strictly adhered to through predefined effective internal control system.
• Support in the implementation of recommendations raised through internal & external audits, compliance audits etc., 
• Support to Review and monitor partners’ financial reporting /capacity building, provide additional technical assistance to partners as necessary to maintain high standards of compliance.
• Participate in conducting trainings for staff in the field offices and develop their technical skills by ensuring all processes related to organizational policies, donor guidelines and governmental requirements are adhered to.
• Support Finance Manager in internal and external audit processes by ensuring all required documentation for financial audits in cooperation with area staff and country.

Local Tax management

• Coordinate with Area Finance, HR/Admin staff and/or with NGO Liaison bodies to obtain relevant local tax laws/requirements and ensure DRC is compliant with same. This includes obtaining tax exemptions (i.e. Value Added Tax [VAT]) letters on yearly basis.
• Ensure compliance with relevant country statutory and other financial obligations such as tax, levies, and statutory returns.
• Coordinate with HR and Admin department to ensure all taxes related to staff salaries are paid on timely manner to the relevant departments. This included taxes for Expatriate salaries, where applicable.
• Support the Finance to coordinate with the Supply Chain department to ensure the relevant taxes (if applicable) are indicated in all supplier documentation and paid to the relevant departments on timely manner.
• 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.

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least three year’s work experience in field of financial management/accounting/bookkeeping in an NGO or the commercial sector.
• University degree in Finance/Accounting/Commerce/Business Administration
• Proven experience in managing large budgets.
• Proven experience in working with national partners, local/government authorities.
• Hands-on experience/skills in MS Excel (experience in working with formulas).
• Working experience in preparation of Donor reporting for Danida/SIDA/USAID/EU/UN/GFFO guidelines will be an advantage.

Desirable:

• Ability to prepare basic training modules on accounting management and conduct on the job trainings.
• Ability to prepare donor budgets will be an advantage.

Source: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=171682&DepartmentId=19011&MediaId=5