Finance Officer

ROLE PURPOSE: 

To provide appropriate levels of security and internal controls over the organization’s resources (funds and PPE) and operations in compliance with the policies and standards of Save the Children Financial Manual. And ensure SCI sub-grants are well implemented and reported in conformity with the general accepted accounting principle and reporting standard.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Finance Coordinator

Staff reporting to this post: None

Budget Responsibilities: None

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

Level 2: either the post holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work; or the post holder will be working in a ‘regulated’ position (accountant, barrister, solicitor, legal executive); therefore, a police check will be required (at ‘standard’ level in the UK or equivalent in other countries).

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Programme implementation/management

•    Verify the accuracy, validity, legitimacy of all payments and the completeness of financial documents (purchase requests, purchase orders, invoices...), proper coding and authorisation before payments are made. 
•    Ensure that cash and bank books records are updated on daily basis, ensuring that all coding is in line with donor and country coding structure.
•    Manage Agresso processes for accuracy and ensure data is uploaded into system on regular basis.
•    In collaboration with HR, ensure that salary advances are closed as soon as possible and that departing staff have closed all advances. 
•    Carry out a daily consolidation of the petty cash, and ensure all payments are made in a timely manner.
•    Responsible for petty cash replenishments for the Central and south Area office
•    Ensure all the supporting documents are archived and stored in a safe place, and a scanned copy shared with the country office on monthly basis.

Programme design/development

•    Maintain robust and adequate financial internal control systems and cash management across the field office in line with SCI’s Finance Manual, Awards Management and good accounting practices.
•    Ensure that audit recommendations are followed up & implemented in good time and field staff fully understand and comply with the standard financial procedures.
•    Maintain an effective filing system for financial transactions and project documents and ensuring that all financial documents are accurately supported, approved and coded, and that all cheque books, cheque list, petty cash are reconciled 
•    Maintain and archive all of the documents and provide scanned or hard copies to auditors whenever requested

Team management and capacity building

•    Ensure SCI financial policies and procedures applicable in the field offices and ensure that changes in policies are communicated to staff at all levels.
•    Maintain good working relationships with program staff and logistics

Partnerships management

•    Conduct partner capacity assessments
•    Verify and ensure that all partnership expenditure spend is compliant with Save the Children and donor policies
•    Verify partner expenditure reports, and provide audit summary with recommendations to Finance Coordinator
•    Follow-up with partners to ensure timely submission of financial reports
•    Track partner advances and reported expenditures and provide regular updates to Finance coordinator and to Project manger
•    Ensure that partner expenses are posted to SCI systems in time and amounts owed to and from partners are monitored and cleared in time.
•    Maintain good working relationships with partners and other stakeholders

External relationships/Representation

•    Interact with donors, members, auditors, and partners

General 

•    Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
•    Perform other responsibilities as agreed with line management.
 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or business management
• Very good written and spoken English and communication skills

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in finance and partnership
• Advanced Microsoft excel skills
• Analytical skills and accuracy
• Prior experience with donors’ requirements and NGOs
   

Additional Job Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities:
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.

Health and Safety:
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Fraud Prevention:
The role holder is expected to uphold high standards of integrity and transparency, and will have access to financial, operational, or programmatic resources that require strict compliance with SCI’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy. This includes responsibility for preventing, identifying, and reporting any suspected fraud, corruption, or misuse of resources in the course of their work.