Finance Monitoring Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to working alongside communities affected by conflict, climate change, and disasters. Established to save lives, build resilience, and promote long-term health and well-being, RI operates with a team of over 6,000 staff and local volunteers across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization focuses on various programs including Health and Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education, and Livelihoods, which are essential for laying the foundations for community resilience. RI collaborates with local actors to develop safe, inclusive, evidence-based programs that are sensitive to conflict and adaptable to climate challenges, ensuring they respond effectively to the needs of the communities they serve. The organization is a network of three entities: Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, and Relief International-UK, all sharing a common mission to provide humanitarian assistance and support.

Job Overview:
The Finance Monitoring Assistant will play a crucial role in supporting the review and monitoring of funds and financial documentation for all health facilities supported by Relief International in Syria. This position involves overseeing financial transactions, particularly focusing on the release of funds, expenditures, and the preparation of utilization and consumption reports. The assistant will be responsible for ensuring that financial documentation adheres to established administrative practices and will conduct regular visits to health facilities and Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) in Northwest Syria (NWS) to assess their operational costs. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying discrepancies in financial documentation and ensuring compliance with supporting documentation requirements. The Finance Monitoring Assistant will also assist in maintaining organized financial records and archives, both electronically and in hard copy, and will support the monthly financial closing process by ensuring timely submission of complete financial documentation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Monitoring Assistant will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities including: monitoring financial documentation and administrative practices at RI health facilities and protection sites; conducting weekly visits to facilities to review running costs; verifying original invoices against required documentation; supporting supplier verification visits; reviewing running costs documents provided by program officers; checking consumption reports against invoices and reporting variances; monitoring and verifying the receipt of goods and services; identifying discrepancies during field visits and escalating them to the Finance Officer; following up on findings from monitoring visits; maintaining and organizing financial archives; supporting the distribution of staff salaries; assisting in the monthly financial closing process; checking payment supporting documents for completeness; maintaining custody of the petty cash fund; preparing payment trackers; recording payment vouchers; performing daily cash counts; maintaining advance and prepayment tracking systems; preparing photocopies and scans of vouchers for reporting; and any other finance-related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of one year of relevant experience with national or international NGOs, along with a Bachelor's degree or a recognized two-year diploma in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. Candidates with different educational backgrounds but relevant professional experience will also be considered. Essential skills include excellent Arabic language proficiency (both written and spoken), with English language skills being an advantage. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, is required, and experience with specialized accounting software is a plus. Candidates should demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a dynamic environment, and a proactive, self-motivated attitude. Willingness to travel extensively to field locations is also necessary.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree or a recognized two-year diploma in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. Candidates with other educational backgrounds combined with relevant professional experience will also be considered, highlighting the organization's flexibility in evaluating qualifications based on practical experience.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least one year of relevant experience working with national or international NGOs. This experience should ideally involve financial monitoring, documentation, and administrative practices within a humanitarian context, demonstrating the ability to handle financial transactions and reporting effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in Arabic is mandatory, with excellent written and spoken skills. Proficiency in English is considered an advantage, enhancing communication within the organization and with international stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a national role based in Idlib, Syria, and the application deadline is October 25, 202

• However, candidates are advised that the position may be filled before the deadline. As a humanitarian organization, Relief International emphasizes safeguarding and expects all staff and volunteers to adhere to the values and behaviors outlined in the Code of Conduct. Recruitment processes include criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may encompass police and qualifications verification.