INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.
Terms of reference
Job Title: Country Finance Coordinator
Code: SR-58-2198
Duty station: Teheran, with frequent mission to the field locations
Starting date: 15/02/2022
Contract duration: 24 months renewable
Reporting to: Head of Mission
Supervision of: Nationals finance staff
Dependents: Family duty station
General context of the project
Iran faces a significant deterioration of the humanitarian situation which is likely to further worsen in the first half of 2022. The recent developments in Afghanistan are further worsening the humanitarian situation for thousands of Afghans who are currently obliged to flee their homes. It is widely anticipated that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation may deteriorate further, given that the international support to key essential and social services – food aid, health, education, and other essential services, is currently frozen. The deterioration of the humanitarian situation led already to a massive number of displacements towards Iran.
Additionally, Iran is one of the first countries hit by Covid-19 pandemic and remains the most affected country in the Eastern Mediterranean region and among the worst hit worldwide (WHO). The third wave was even more harmful than the previous two, with the whole country in a declared state of emergency. A fourth wave is expected. COVID-19 has worsened a critical situation, both in terms of health and limited capacity to fulfil basic needs. Concerns are further increasing for both Iranians and Afghans with limited access to basic services, especially health care, due to the impact of COVID-19, the country’s ongoing economic crisis and the difficulty to import essential medical goods. COVID-19 has a severe impact on the socio-economic situation and causes loss of employment, especially for the poorest 40% of the population. Most vulnerable Afghans and Iranians increasingly resort to negative coping mechanisms; 46 million people live below or just above the multidimensional poverty line; 32 million people are affected by some food insecurity and malnutrition, with 1 million children already at risk of severe acute malnutrition prior to COVID-19; 3 million households are female-headed, and child-headed households are on the rise. Malnutrition is increasingly visible, in particular in rural and remote areas.
For these reasons, INTERSOS has decided to open its humanitarian operations in Iran since the very first stage of the highly likely Afghan refugee’s influx. INTERSOS strategic presence in Iran will guarantee a strong and effective humanitarian response to the newly displaced as well as the most vulnerable Iranian host communities filling also the gap that the country is experiencing in term of international humanitarian actors presence. The presence in Iran will also strategically boost INTERSOS capacity to respond to the Afghan crisis at regional level considering the over 20 years’ humanitarian activity in Afghanistan.
General purpose of the position
The Country Finance Coordinator is responsible for the technical implementation of all accounting and financial activities of the mission and its projects. He/she will support the Head of Mission in completing the establishment of the Mission's financial department, including the preparation of the Mission's SoPs, and will be responsible for the management of the Mission's financial department to ensure the correct and efficient management of financial resources, in accordance with the Organization’s and donors' procedures.
He/she shall ensure the development of financial data, budget verification and financial planning. He/she must also verify the quality of supporting documents and prepare project financial reports with the support and supervision of the Regional Finance Coordinator.
He/she is also responsible for managing and verifying all financial processes of the mission, making any necessary changes to improve these processes and ensuring compliance with the organization’s procedures manual.
He/she will also be responsible for the management and oversight of staff contracts and regulations in accordance with national policies and laws.
Main responsibilities and tasks
- Financial and administrative control tasks
- Registration of transactions in PN (Prima Nota)
- Responsible for the administration of the cash account, ensuring compliance with the approved budget;
- Support the Head of Mission in the allocation of shared costs/indirect costs in budgets.
- Support the Head of Mission in budgeting for new proposals and concept notes, with regular interactions with funding agencies with short and unexpected requests.
- Ensure the correct processing of the budget, verifying conformity and consistency of expenditure items, as well as compliance with existing procedures.
- Assess new administrative needs in relation to estimated activities.
