Finance Assistant

Job description

GIZ has been operating in Syria since 1976. It has thus established valuable contacts in civil society and garnered experience that is now crucial for supporting the country. From 2013 onwards, it worked without government involvement with the assistance of local non-governmental organizations. Despite the difficult conditions, GIZ has consistently contributed to improving people’s living conditions.

In view of the developments since December 2024, which have led Syria into a decisive phase of transformation, GIZ reopens its Country Office in Damascus in 2026. It is currently implementing 14 projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Federal Foreign Office (FFO), with co-financing from the European Union and other donors. From 2026, the portfolio is planned to be expanded by several new projects.

Your tasks

• Receive, register, and process invoices and payment requests in accordance with GIZ rules and regulations, ensuring completeness and accuracy of supporting documentation.
• Check invoices, payment requests, and related documents for required approvals, correct calculations, and compliance with established financial procedures, and follow up on missing information.
• Prepare payment documentation, payment vouchers, and supporting documents for cash and bank transactions, and submit them for further verification and approval.
• Support the processing of travel expense settlements, including checking travel-related documents, flight tickets, accommodation invoices, and other supporting documents in line with GIZ travel regulations.
• Regularly follow up on outstanding invoices, advances, receivables, payables, and pending settlements, and maintain updated records for the Finance Unit.
• Support cash and bank management activities, including preparing cash withdrawal requests, maintaining transaction records, and assisting with cash counts and bank reconciliations.
• Assist in preparing and entering financial data into GIZ accounting systems, ensuring accurate documentation and proper filing of transactions.
• Support the Head of Finance and other Finance Unit colleagues in daily financial operations and perform additional finance-related tasks as assigned by the line manager.

Your profile (required qualifications, competencies and experience)

• University degree or diploma in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least two years of relevant professional experience in accounting or financial administration, including checking invoices and supporting documents and maintaining financial records.
• Practical knowledge of basic bookkeeping and the documentation required for financial transactions.
• Ability to use Microsoft Excel to maintain transaction lists, sort and filter data, apply basic formulas and identify discrepancies between financial records.
• Ability to organise assigned tasks, meet deadlines and follow up on missing documents or information.
• Ability to handle financial information accurately and confidentially and to report discrepancies promptly.
• Willingness to learn and apply GIZ financial procedures and systems.
• Fluency in Arabic and good working knowledge of English are required. G

Desirable experience

• Experience using accounting software or an ERP system.
• Experience with travel expense settlements, advance monitoring, cash counts or bank reconciliations.
• Experience working with GIZ, another international organisation or an organisation with documented financial procedures and approval workflows.
• Knowledge of German is an advantage.