Finance Assistant ,IUCN

Vacancy #:	338
Unit:	West Asia - Water and Dryland
Location:	Regional Office for West Asia, Amman, Jordan
Reporting to:	Finance Manager
Work percentage:	100%
Function group:	A1
Expected start date:	01 March 2012
Type of contract:	Fixed-term (until 01 March 2013)
Closing date:	28 February 2012

BACKGROUND

The position requires active interaction and communication with REWARD direct Partners, REWARD staff members and IUCN ROWA admin staff members, to maximize the impact of the Programme. He/she will be accountable to the Regional Finance Manager.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Terms of Reference
Finance Assistant, REWARD Programme


TITLE: Finance Assistant – REWARD Projects

LOCATION: IUCN Regional Office for West Asia -Jordan

REPORTING TO: Regional Finance Manager.

GRADE: A1 - A2

STARTING DATE: Immediate

Last date for receiving applications:28/02/2012

Overall Purpose of Job:
Under the line-management of the Regional Finance Manager and the overall supervision of the Deputy REWARD Coordinator, the Finance Assistant is responsible for ensuring that all budget, financial management and reporting related to the REWARD projects are managed in such a way that they meet IUCN's and donor's requirements.

The position requires active interaction and communication with REWARD direct Partners, REWARD staff members and IUCN ROWA admin staff members, to maximize the impact of the Programme. He/she will be accountable to the Regional Finance Manager.

He/she will provide support and assistance to the REWARD staff members in financial issues. Where Project Managers/Coordinators have the final responsibility for the financial management of their projects budgets, the Finance Assistant will provide all the financial and administrative details to support such project management. Where the Internal Audit (control) is the responsibility of the IUCN ROWA Regional Finance Manager, the Finance Assistant is directly supervised for all financial issues by the ROWA Regional Finance Manager (no third finance person involved).

All communication and interaction with programme partners and donors have to be through the Deputy REWARD Coordinator.

Responsibilities include ensuring that REWARD projects meet IUCN's and donor's minimum standards in all it administrative and personnel functions.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Contribution to the financial management of the programme and the use of assets in such a way as to ensure cost-effective programming
Budgeting and implementation
- Ensure correct coding and use of formats of all budgets in accordance with requirements (IUCN/Donor)
- Together with the ROWA Regional Finance Manager and Deputy REWARD Coordinator, assist in timely and accurate monitoring of programme budgets
- Ensure all financial transactions are in accordance with budget and supported with all required supporting documentation (line-management approval, substantiating docs, etc)
- To ensure that payment vouchers and other finance documentation are filed in accordance with established filing system.
- Preparation of REWARD payments in accordance with IUCN Finance Policy
- To ensure that advance vouchers and acquittals for REWARD staff and partners are maintained and cleared on a monthly basis.
- Prepare all REWARD payment requests, payment vouchers, cheques/bank transfers and documentation, and ensure that payments are prepared in a prompt manner in coordination with the ROWA Regional Finance Manager.
- Enter and Update the Vendor Sheet before issuing the payments.
- Update the Bank follow-ups (the same sheet that IUCN ROWA finance department use).
- Track all exchange rate issues, take action in consultation with the line manager and the ROWA Regional Finance Manager and raise concerns with line management
- Make a monthly and quarterly review of the budget with the ROWA Regional Finance Manager and the Deputy REWARD coordinator; take action on any issues arising.
- Work together with the finance department to finalize the monthly bank reconciliation.

Support to Programme Staff and Partners
- Prepare the payment requests and vouchers and cheques / bank transfer with all supporting documents for the REWARD Programme,
- Support staff in travel arrangements and travel expense claims in coordination with ROWA Finance Manager and IUCN Procurement Assistant, and ensure that proper Travel Authorizations are prepared prior to travel;
- Update the staff and partners with IUCN and donor systems and regulations
- Give programme staff and partners training on financial issues where necessary to improve performance
- Communicate with/ visit partners to ensure compatibility of finance procedures with IUCN and donor requirements.

Audits
- Assists the ROWA Regional Finance Manager with audits by providing information and documents to auditors

2. Assist the Regional Finance Manager to preparing financial reports in accordance with standards set out by IUCN and the programme donors
- Review the General Ledger of the Sun System on monthly basis and send clarifications/comments to the ROWA Regional Finance Manager to be updated on the system.
- Assist the Deputy REWARD Coordinator and project managers in the final preparations of financial project reports.
- Assist the ROWA Regional Finance Manager in preparing Monthly, Quarterly and yearly financial reports and updates on the REWARD projects (Reports on transactions in accordance with donor requirements (budget lines etc)).
- Submission of monthly report and documentation to ROWA Regional Finance Manager for end of month reporting;
- Respond to specific requests: (ex. Variance reports and other updates)
- Review of donor contracts and partnership agreements
- Timely provision of all information required for audits.

3. Perform other tasks as assigned
As requested by ROWA Regional Finance Manager

I. QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: At least a bachelor degree on related field.

Experience and Skills:
? At least three years of work experience in the NGO sector.
? Experience in community participation and stakeholder approaches.
? Good command of English and Arabic (speaking, reading and writing skills).
? Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (Team player, good reporting skills)
? Experience in EU funded projects is an advantage;
? Computer skills e.g. Microsoft Office (EXCEL, etc) as well as, Computerized accounting system (SUN, etc);

REQUIREMENTS

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST).

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/