Finance Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, established to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote humanitarian activities by National Societies. With a network of 191-member National Societies, the IFRC aims to prevent and alleviate human suffering while promoting human dignity and peace globally. The organization operates under fundamental principles such as humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. The IFRC is guided by its Strategy 2030, focusing on global reach and local action. The organization has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and regional offices across Africa, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC plays a crucial role in responding to humanitarian crises, including the ongoing Syrian conflict and the recent earthquakes in Turkey, supporting local organizations like the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) in their efforts to assist vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The Finance Assistant position is vital for the effective financial reporting and accounting of the IFRC Office in Turkey. Reporting to the Finance team leader, the Finance Assistant will provide essential day-to-day finance services that enhance operational efficiency. This role involves ensuring compliance with financial procedures and regulations, contributing to sound financial management, and supporting the Turkish Red Crescent Society's programs. The Finance Assistant will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, processing transactions, and ensuring that all financial activities align with the organization's standards and audit recommendations. The position requires a proactive approach to financial management and a commitment to upholding the integrity of the financial processes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Assistant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Employee Cost Allocation: Booking employee-related transactions and allocations in the IFRC Financial System, collecting data from HR for payroll validation, and ensuring compliance with national laws.
• Financial Transactions: Ensuring accurate daily data input into the financial system, reviewing payment authorizations, and organizing accounting documents according to IFRC standards.
• Finance System Management: Booking transactions through accounts payable and general ledger modules, creating payment proposals, and managing cash box operations.
• Risk Management: Maintaining a rigorous internal control environment, supporting the implementation of finance policies, and responding to audit recommendations.
• Additional Responsibilities: Assisting the Finance Team Leader with month-end and year-end closing processes, acting as a replacement for other finance staff during their absence, and performing any other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Finance Assistant position should possess a University Degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. Knowledge of accounting software is essential, and a full professional accountancy qualification (such as CPA, ACCA, or ACA) is preferred. Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Microsoft Outlook and Word, is required. The candidate should demonstrate experience in account reconciliation and project management, with the ability to adapt to changing working conditions and travel as needed. A self-motivated and proactive attitude, along with strong judgment and initiative, is crucial for success in this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a University Degree in Finance, Business Administration, or any relevant field. A full professional accountancy qualification (CPA, ACCA, ACA) is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise in financial management and accounting practices.

Experience:
The position requires proficiency in MS Office and demonstrated experience in reconciling various accounts. Candidates should have experience in project management, particularly in budgeting cycles and reporting. A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in a finance office within an international organization, INGO, or NGO is preferred. Previous experience with the Federation Delegation, ICRC, or National Society is an added advantage, showcasing familiarity with humanitarian finance operations.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written Turkish and English is mandatory for this position. A good command of another IFRC official language, such as French, Spanish, or Arabic, is preferred, enhancing communication capabilities within the organization and with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The Finance Assistant position is likely to be full-time, with a focus on supporting the Turkish Red Crescent Society's operations in Turkey. The role may involve international recruitment, and candidates should be prepared for potential travel requirements. Compensation and benefits details are not specified in the job ad, but candidates can expect a competitive package aligned with the organization's standards.