Finance Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established in 1943, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, focusing on saving, protecting, and transforming lives in need, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. The organization is dedicated to relief and development work through various programs including emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS Philippines, established in 1945, is the longest-running CRS country program and employs over 100 staff members across its main office in Manila and sub-offices in Davao, Tacloban, and Cotabato. The Philippines program is recognized internationally for its impactful and innovative approaches to peacebuilding, emergency response, disaster risk reduction, and youth engagement, and collaborates closely with local, municipal, and national government agencies as well as a national network of partners.

Job Overview:
The Finance Officer will play a crucial role in coordinating and implementing the Country Program's accounting systems, policies, and procedures in compliance with CRS's established accounting standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and donor regulations. This position is essential for ensuring high-quality program support for vulnerable populations. The Finance Officer will be responsible for documenting financial transactions, compiling, analyzing, and verifying account information, preparing account entries, and delivering financial reporting services. Depending on the complexity of the Country Program portfolio, the Finance Officer may oversee accounting and financial reporting for the entire program, a specific field office, or manage either payable or receivable transactions. The role requires a proactive approach to reviewing and validating supporting documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness before processing financial transactions, and maintaining effective communication with relevant staff to facilitate timely financial resource management. Additionally, the Finance Officer will prepare various financial reports and perform variance analyses to assist in decision-making and financial management.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Officer will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties including: reviewing and validating supporting documentation for financial transactions; ensuring all required documents are accurate and complete; maintaining data for processing financial transactions in the Insight financial accounting package; recording financial transactions following appropriate authorizations; analyzing accounts to detect irregularities and advising on corrective actions; monitoring disbursement and receipt schedules; preparing periodic and ad hoc financial reports; performing variance analyses; evaluating and monitoring subrecipient financial management processes; providing information to subrecipients and staff on financial accounting policies; and contributing to capacity strengthening efforts for partners in financial accounting and transactions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting such as CPA/ACCA or equivalent. A minimum of two years' experience in a similar role is required, preferably within an international or local NGO or a financial/banking institution. Knowledge of relevant public donors' regulations is preferred, along with proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio) and web conferencing applications. Familiarity with financial reporting software is also preferred.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with accounting courses, or an equivalent accounting qualification such as CPA or ACCA. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of financial management and compliance within the context of humanitarian work.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of relevant experience in a role with similar responsibilities. This experience should ideally be gained in an international or local NGO setting or within a financial or banking institution, providing the candidate with a solid understanding of financial processes and regulations.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are good written and spoken Filipino and English. Proficiency in both languages is essential for effective communication within the organization and with external partners.

Additional Notes:
The Finance Officer position may require travel up to 20%. The role does not have supervisory responsibilities. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff, and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and will undergo a pre-employment medical clearance. CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS offices are located. The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults.