Country: Lebanon
Closing date: 28 Sep 2015
We vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience by responding to disasters and crises and by supporting community help to reduce and institutional risk reduction and preparedness.
In the Netherlands with more than thirty thousand volunteers and internationally with the aid of specialists or by sending relief supplies or money.
Together we act before, during and
Status: Single posting
****Rationale****after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
The International Assistance Department is looking for a ****Finance delegate**** who will be based in ****Beirut, Lebanon.****
Position title: Finance Delegate
Duty station: Beirut, Lebanon
Time period: 6 months, 40 hrs/wk
Starting Date: 1 November 2015
Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) has been supporting the Lebanon Red Cross Society (LRCS) and the Palestine Red Crescent/ Lebanon Branch (PRCS/L) since 1985. LRCS and PRCS/L are long term “programmatic partners” from NLRC. Background of this partnership is the International Assistance strategy, Annex A “New Way of Working, in which the vision of the NLRC to strengthen more resilient communities has been described.
The mission of NLRC in Lebanon is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in Lebanon, to protect lives and health and to ensure respect for the human being. Our special focus is on those who are most vulnerable in disaster situations.
The Netherlands Red Cross strategic aim in Lebanon is to limit the impact of disaster situations by strengthening especially the capacities of the Disaster Management Unit and Emergency Medical Services of the Lebanese Red Cross, by improving the capacities and services of the hospitals of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon and by improving the response preparedness of the Lebanese Red Cross and the Palestine Red Crescent Society – Lebanon Branch.
Currently NLRC is supporting five projects being implemented by the LRCS and PRCS/L. Three to five delegates are or will be attached to those projects. This includes a finance delegate.
Purpose of the position
The finance delegate is the financial manager who is responsible for controlling, coordinating and advising upon the funds, budgets, administration, logistics, contractual matters and insurance of the delegation, as well as training and advising the Lebanese Red Cross Society and the Palestine Red Crescent Society/ Lebanon branch in financial and administrative matters regarding the NLRC projects. In addition, the finance delegate will play a coaching role towards the LRCS and the PRCS/L branch in order to strengthen their institutional capacities when it comes to finances, logistics and administration.
Summary statement and responsibilities
- Coordination and management of funds and financial assets of the NLRC delegation and the project with the overall support of the Country Representative NLRC in Beirut. This will include cash flow and cost control management as well the management of payments, cashier and payroll functions.
- Financial reporting on a monthly basis for the project(s), in coordination with Country Representative and Desk Officers/Finance and Control in The Hague. Provide support to ensure consistency between financial and narrative reporting. Provide financial information (overviews, budget expenditure) to the Country Representative, Project Assistant, Desk Officers and project managers on a monthly basis or at request.
- Monitor the budget of the delegation and all projects, and ensure accurate accounting, authorisation and internal control procedures. Investigate and address significant variances.
- Implement and control Winpaccs accounting system (cashbook, accounting and cost control).
- Compliance with the instructions (briefing, training and reporting) of Finance Control (FC) in The Hague.
- Coordinate and advise upon the purchase and custom clearance of goods within the requirements of the donor.
- Develop job descriptions for local staff under Finance Administration Delegate’s supervision and coordinate with other delegates and line managers to ensure that job descriptions are prepared timely.
- Train, delegates, financial staff in Winpaccs accounting system (cashbook, accounting and cost control).
Position in the organisation
The Finance Delegate will report hierarchically to the Country Representative for Lebanon, with a strong coordinating relationship with Finance and Control at NLRC HQ. The Finance Delegate will work according to the Standard Project Approach (SPA) with all relevant colleagues in the NLRC HQ.
Requirements/Qualifications
- Bachelor in Finance Administration, or other relevant degree
- Five years of experience in financial management, accounting and control
- At least two years experience in working for a humanitarian aid organisation in a developing country
- Knowledge of Winpaccs accounting and Cost Control preferable, or willingness to complete the relevant training
- Experience in preparing budgets, cash flow statements and financial plans
- Experience in developing financial reports, and provide support to ensure consistency with narrative reporting
- Experience with donor formats and requirements, e.g. EU/ ECHO
- Strong communication and training / coaching skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience and proven
competence in preparing financial reports and explanatory notes on deviations
- Experience in problem identification and solution analysis
- Excellent practical computer skills (including excellent command of Excel spreadsheets and accounting software, as well as strong competence in Windows, Word processing, internet and email)
- Fluency in English, Arabic language skills are an advantage
- Preferably experience in working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement
Key competencies
- Able to work in a team
- High degree of integrity, discretion, and personal conduct
- Flexible and adaptable to changing working conditions
- Self-motivated, with good judgment and initiative
- Ability to manage broad responsibilities with attention to detail
- Good interpersonal skills
- Stress resistant
- Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
- Hands on mentality
How to apply:
- Please submit your CV of motivation and letter in English before 28 September at http://werkenbij.rodekruis.nl/en/Vacancy/Apply/53327
- For further information regarding the position, please contact Gerard Jonkman via email: gjonkman@redcross.nl.
- Please note that an assessment may form part of the selection process.