Finance Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international humanitarian organization founded in Denmark in 195

• With a mission to assist refugees and internally displaced persons globally, DRC provides emergency aid, advocates for their rights, and works towards sustainable solutions for a brighter future. The organization has grown to employ over 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers, operating in multiple countries and focusing on conflict-affected areas. DRC has been active in Syria since 2008, initially responding to the Iraqi refugee crisis and later expanding its efforts to address the ongoing Syria crisis. DRC's work encompasses a full cycle of displacement, addressing life-saving humanitarian needs and supporting community recovery until durable solutions can be achieved. The organization emphasizes responsible and sustainable solutions in cooperation with local communities, aiming for successful integration and, when possible, facilitating the return of displaced individuals to their homes. DRC's operations in Syria include a range of sectors such as Economic Recovery and Resilience, Protection, WASH, Shelter and Infrastructure, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding, including Humanitarian Mine Action. DRC also maintains a rapid response mechanism to address emerging crises and has active portfolios in neighboring countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Türkiye, and Iraq, providing a cross-border response to the Syria crisis through protection monitoring, advocacy, and trend analysis.

Job Overview:
The coordinator" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Finance Coordinator plays a crucial role in the financial management of projects within the Danish Refugee Council. This position is responsible for budget development, modifications, financial monitoring, forecasting, and ensuring compliance with donor financial reporting requirements. The Finance Coordinator will oversee the setup of project budgets in the Dynamics system, ensuring that they are accurate, realistic, and aligned with program plans. The role involves leading the Budget Follow-Up (BFU) and Budget vs. Actual (BvA) processes, supporting Budget Holders and Programme teams, and providing management with reliable financial analysis to aid in decision-making. The Finance Coordinator is expected to maintain clear documentation and version control for all budgets and modifications, ensuring that all financial activities are compliant with donor requirements and organizational policies. This position is integral to the financial health of the organization, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and that financial reporting is accurate and timely.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Budget Management: Lead the preparation of budgets for new proposals, extensions, top-ups, and amendments. Coordinate inputs from various departments including Programme, Grants, HR, Supply Chain, Administration, and Area Offices. Ensure that budgets align with implementation plans, staffing structures, procurement plans, and donor requirements. Review cost assumptions, exchange rates, shared costs, indirect costs, and co-funding requirements. Lead budget modifications and assess whether changes fall within donor flexibility limits or require formal approval. Maintain clear documentation, approvals, and version control for all budgets and modifications. Lead the monthly preparation and updating of BFU/BvA reports, reviewing actual expenditure, commitments, forecasts, remaining balances, and projected variances. Conduct BFU/BvA meetings with Budget Holders and relevant departments, agreeing on corrective actions and following up on implementation.
• Financial Reporting and Donor Compliance: Review donor financial reports before submission to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance. Coordinate with Grants and Programme teams to resolve discrepancies between financial and narrative reports. Support donor queries, audits, financial verifications, and project close-out processes. Provide guidance on donor rules, eligible costs, reporting requirements, and budget flexibility.
• Dynamics and Project Budget Setup: Lead the creation and maintenance of project budgets in Dynamics. Review system-generated reports and resolve budget-control or project-setup issues. Maintain supporting documentation for project creation, budget uploads, and system changes. Coordinate with regional or headquarters teams on technical system issues when required.
• Programme and Budget Holder Support: Act as the main Finance focal point for budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Advise teams on the financial implications of operational decisions. Support the development of realistic spending and implementation plans. Provide training and coaching on budget management, donor compliance, and financial reporting.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Finance Coordinator position should possess a strong background in budgeting, financial reporting, grants finance, or project financial management. A minimum of five years of relevant experience is required, including experience in a senior technical or coordination role. Candidates should have a strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, financial reporting, and donor compliance. Advanced Excel skills are essential, along with the ability to analyze complex financial data and identify risks or inconsistencies. Strong planning, communication, presentation, and meeting-facilitation skills are necessary, as well as the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-Finance colleagues. The candidate should demonstrate strong leadership, coaching, problem-solving, and stakeholder-management skills, along with a high level of integrity, accuracy, professional judgment, and attention to detail. The ability to manage competing priorities in a high-pressure environment is also crucial.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, which is mandatory for this position. Additionally, professional certifications such as ACCA, CPA, CMA, CIMA, or an equivalent qualification are considered advantageous and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in budgeting, financial reporting, grants finance, or project financial management. This experience should include a senior technical or coordination role, demonstrating a strong understanding of financial processes and compliance within an international NGO or humanitarian context. Previous experience in an international NGO, humanitarian, or development organization is strongly preferred, as it provides the necessary background to navigate the complexities of financial management in such environments.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Candidates should possess strong communication skills in both languages to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders and ensure clarity in financial reporting and compliance. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
The contract length for this position is six months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and available funding. The position is classified as Non-Management – G1 level. The location for this role is Syria, specifically in Damascus. The expected start date for the successful candidate is the 1st of September 202

• Interested applicants are required to submit a cover letter and an updated CV, with the stipulation that CV-only applications will not be considered. Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 06th of August 202
• For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, applicants are encouraged to consult the organization's website at www.drc.org.