Senior Finance Officer at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary: 

You will help coordinate and contribute to the implementation of the Country Program’s (CP’s) accounting systems, policies and procedures in compliance with CRS’ established accounting standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements to support high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will efficiently perform accounting services through documenting financial transactions by compiling, analyzing, and verifying account information; preparing account entries; and delivering financial reporting services.

Note: Depending on the CP portfolio (scope and complexity), the Senior Finance Officer can be assigned responsibility for delivery of accounting and financial reporting services for the entire program, for a field office, or for either payable or receivable transactions.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Review and validate supporting documentation before processing of financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete and authorizations are in place.
• Ensure setup and maintenance of all data required for processing financial transactions for assigned accounts in SunSystems financial accounting package.
• Record financial transactions following appropriate authorizations. Review and analyze various accounts to detect irregularities. Advise on corrective actions and prepare correcting entries and adjustments, as necessary.
• Monitor disbursement/receipt schedules, alert relevant staff of due payments/liquidations, and maintain appropriate communication and follow-up to facilitate timeliness of financial resource management.
• Evaluate and monitor subrecipient financial management processes in accordance with policy and strengthen capacity of partner in financial accounting and transactions.
• Prepare various, periodic and ad hoc financial reports, as needed, and perform variance analyses to assist with decision-making and proper management of financial resources.
• Provide information to subrecipients and staff on financial accounting policies and procedural compliance issues and contribute to capacity strengthening.
• Perform assigned treasury (cash payment/receipt, cash forecast, etc.) duties, as long as segregation of duties is ensured.
• Work with Deputy Finance Manager to review and analyze the staff receivable accounts for correction and liquidations.
• Review the vendor aging report and work with procurement team with the support of DFM to liquidate vendor advances.
• Review the GL/PPM variance report in Insight and identify the cause of the variance for corrections.

Required Languages - English language 

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. 
• Experience in the use of Enterprise Resource Planning Software. (ERP).
• Accuracy and completeness with great attention to detail
• Excellent analytical skills with ability to detect and report inconsistencies
• Accuracy and completeness with great attention to detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively

Preferred Qualifications 

• Preferably with experience in an international or local NGO, or a financial/banking institution.
• Knowledge of financial reporting software preferred.
• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred

Supervisory Responsibilities: Finance Interns 

Key Working Relationships:  

• Internal - Finance, Operations and Program staff
• External - Sub-recipients, - Government agencies, Banks etc 

Basic Qualifications:

•  B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting.
• A qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA/ICAN or equivalent) is required.
• Minimum of four years experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international or local NGO, or a financial/banking institution.