JOB DESCRIPTION
Senior Programme Finance Officer
Responsible to: Programme Finance Manager
Purpose of the Post:
The post holder will be responsible for the monitoring of programme expenses for their allocated region. They will support their respective regional or departmental staff (Regional Managers and Finance staff at Field level) through the continuous financial monitoring and analysis of projects including projects being implemented via partner organisations within the allocated region.
Main Responsibilities
Programme Accounting Support
1. To provide financial guidance and advice to members of the International Programmes department through analysis and interpretation of results and forecasts.
2. To maintain the integrity of the financial information in the Muslim Aid finance system for the allocated region by ensuring entries are correct and up-to-date, posting journals where required.
3. To manage the financial processing relating to MA field offices in the allocated region, giving guidance on systems, ensuring controls are in place, ensuring the current Field Office Finance Manual is being adhered to and reviewing banking arrangements.
4. To review and process MA grant agreements, grant transfers international payments and office quarterly requests for the allocated region and raising queries where necessary whilst ensuring funds are sent within appropriate time frames.
5. To support MA’s year end and external audit process as required through conducting fund reconciliations, identifying any payables and receivables and giving feedback on auditor selection.
6. To provide financial information for emergency appeals in the allocated region and attend ETFs as required.
7. To coordinate with Regional Managers to ensure the efficient tracking of all MA funded grants and resolve any financial queries.
8. To monitor and track MA funded payments on grants management system and ensure programme management costs are allocated accordingly.
9. To contribute to the annual planning process.
Programme Financial Risk Management
10. To work closely with the field office to identify risk and maintain a financial risk register for the allocated region.
11. To carry out financial risk assessments of the Programme in collaboration with the field office finance contact and HQ based Regional Manager to identify key financial risks and ensure any recommendations are implemented.
12. To support financial capacity building of field offices and International Programmes department.
13. To carry out due diligence checks as required.
Financial Monitoring and Reporting
14. To receive monthly reports from field office for review and analysis on a project by project basis.
15. To produce the consolidated monthly programme expenditure report for the allocated region.
Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting
16. To be the finance contact for the region through planning, budgeting and forecasting.
17. To analyse, interpret and report on the regions consolidated budgets and forecasts, assessing the implications and recommending possible courses of action to the Regional Manager.
18. To support the region’s approach to planning, budgeting and forecasting.
Management and Training
19. To support the recruitment, training and induction of field office finance staff.
20. To provide technical advice to all field office finance staff.
21. To deliver financial training to staff in the allocated region as required.
22. To provide day to day support to relevant finance contact.
Financial Administration
23. To ensure the maintenance of and efficient filing system.
24. To provide administrative support in the organisations for Finance workshops.
Coordination and Representation
25. To provide cover for the Programme Finance Manager as required.
Travel
26. To conduct visits to allocated offices as and when required with a minimum of twice a year.
Other
27. Any other duties commensurate with the accountabilities of the post.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
SENIOR PROGRAMME FINANCE OFFICER
E = Essential D = Desirable
Qualification
a) Degree in accounting or relevant experience (E)
b) Part qualified ACCA or fully qualified AAT (D)
Experience
c) Experience of supporting programme teams with budget and forecast preparation. (E)
d) Experience of multi-currency accounting and reporting. (E)
e) Experience of conducting field visits for the purpose of monitoring and evaluation. (E)
f) Experience of working with international programmes. (E)
g) Experience of working with people from different cultures, mainly at a distance. (E)
h) Experience of risk management. (D)
i) Experience of supporting the financial elements of institutional donor programmes such as ECHO and EC. (D)
Skill
j) High attention to detail and highly numerical (E)
k) Excellent interpersonal skills (E)
l) Strong analytical and reporting skills (E)
m) Excellent verbal and non verbal communication skills (E)
n) Highly computer literate with knowledge of Microsoft Office and computerised accounting systems. (E)
Knowledge
o) Good knowledge of accounting principles (E)
p) Knowledge and/or experience of working for an international development or humanitarian non governmental organisation or international charity. (E)
q) Understanding of issues in international development (E)
r) Knowledge of the project cycle. (E)
Ability
s) Ability to work in a diverse team (E)
t) Ability to work under pressure and meet competing deadlines (E)
u) Ability to understand complex financial and written information accurately (E)
v) Ability to analyse financial data and produce financial reports. (E)
Commitment
w) Commitment to Muslim Aid’s mission, visions and values (E)
x) Commitment to Muslim Aid’s ethos (E)
y) Commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity (E).
z) Hard working and self motivated (E).
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