Partnerships Finance Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been operational in Syria since 2012, focusing on providing essential services such as protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development. The organization has a significant presence in various regions including Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, and is expanding its programs into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a dedicated team of over 750 employees, the IRC has built strong community relationships and trust, which are crucial for effective service delivery. The organization plays a pivotal role in Syria's NGO, donor, and coordination forums, adapting to the evolving context and holding key positions. As of December 2024, the IRC has deployed a team to Damascus to establish operations and engage in coordination for newly accessible areas across Syria, including parts of Northeast Syria (NES), Northwest Syria (NWS), and other previously unreachable locations in South and Central Syria, thereby maximizing coverage and efficiency in its operations.

Job Overview:
The Partnerships Finance Officer is tasked with providing comprehensive financial management to ensure that the IRC's country program has a robust financial structure and systems in place to support its strategic partnerships. This role is critical in managing partnership finances effectively, which includes ensuring timely advances and payments to partners to maintain program and service continuity in line with partnership agreements. The officer is responsible for timely expense booking, reconciliations, and addressing any financial management challenges that may arise. Reporting directly to the Finance Partnership Manager, the Partnerships Finance Officer will also support the financial and compliance aspects of the Partnerships Department, ensuring high-quality financial monitoring and support for partners within the Syria country program. Additionally, this position will involve developing and implementing initiatives aimed at building the financial capacity of partners in collaboration with the partnership team and finance staff.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Partnerships Finance Officer will be responsible for several key areas of financial management, including:

• Ensuring effective management of partnership agreements, including timely advances and payments to partners to ensure program continuity.
• Following up with IRC HQ and partners to confirm the transfer and receipt of payments.
• Verifying partner-submitted reports and expense bookings, ensuring alignment with ledger information and addressing discrepancies as needed.
• Conducting monthly reviews of balance sheet accounts related to partner advances and liabilities, ensuring accurate representation of partners' financial positions.
• Ensuring compliance with accounting procedures and contributing to monthly closure activities related to partners' accounting analysis.
• Utilizing the Integra system to ensure accurate coding and documentation for all partner transactions.
• Coordinating closely with the Partnership Finance Manager and other finance staff to ensure timely accounting and reconciliation for partners.
• Reviewing and validating spending plans from partners against reported expenditures, ensuring that all financial reports are approved by the appropriate IRC authority.
• Conducting financial monitoring and spot checks at sub-awardee offices, ensuring compliance with IRC standards. 1
• Maintaining an organized archiving system for all financial reports and supporting documents, both in hard and soft copies. 1
• Collaborating with the Partnership Finance Manager and the Finance team during internal and external audits to ensure compliance with regulations. 1
• Conducting Partnership Capacity Analysis (PCA) for new and existing partners and reporting findings to the Partnership Finance Manager.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Alternatively, candidates with an institute qualification in accounting or finance may be considered if they have at least two years of relevant experience in partnership financial work. Additionally, candidates should have approximately 2-4 years of financial work experience, with at least one year in the finance partnership sector within a non-profit context. Experience managing projects funded by major institutional donors is preferred, along with knowledge of funding from BHA or USAID. Familiarity with EU, UN, BMZ, GFFO, or FCDO rules and regulations is a plus. Proficiency in working with databases and tracking software systems is also required, along with a proven track record in developing staff capacity.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Candidates with an institute qualification in accounting or finance may also be considered if they have a minimum of two years of relevant experience in partnership financial work. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of financial management within the context of partnerships in a non-profit setting.

Experience:
The Partnerships Finance Officer should have approximately 2-4 years of financial work experience, with at least one year specifically in the finance partnership sector within a non-profit organization. Experience in managing and handling projects funded by major institutional donors is highly desirable. Candidates should also have knowledge of funding mechanisms associated with BHA or USAID, as well as familiarity with EU, UN, BMZ, GFFO, or FCDO regulations. Experience working with databases and tracking software systems is also beneficial, along with a demonstrated ability to develop the capacity of staff.

Languages:
Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Arabic are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with partners and stakeholders, as well as for the preparation of financial reports and documentation. The ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and effectively in both languages is crucial for the success of the Partnerships Finance Officer.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and based in Damascus, Syria. The role involves travel, approximately 30% of the time, to field sites in Syria and Turkey, as well as attendance at regional and global workshops and meetings. The Partnerships Finance Officer will report directly to the Partnership Finance Manager and will not have any direct reports. Key internal contacts include the Head of Teams, Partnership Coordinator/Manager, director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director - Programs, Deputy Director – Finance, and the Finance department. Key external contacts will include IRC partner organizations. The position requires a commitment to IRC’s mission and values, along with strong management and interpersonal skills to foster teamwork in a cross-cultural context.