Job Description
The Organization
Search for Common Ground (Search) is an
international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of
conflict. Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and
governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward
cooperative solutions. Search seeks to help conflicting parties understand
their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately
400 staff worldwide, Search implements projects from 39 offices in 36
countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United
States. The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work at, with a
dedicated and enthusiastic staff who love their work. You will be joining a
highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities
to grow in the role. Search has been working in Yemen since 2010 to promote
social cohesion through work with youth, media, and women’s groups across the
country. Search Yemen is seeking highly qualified individuals for the following
position:
Organizational Responsibilities
Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks,
acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong
safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and
procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Child
Safeguarding Policy.
Commit to implementing the goal of gender equality and maximize the
participation and involvement of women and men in all aspects of program
implementation.
Ensure a safe working environment for all people involved in project
implementation and maintain the highest standards of behavior when working with
the community targeted.
Adhere to all organizational policies and procedures as outlined in Search
policies and procedure manuals.
Follow all organizational protocols and regulations according to guidance
provided by the HR department
Job Summary:
The Senior Finance Officer will be responsible for
overseeing day-to-day financial operations, ensuring accuracy in financial
reporting, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with financial
regulations. The role requires excellent analytical skills, attention to
detail, and the ability to lead financial projects. You will collaborate with
various departments to optimize financial performance and help shape long-term
financial strategies.
Job Title: Senior Finance Officer
Reports to: CD
Location: Aden
Job Type: Full-Time
Key Responsibilities:
1. Budget Preparation, Management and
Monitoring:
- Work
in existing grant modifications by ensuring all relevant stakeholders are
involved in the budgeting process.
- Maintains
information on budget availability for all grants.
- Ensures
budgets in BVA report are updated on a periodic basis.
- Assists
to produces high quality Budget vs. Actuals (BvA) analysis to support
budget holders in their budget management.
- Ensure
necessary JVs if required are passed in the accounting system based on
feedback from program team.
- Using
pre audit data validation worksheet.
- Coordinate
the development of the master budget and ensure all costs/assumptions are
included and up to date.
- Participates
in monthly budget monitoring meetings, identifying any areas of slow or
fast burn rates or other challenges.
- Develops
action plans based on findings of BvA meetings.
- Provides
advice/training to budget holders on budget management and budget phasing.
- Review
reclassifications requests proposed by program staff for eligibility
ensuring consistency with donor regulations and Relief International
Financial Management policies.
- Support
the RC, CD, Program team, and Mena team to have a clear vision of the
financial situation of each project.
- Monitors
the projects' liquidation period and make sure all payments are done prior
to the end of the liquidation period.
- Work
directly with the designated Audit Committee assigned by the donor to
ensure that the annual audit completed on time.
- Identifying
potential financial risks (exchange rate fluctuations, inflation, over
expenditure, audit risk delay in program implementation...) and informing
Head of Finance.
- Support
in production and archiving of financial reports & proposals.
- Review
expenses on daily basis to ascertain validity of booking/coding,
eligibility and compliance with the donor policies and procedures
- Reviews
Cost Allocation Methodology produced entries based on allowable and
allocable criteria.
- Carries
out inductions and staff trainings for finance procedures, donor
requirements etc.
- Review
and improve financial processes and systems for efficiency.
- Oversee
the budgeting process, including preparation, monitoring, and review of
budgets.
- Analyze
budget variances and provide recommendations for corrective action.
- Work
with department heads to develop and manage financial plans.
- Provide
insights into financial performance, helping the leadership make
data-driven decisions.
2. Financial Reporting:
- Prepare
and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
- Ensure
timely and accurate financial reports in compliance with relevant
accounting standards.
- prepare
the management reports, including forecasts, variance analysis, and
recommendations.
- preparing
initial financial reports at the end of the projects with explanations and
analysis, mainly focusing on implementing site according to donor
guidelines.
3. Compliance & Audit:
- Coordinate
with external auditors to facilitate audits and ensure clean reports.
- Stay
updated on changes in financial regulations and ensure the organization
adheres to them.
- Ensures
compliance with all donor requirements and advises budget holders on
compliance issues.
- Advises
budget holders on how best to utilize a programme’s funding portfolio.
- Ensures
donor regulations are communicated to all staff and that all activities
meet donor requirements.
- Review
monthly cash projections based on budget availability & coordinate
with Accounting & Finance Department on cash requests.
- Ensures
donor financial reports are submitted in a timely manner, in adequate
& credible quality.
4. Team Leadership:
- Supervise
finance staff, provide mentorship, and ensure professional development.
- Delegate
tasks effectively, monitor performance, and ensure deadlines are met.
- Lead
projects related to financial systems upgrades or process improvements.
5. Tax Management:
- Ensure
timely and accurate tax filings, including corporate income tax, and other
statutory obligations.
- Implement
tax-efficient strategies and ensure compliance with all tax regulations.
Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and
Abilities)
1. Initiates brainstorming or
problem-solving meetings. With time in the job, develops skills for analyzing
and communicating program successes and failures; reports lessons learned to
the team and other members.
2. Represents Search at local and international events and
meetings for professional organizations, vendors, partners, and funders.
Develops skills to independently initiate and maintain relations with vendors,
partners, and funders. Articulates Search program/project goals and objectives
within Search and to external audiences.
3. Demonstrates appreciation for diversity of thought. Builds
cross-functional relationships with other functional departments.
4. Demonstrates ability to be adaptable and willing to
confront and change own ideas and preconceptions with the resiliency and
flexibility to make changes based on hearing a diversity of thoughts.
5. Drafts team documents, briefing materials, and
presentations. Articulates program/project objectives and how they fit into a
team’s goals and/or Search’s mission and adapts to the communications setting.
6. Applies standards, identifies areas for standardization,
and coordinates across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects
consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing
things.
7. Takes into account the environmental landscape, assesses
one's own and others' viewpoints in their environment, and proposes solutions
from an ethical perspective.
8. Recognizes the options available for solving problems,
conducts analyses, and calculates metrics and other technical tools to support
informed decision making.
9. Conducts Quality Control of team documents, briefing
materials, presentations, and systems data. Carefully reviews and checks the
accuracy of information in work reports, management information systems, or
with other individuals and groups. Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’
work. Proactively informs management of potential risks and concerns; suggests
resolutions.
10. Independently prioritizes time to reach deadlines and
reaches end results of assignments with ability to accomplish multiple steps
with limited to no supervision.
Type and Nature of Contacts
Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants
on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact.
Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations,
including donors, vendors, and international and local partners.
Interacts with country office and regional staff.
Education and Experience
Typically BS/BA with minimum 7 years’ experience; typically
includes 1 - 2 years’ experience with Search systems, processes, and culture.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel
internationally minimally to none.
Supervisory and Budget Responsibility
May supervise one or more staff members.
How to Apply
To apply, interested candidates should send the following
items to our employment portal here:
- Updated
resume
- Cover
Letter
- Academic
and work certificates
Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.
No phone calls please. Please see our website www.sfcg.org for full details of
our work.
All Search Employees must adhere to the values:
Collaboration - Audacity - Tenacity - Empathy - Results. In accordance with
these values, Search enforces compliance with the Code of Conduct and related
policies on Anti Workplace Harassment, Protection from Exploitation and Abuse,
Child Safeguarding, Conflict of Interest and Anti-fraud.
Search for Common Ground does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin
(ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status,
in any of its activities or operations. For more information on Search,
including its core values and competencies, please visit Search website
at www.sfcg.org