Finance Officer-Us Macronew

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R - response, resilience and respect - to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate - our raison d'etre - of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability. IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi), the Americas (Panama), Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur), Europe (Budapest), and MENA (Beirut), as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The Country Cluster Delegation based in Kinshasa is the frontline team of the IFRC Secretariat supporting the National Societies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. It reinforces the central role of locally led community action, supports operations and programmes, and contributes to the day-to-day management of operational risks in diverse contexts, including health emergencies and large-scale responses.

Based in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Finance Officer supports the US-Macro Project (within the Country Cluster Delegation based in Kinshasa. The position reports to the Senior Finance Officer and provides financial support for the implementation of the project.

 

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Senior Finance Officer, the Finance Officer provides financial management and accounting services for the US-Macro Project, based in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, within the Country Cluster Delegation. The role ensures accurate financial records, timely reporting and compliance with IFRC policies, procedures and donor requirements, promoting trust, transparency and accountability, with zero tolerance for fraud and corruption.

The position focuses on day-to-day project accounting, expenditure monitoring, cash planning, financial documentation and internal controls. Working closely with project teams and relevant National Society counterparts, the Finance Officer supports effective budget implementation, maintains financial records ready for review and audit, and contributes to efficient, digitally enabled financial services that support locally led humanitarian action.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Management & Accounting

• Ensure that IFRC internal control is maintained and ensure that transactions are valid and comply with IFRC procedures.
• Work closely with the National Societies to obtain and review financial reports and record them regularly and assist with required review/spot-check process with NS as per set scheduled and WWPP procedures.
• Ensure the provision of accounting services and ensure financial transactions are recorded in appropriate journals and posted daily into our ERP Financial systems (Microsoft Dynamics), to allow timely month-end financial closure process within the established due dates.
• Review and verify that proper documentation is submitted, verify coding and accuracy, obtaining appropriate approvals.
• Perform monthly review of the Balance sheets warnings; proceed with reconciliation of IFRC Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable (Working Advances to staff and National Societies).
• Perform all regular/routine accounting duties as per Federation procedures and policies.
• Ensure submission of financial statements, reconcile, and provide explanations of balance sheet items monthly.
• Assist with monthly invoicing for services to the Integrated Partner National Societies and closely monitor any discrepancies.
• Prepare and regularly update contracts and commitments documents and ensure all contractual obligations for payments are honoured and any discrepancies are reported.
• Review transactions booked in the system on a weekly basis and ensure they reflect adequate coding. Perform expenditures reallocations in ERP using appropriate journals and ensure appropriate approval annexed.
• Run monthly exception reports to support the account closing routine.
• Help maintain BvA tool put in place with National Societies for Budget and Expenses monitoring. Support follows up with WWPP set-up for fund transfer, spot checks, and reporting etc.

Treasury Management

• Monitor timely submission of forecasts by project managers and prepare documents that will help submit accurate and timely cash requests.
• Ensure funds available in banks for programmes / operations and office running costs are consistent with organizational banking policies and help monitor field bank account balances with a view to minimizing risk of loss due to forex fluctuations.
• Review cash and bank payments and ensure they are processed per IFRC procedures and ensure monthly up-to-date reconciliations are completed, approved and sent out to Regional Finance Unit.
• Manage the Cluster bank accounts held in DRC and London ensuring that the accounts are not running into overdrafts.
• Process the bank modification to add and delete signatories when required and organize their training with the bank for online approvals.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Audit and Compliance

• Preparations of bank reconciliations statements
• Support Monthly reconciliation of National Societies working advance accounts
• Support reversals of deposits and prepayment account to the relevant projects.
• Run the reconciliation of suppliers’ accounts and follow up on any difference identified
• Act as a focal point for the reconciliation of all the balance sheet accounts in liaison with other Finance officers.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly close of accounts specifically assigned. This involves reconciliation of various accounts and ensuring compliance with the organization finance procedures.
• Carry out reconciliation of deposits and prepayment accounts.

Support

• Support, train and assist programme departments in the production of financial reports to donors. Validate all reports prior to submission and assist programme departments in all areas of financial matters regarding donors.

Administration

• Assist in the communication and enforcement of all financial policies and procedures as well as the improvement of areas identified.

Education

Required

• University degree in finance, accounting, audit or management or related area is required.
• Certified Public Accountant.

Experience

Required

• At least 3 years in similar positions.
• Previous experience in managing ECHO/USAID/EC grants.

Preferred

• Previous experience working at the Federation Delegation, ICRC and/or National Society will be an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Preferred

• Knowledge of accounting and reporting software.
• Knowledge of International Accounting Standards.
• Excellent practical knowledge of computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing, accounting, applications, e-mail, Internet) and strong mastery of MS Office components.
• Proven bookkeeping and accounting skills, including payroll, payables budgeting & forecasting.
• Fluently spoken and written English and French.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values

• Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

Core Competencies 

• Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust.