Country Finance Manager - Iraq

Department: Finance
Position: Country Finance Manager Contract duration: 6 months Location: Bagdad, Iraq Starting Date ASAP

I. Background on ACTED

ACTED is an independent international, private, non-partisan and non-profit organization that operates according to principles of strict neutrality, political and religious impartiality, and non discrimination.

ACTED was created in 1993 to support populations affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Based in Paris, France, ACTED now operates in 30 countries worldwide, with over 200 international and 4000 national staff. ACTED has a 100 million € budget for over 350 projects spanning 8 sectors of intervention; including emergency relief, food security, health promotion, economic development, education & training, microfinance, local governance & institutional support, and cultural promotion. For more information, please visit our website at www.acted.org.

II. Country Profile

Capital Office : Bagdad National Staff : 185 Areas : 8 (Dahuk, Erbil, Suleimaniyeh, Bagdad, Wassit, Qadissiyah, Thi Qar, Muthanna) On-going programmes : 7 Budget : 7.7 M

ACTED began work in Iraq in 2003. ACTED has been providing access to basic services including water, food and shelter for one of the largest internally displaced populations in the world in the context of a volatile security situation and sectarian divide. Despite these obstacles, ACTED has not only responded to the emergency needs, but also begun the process of moving towards a longer term sustainable development approach. Through organising community committees ACTED makes sure that beneficiaries themselves are involved in needs assessments and project planning. As a result, the most vital needs are met in each of the communities we work in. Building on our experience and learning from ACTED’s many years working in Iraq, ACTED continues in 2011 linking emergency relief and rehabilitation to longer-term development work with a focus on interventions based on persons’ vulnerability and humanitarian needs. The apprenticeship scheme has proved successful, and ACTED will continue to build on it focusing on the lessons we learned in order to improve the scheme. .

III. Position Profile

Under the authority of the Country Director and Finance Director in HQ, the Country Finance Manager (CFM) will be responsible for ACTED accounting and financial management in-country. The CFM ensures that national legislation is adhered to, and that the country specific standards are applied in ensuring efficient use of resources. 1. Accounting and Financial Management - Accountancy: Supervise accountancy procedures: filing of documents, allocation of expenses, vouchers registration, balance checking, etc.; Verify and compile monthly accounts from each base; Communicate accounts on a monthly basis to HQ, respecting SAGA procedures and deadlines; Manage the presentation, circulation, filing and archiving of accounting and financial documents in conformity with FLAT procedures.

• Treasury: Open/close bank accounts on the authority of the General Delegate; Oversee the management of bank accounts: follow transfers, check balances, check authorised visas; Supervise the management of safes and cash: available amount, balance checks, security instructions; Assess monthly cash-flow needs for projects and bases and communicate cash requests to the HQ; Manage money transfers, bases cash-supply and amounts in circulation, whilst defining payment procedures (bank transfer, cheque, cash etc.)

• Commitment of expenditure: Set up and formalise procedures for the commitment of expendiure, conform to ACTED procurement guidelines: collect visas of authorised staff members, set-up commitment ceiling in local currencies, define methods and timescales for payment according to local practices; Ensure that procedures are adhered to in terms of contracts and payments; Ensure that proofs of purchase are valid (contracts, orders, bills, inoices, delivery receipts etc);

  1. Budget Management
• Ensure budget follow-up: Develop tables necessary for financial monitoring and for budget follow up within the mission; Analyse gaps between planned budgets and actual expenses; Anticipate financial risks; Calculate and supervise the monthly cost of each vehicle (fuel consumption, repairs) in coordination with Country Logistician; Calcultate monthly communication costs of each base (phone, e-mail, Internet), in coordination with Country Logistician;
• Develop project budgets: Develop budgets for project proposals according to project needs and Donor constraints; Draft financial reports (mid-term and final) respecting contractual deadlines; Guarantee the respect of Donor procedures for each financial contract.
  1. Department Follow-up
• Team leadership: Update the organigramme and ToRs of the finance department according to the mission development; Oversee the team and undertake appraisals of directly supervised colleagues; Ensure training and capacity building for finance team members in order to increase the level of technical ability and skills within the department;
• Internal Procedures and Information Flows; Develop relevant management procedures within the team; Improve information flows within the department and with other departments and projects

IV. Qualifications:

• Masters degree minimum in Finance or related area; • 3+ years of solid experience in financial management and monitoring systems, preferably of large development programs, possibly complemented by academic expertise; • Excellent financial and analytical skills; • Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting on programme financial performance; • Ability to manage a financial/monitoring team and demonstrate leadership; • Ability to monitor and evaluate financial and monitoring skills of communities through capacity-building efforts; • Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility; • Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements; • Prior knowledge of the region an asset; • Fluency in English required - ability to communicate in local languages an asset; • Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management software

V. Conditions:

• Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
• Additional monthly living allowance
• Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse
• Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + 50 kg luggage allowance
• Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

VI. Submission of applications:

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org Ref : CFM/IRA/SA