Solidarités International recruits 01 FINANCE SPECIALIST
Desired start date: 01/05/2019
Duration of the mission: 6 months
Location: Erbil, IRAK
The SI mission has been opened in February 2017, with emphasis on the Mosul response. Currently, the activities are focused on the rehabilitation of secondary water networks & support household connections to the networks. This project will end with the NCE in December 2018 with a relatively small mission with one Coordination base in Erbil (3 expatriates and 8 national staff) and one operational base in Mosul (2 expatriate and 23 national staff). Regarding the evolution of the context, the mission will aim at keeping an early recovery WaSH component with ongoing research for development of new areas in line with the shift of context that entail wave of return movements to newly secured area. Simultaneously, as some camps will remain at least until 2020, being a key actor in wash in camps is a process already launched through the consortia.
2 projects have been recently submitted:
Exceptionally the funds allocated to wash cluster by IHF are splited into 2 consortia: one for out of camps activities (the consortium is named WOOC – for Wash Out of Camps) and one for IN CAMPS activities (the consortium is named WCICI – for Wash Consortium of in Camps Intervention). SI will be the leader for both consortia:
- For WOOC:
- activities implemented by SI are aiming at improving the access to drinkable water out of camp in Mohalabiyah area. 6 months of activity.
- Others partners are TDH, COOPI, OXFAM, ARCHE NOVA, FRC, RI.
- Acquired funding, financial visibility, searched complementary funding’s : total budget is 2,7 M USD, 670 000 USD for SI
- For WCICI:
- Activities implemented by SI are aiming at improving wash facilities and services in Nimrod camps. 6 months of activity.
- Other partners are ACTED, ARCHE NOVA, CAOFSIR, SEDO, SSORD
- Acquired funding, financial visibility, searched complementary funding’s : total budget of the consortium is 2,07 M USD, 653 000 USD for SI
- New areas => Complementary funds research on going.
Furthermore, SI is leader of wash sub cluster in Mosul and is positioning itself to become one of the key actor in WASH in Iraq.
ABOUT THE JOB:
General objective:
- Coordinate all finances aspects related to the consortium
- Be the focal point for all partners of the two consortia to receive and consolidate financial reports
- Be the focal points for donor for all aspects related to finance management, reporting, audit
The main challenges:
- Develop and maintain strong relation with partners
- Be the HR focal point for the team dedicated to the consortium (consortium director, Finance specialist, wash specialist)
- Liaise with SI HQ for all aspects related to finance (transfers of money…) and audit (due diligence, financial monitoring, reporting…)
- Liaise with the conformity specialist (currently working in Syria and planned to provide punctual support)
- Participating to steering committees
Priorities for the 2/3 first months:
- Meeting partners, donors,
- Have a clear overview of each project and each partner involved in the consortia
- Setup strong information flow systems, tools and processes to ensure stakeholders have all relevant information in hand in an efficient manner
Responsibilities and main activities:
Under the responsibility of the Consortium Director.
Line report(s) on base: immediate assistants
Team management
- Train and appraise the financial administrative team of the Consortium
- Coordinate, plan and supervise the activities of the financial administrative team of the Consortium
- Lead meetings for the financial administrative team of the Consortium
Financial Control:
- Coordinate the financial aspects of the multi-state, multi-year, multi-partner programs in line with Donors’ requirements.
- Oversee financial aspect of sub-grant tracking and subcontracting, ensuring forward planning and preparation for donor reporting, adherence with donors’ and consortium requirements and timelines, and timely submission of sub-grantee reports.
- Ensure that financial management systems and records are effective and robust in order to identify and protect the assets and interests of the consortium.
- Consolidate reporting templates, financial plans and amendments throughout the project life.
- Review and monitor budgets to support financial stability and efficiency.
- Maintain an adequate filing system for all financial and accounting deliverables to ensure ease of access during internal/external audit.
- Monitor budget burn rates and recommend appropriate action on any significant variances.
- Ensure internal audit recommendations for grant funded projects are adhered.
