Advisor: Finance (Global Fund MENA PMU)

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance (the Alliance) and the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality (AFEMENA) are soon to begin an exciting new three-year program (2019-2021) in the Middle East and North Africa region, which will increase sustainability of HIV services for key populations. Funded by a $7.5m grant from The Global Fund, this program will be implemented in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia by eight sub recipients/partners (one per country and three operating at regional level).

As the Principal Recipient of this grant, the Alliance is establishing a Program Management Unit in Beirut, Lebanon, hosted by AFEMENA, which will be led by Lead: Programmes. The Advisor: Finance will play a vital role in ensuring the successful implementation of the program through financial management across the programme.

The right candidate for this high profile grant will have a balance of financial management and accounting skills and the ability to work effectively with a range of civil society organisations in the MENA region.

If you are a committed team member with a clear focus on team objectives, as well as your own. You will promote best practice within your field of expertise and will challenge ways of working to ensure the highest quality and levels of efficiency. Your actions will be aligned with the Alliance vision and you will inspire the same behaviour in your peers. You are comfortable working in a matrix management environment.

Key responsibilities:

Manage Portfolio of Partner Organisations:  Manages a portfolio of eight partner organisations, ensuring reported costs and balances are accounted for accurately, reviewed and reconciled in a timely manner. Further manages the budgets within this grant, ensuring these are captured accurately and managed according to Alliance processes. Operational finance point of contact for all partners, providing the support needed to ensure that partners financial management is accurate and following Global Fund requirements. The Advisor: Finance will liaise directly with the Alliant Secretariat based finance team to ensure financial reporting and accounting is completed effectively and on time. Works proactively to identify and mitigate financial risk at all levels.

Reporting and Auditing:  Manages the preparation of financial reports for the Alliance on a regular basis for internal management accounting. Provides the required financial reports to the Alliance Secretariat grant team for submission to the Global Fund and provides financial analysis as needed in relation to partner and PMU expenses. Maintains sight of budget spend and supports the Lead Programmes PMU in analysing and managing grant financial data. Maintains rigorous documentation of costs incurred at partner and PMU level following the requirements of the Alliance and the Global Fund. Support Alliance finance team with grant audit processes and tasks. Work with the Advisor: Organisational Development to support partners’ financial management and accounting needs.

Developing the Alliance culture: Sets a good example for others, shows consistency in words and actions, learns from personal and organizational experience, strives for self-improvement, earns the trust and respect of management, colleagues and partner organizations, and treats others with respect.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage sub grantee financial reporting including forecasting
• Work with sub grantee partners to provide assistance as required to ensure that their reporting is accurate and that all appropriate documentation is captured
• Prepare bank order forms and submit to Lead Programs for review.
• Preparing vouchers and bank orders.
• Make sure that standing orders are paid on time and reviewed as necessary.
• Responsible of for organizing and filing of journal vouchers
• Review all vouchers and bank orders.
• Provide timely information on all cash receipts to Lead Programs
• Prepare Journal Entry Vouchers to correct coding of expenditure as advised by Lead Programs
• Maintain a working relationship with AFE office and outreach banks and keep the files updated with the up-to-date and necessary information
• Prepare a weekly summary of cash position of all bank accounts and also prepare comments and explanation of the money status or any unusual situation with the balances. Ensure “the summary” to be sent to Lead Programs
• Monitor banking situation, keeping the team informed.
• Preparing the bank opening/closing forms
• Provide support and assistance to other staff as per their request.

Part CCAB qualified accountant

Practical accounting experience, including transaction entry and reconciliations in general, purchase and sales ledger

Experience of explaining financial concepts to non-finance staff

Competent user of computerised accounting systems.

Intermediate level Microsoft Excel skills, including ability to use pivot tables

Competent user of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook.

Good English and French communication skills – written and verbal.

Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to relate with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds

Ability to co-ordinate tasks whilst managing own workload

Flexibility to work in a dynamic environment and to multi-task

Able to build strong and credible relationships with implementing partners and wider stakeholders

Able to work within the cultural and social context of MENA

Acts as role model for colleagues by demonstrating positive behaviours.

Treats others with dignity and respect.

Demonstrates commitment to high performance and holds self and others to account.