- Support in the preparation of budget modification for different projects throughout the year,
- Prepare interim and final financial reports and submit them to the Head of Mission and the Regional Financial Coordinator for approval;
- Update the economic and financial situation of the mission and related projects, in terms of expenditures, appropriations, available cash and liquidity;
- Support the Head of Mission in the preparation, monitoring and management of the structural expenditure file;
- Ensure the correct processing of the budget, including the budget for the mission and related projects, in terms of expenditure, appropriations, available cash and liquidity
- To ensure the correct processing of the budget, verifying the conformity and consistency of the expenditure items, as well as the compliance with the procedures in force
- To check that the inventory and related documents are maintained;
- Update the list of reliable suppliers, as directed by the Head of Mission, for further use in specific procedures;
- Scan and upload to the platform the financial reports signed by the Head of Mission and submitted to the partners;
- Prepare and carry out in-country audits and transmit to HQ the documents for all projects to be audited in Italy
- To provide the Regional Finance Officer with official documentation on individual projects and contracts;
- Compliance with internal and external donor procedures
- Ensure compliance with INTERSOS and donor procedures in all financial and administrative aspects of the mission, including the drafting of mission work plans to ensure the correct implementation of these procedures.
- Establish, organise and manage the administrative files of the mission and on-site projects, based on the criteria defined by the Protocols and the indications of the Regional Finance Coordinator.
- Support the preparation of the internal and external audit.
- Purchases of goods, works and services:
- Ensuring proper preparation and execution of procurement processes for goods, works and services and compliance with Intersos and donor procedures
- Verification of expenditure/procurement commitments and finances
- Verify that procurement expenditures and commitments are in line with budget availability and current level of expenditure (IMP)Execution of purchases of goods, works and services:
- Admin/HR
- Prepare the payroll and payrolls following the application of the INTERSOS procedure and the requirements of Iran Labour law,
- Support the Head of Mission in the identification of current labour laws;
- Support in the payment of salaries
- Manage the local personnel register, subdivided by project; and submit for the processing of tax and social security payments due to the relevant authorities;
- Ensure proper cash management in the mission and at base level
- Assume responsibility for the administration of the cash account;
- Manage the mission's bank accounts and provide the Regional Financial Coordinator with monthly bank statements and bank reconciliations;
- Provide the Regional Financial Coordinator with monthly cash reconciliations;
- Any other functions not listed here, but deemed necessary for the mission, as directed by the Head of Mission and the Regional Finance Coordinator.
Required profile and experience
Education
Advanced
university degree in finance, business administration or other related field
Professional Experience
At least 3 years of relevant work experience in a similar position (finance and administration) in the humanitarian sector.
Professional Requirements
- Solid and proven understanding of the humanitarian operational context, the humanitarian system and its flexibility, donors and their highly demanding financial and security management in the humanitarian context.
- Strong knowledge of donor procedures, in particular UN agencies (UNHCR) and ECHO, DEVCO
- Very strong computer (excel) and administration/finance procedures skills
- Highly capable of maintaining confidentiality
- Able to work independently
- Demonstrated experience in supervising staff, management
- Organizational skills, delegation approach and empowerment of the supervised team
- Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills
- Willingness to commit and adhere to INTERSOS values, mission and vision.
- Previous and proven experience in establishing a Mission will be considered an advantage.
Languages
English is mandatory. Knowledge of Dari/Farsi is highly desirable
Personal Requirements
- Proactiveness and strong problem-solving approach
- Flexibility to adapt to a dynamic context and to the volume of work
- Strong team spirit, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment
- Ability to work and adapt in different environments
- High reactivity to unexpected demands
- Capacity to work under stress and meets the deadlines
- Very strong interpersonal skills: strong communication and diplomatic skills
How to apply:
Interested candidates are invited to apply following the link below: https://www.intersos.org/posizioni-aperte/missioni/#intersosorg-vacancies/vacancy-details/618bc6021fc227001ef109fa/
Please note that our application process is made of 3 quick steps: register (including your name, email, password, citizenship and Skype address), sign-up and apply attaching your CV and motivation letter in PDF format. Through the platform, candidates will be able to track their applications’ history with INTERSOS.
In case you encounter severe difficulties applying through the platform - i.e. if and only if it is impossible to submit the requested files through the adequate channel - you will be allowed to submit your CV and Motivation Letter (both in PDF version) via e-mail to recruitment@intersos.org, with the subject line " Platform issue – SR-58-2198– Position ". Please, bear in mind this is an exceptional measure, as there are allocated channels created for every job opening, which will make this process quicker and easier.
Please note that any application submitted via e-mail may take longer than our standard terms to be processed.
Please also mention the name, position and contact details of at least three references, including the line manager during your last job. Family members are to be excluded.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.