- Prepare budget amendments based on performance and currency fluctuation.
- Participate in a procurement committee for procuring joint items and large capital assets for the consortium members.
Financial Reporting:
- Consolidate financial reports, fund requests and budgets in a timely fashion.
- Ensure that all financial records and accounts are compiled on time, accurately and in line with international accounting standards and donor regulations.
- Finalize year end accounts and provide any ad-hoc year reports that may be required.
- Maintain accounting records.
- Follow up on timely implementation of the recommendations to remedy significant variances.
Communication/Financial support to partners
- Occasionally participate in any such consortium meetings to foster compliance and to address any financial issues.
- Ensure that sub-grant related processes and procedures are consistently implemented through the use of compliance checks and agreements.
- Undertake periodic visits to the field in order to support consortium members and put forward recommendations for improvements where appropriate.
- Facilitate training sessions on grants management, general accounting, internal controls and administrative systems.
- Track lessons learned and share with consortium members throughout the projects implementation.
- Organize for Peer reviews amongst the finance personnel of the four sub agreement partner agencies and draw lessons learnt to improve financial oversight.
- Act as a link between headquarters and the field for all matters relating to finance
Specific skills and experience:
Education :
Post-graduate degree in humanitarian and/or development studies, social sciences, political sciences, finance, or similar field
Experience:
- Essential: Proven ability to coordinate financial aspects within consortium or any multi actors projects in complex environment.
- Essential: Minimum 3 years senior project management position in an INGO with experience managing complex emergency response projects
- Essential: Knowledge and experience working with IHF projects
- Essential: Previous experience in data analysis and report writing
Soft skills:
- Good organizational, planning, communication skills
- Knowledge of SI admin procedures
- Reporting experience
- Advanced computer skills
- Flexible, initiative, rigorous
Language:
- English written and spoken/Arabic is an asset
A salaried post:
According to experience, starting from 2860 euros gross per month (2600 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly)
+100€/year of humanitarian experience at the same position
+50€/year of experience at a humanitarian position which has helped to reach the current level
and a monthly Per Diem of 750 USD
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.
Vacation:
During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time-off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7-day break during the 3rd and the 9th month (with 750 USD allocated by Solidarités). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 14-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).
Social and medical cover:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
Security :
Erbil security situation is stable, nevertheless, specific attention for female staff and movements on foot at night.
Field security is volatile, with a strong presence of armed actors, and potential for security events. Daily security checks are conducted prior validation of movements with limited capacity to prevent asymmetric incidents. A specific attention is to be given to road movements between Erbil and Mosul. Office/GH is being set in East Mosul, where security situation has been stable over the last few months following retaking operation by Iraqi Army. Nevertheless, the security situation can be volatile due to criminality and the high presence of weapons. Potential ISIL/ISIS related incidents can be expected, nevertheless records in the past period has shown limited incidents.
Expatriates are currently spending the week in Mosul and come back to Erbil for the week end. According to possible control and pressure from Iraqi authorities in terms of registration and visa requirements (not finalized yet for SI), the movements to Mosul may be adapted.
Living Conditions:
Good living conditions in Erbil: individual rooms, fully equipped guest house and office, possibility to walk in the neighborhood, lots of restaurant, no curfew. Nevertheless, movements by foot for female staff alone at night are not allowed due to risks of harassment, dedicated taxi drivers or SI drivers are identified.
Fully equipped Guesthouse/Office in Mosul: The expatriate cannot stay overnight if alone in the base. In that case he/she does have to do the back and forth between Erbil and Mosul (1h30 by the road). The expatriate team (PM & Field Co) stays the all week and come back to Erbil for the week-end. The curfew is now at 6pm. No cook, the food is bought outside (plenty of restaurant, and food product in the market).
Does this description fit you? Please send us your CV and Cover letter in English. CV only applications will not be considered.
NB: The vacancy may close before the deadline. Thank you for your comprehension
For further information about Solidarités International, please consult our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/ |