Finance Officer – Azaz, North West Syria (National)

Mission

Geneva Call is an international humanitarian organization striving to enhance the protection of civilians in conflict contexts. Geneva Call engages in a dialogue with armed groups and de facto authorities for them to be aware and better comply with international humanitarian norms and principles. Geneva Call is headquartered in Geneva and works in 16 conflict contexts in South-East and Central Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Geneva Call consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. Geneva Call is an inclusive working environment for all its staff. Applications are particularly encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Role

This role has two core functions to deliver in coordination with the Support Coordinator – Syria. First, the efficient management of finance and accounting services for Geneva Call, including cash flows, payments, reporting and compliances on finance and accounting matters. Second, providing administrative, operational and HR support to Geneva Call’s work in Syria including undertaking procurements, office administration, supporting HR processes and documentation and maintaining the fixed asset register.

Core responsibilities

Financial Management and Accounting

• Complete financial accounting matters on a daily basis, including maintaining payment ledgers for cash, receipts, adjustments on internal/external advances, accruals, and balance sheet items.
• Record payments and adjustment transactions regularly in Continia (online accounting system) for review and approval by the Support Coordinator – Syria.
• Update the Summary of Transactions (SOT reports), perform monthly reconciliations (cash advances, accrual adjustments), and handle receipts (income), currency exchanges, all payments, and payroll-related transactions.
• Ensure donor and organizational compliance before issuing Purchase Orders (POs) through due diligence checks on suppliers, vendors, employees, partners, consultants, trainers, and all related parties.
• Assist in audit matters
• Manage the monthly finance or accounts closing process by entering data into ledgers for cash adjustments, advances, accruals, and SoT, ensuring HQ deadlines are met.
• Ensure proper supporting documents and systematic filing for payments and adjustments on time for all payments, receipts, vendors, and payroll.
• Provide monthly financial reports, including supporting documents, and keep mission cash books updated with weekly availability cash checks.
• Manage local payments, verify the registration and encoding of financial transactions according to internal procedures, and ensure the availability of funds .
• Archive all financial documents and participate in audits (annual organization audit, donor’s audits, or audits requested by authorities).
• Manage Hawala and fund management to the field and track advance clearances.

Administration and Logistics

• Carry out local procurements, ensuring they are done transparently and accountably.
• Line-manage drivers and fleet, plan vehicle rentals according to program needs, and ensure safe, reliable, and efficient transportation for programs and staff.
• Act as in-country focal point for all HR issues in coordination with the Support Coordinator and HQ HR department. This includes: ensuring all HR documentation for staff is up to date and completed accurately; providing training and guidance to staff on HR related issues; and assisting in recruitment processes where requested.
• Manage office and guesthouse, ensuring contracts are up to date and facilities are well-maintained and running smoothly.
• Keep the fixed asset register up to date and maintain a proper filing system for all HR contracts, accountancy, and premises & services contracts.

Other Duties

• Participate in various forums (groups, meetings, workshops) for finance, HR, administration, and logistic matters.
• Ensure the cash flow requirements of the northwest Syria country program by obtaining forecasts, drafting monthly forecasts, and sharing them with the Support Coordinator.
• Support with translation and interpretation (English to Arabic, Arabic to English) as needed.
• Provide support and training to program teams in activity reporting.
• Perform any other duties as required by the Program Coordinator or Support Coordinator.

Main qualifications

Education

• Completed degree of Higher Education in relevant field such as management, or Finance, commerce or equal university degree.

Languages

• Besides Arabic Excellent English is must for this role.

Experience and Technical knowledge required

• 3+ years of relevant experience in the fields of finance function only in INGO.
• 2+ years of experience of running online systems for accounting.
• 2+ years of experience of accounting principal methods, rules. Knowledge and experience of GC related donors’ compliance matters on finance, accounting, reporting, and donor auditing.

Personal qualities

• Good report writing, communication and presentational skills.
• Organized personality for keeping better records on various support processes matter.
• Advanced level knowledge of MS Excel and accounting systems.
• Strong interpersonal skills including ability to work with geographically remote individuals.
• Fluent in English and Arabic: Written and spoken with demonstrable track record in presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding and respect for organizational principles and confidentiality.
• Strong logic and organizational skills, flexibility, and adaptability to change.
• Independent initiator, Leadership qualities and unwavering integrity. Can maintain confidentiality of records and information on support functions.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Proven ability to work well with colleagues from diverse ethnic/cultural backgrounds.
• Accuracy and reliability, ability to reach results and meet deadlines under pressure.

Performance management

The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with the GC Performance Management p. The following documents will be used for performance reviews:

• The Job Description
• The individual Work- and Professional Development Plan
• The Competency Framework

Conflict of interest

Any candidate affiliated to, or openly supporting, one or more interest groups opposed to the Foundation’s principles and values, or whose previous position could engender safety issues for co-workers at Appel de Genève / Geneva Call, will be excluded from this selection process. The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with the Geneva Call Performance Management guidelines.

Conditions

• Position: Finance Officer
• Workplace: Azaz, North West Syria
• Activity Rate: 50%
• Type of Contract: Fixed-term, Operational Consultant Contract (National)
• Preferred start date: 1st September 2024

Application

No later than 30 August 2024.

All applications will be kept confidential. Please note only shortlisted candidate will be contacted for further process. Geneva Call is the equal opportunity employer.

Important Note: Our HR team will meticulously evaluate your profile in line with the requirements of the post you have applied for. Since, we receive a good number of applications for all the positions Geneva Call advertises, it is not possible to communicate the results of our decisions with every candidate individually. Therefore, only the short-listed candidates will be contacted by the HR team to invite them for written test – and the steps afterwards if they qualify i.e., interview and other assessments as deemed appropriate.