Finance Officer - Hargeisa

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.  We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination.  And its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.  We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood.  And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 85 countries.

Plan international has opened an office in Somaliland and started programmes that focus on child protection, education and youth economic empowerment programming both humanitarian and development setting, working with/through partners and providing technical support to INGOs, Somaliland NGOs and the Government of Somaliland in Plan’s areas of expertise.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Finance Officer will be responsible for coordinating with CFM to ensure timely and accurate accounting, internal and external reporting and compliance with internal Plan and external donor policies and requirements. This role will allow Plan Somalia/Somaliland to provide greater levels of support for partner organizations through strengthening their capacities to comply with Plan and donor regulations and procedures in relation to finance and Grants, management scope, reporting lines, key relationships

SCOPE

 The post holder will be responsible for assisting the Finance Manager in monitoring financial management and performance of all programs/projects/sub-units and partners in the country, ensuring compliance with global standards, systems and processes, law of land as well as donors’ rules on financial management.

Key relationships

Internal

• Country Office HR/Admin
• Country Office Programme Team
• Shared Service Centre Team

External

• External auditors
• Bank officials
• Service providers
• Partners organisations

Level of contact with children

Low contact: Occasional interaction with children

Physical Environment

• Typical Office environment with 20% travel in Country.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Support Budget preparation and Budgetary Control for the effective implementation of financial plans (15%).

To do this, the role will:

• Prepare project annual budget as part of the preparation of the Country’s annual budget.
• Prepare monthly project BvA (Budget variance Analysis) report and discuss variances and corrective action with project team.
• Prepare quarterly projects KP06 budget.

Prepare Financial and other Reports to aid the preparation of the overall country’s financial report for dissemination and decision-making (15%).

To do this, the role will:

• Initiate country’s financial management reports (Monthly, quarterly and yearly).
• Prepare a monthly budget vs Actual spending for project.
• Prepare the monthly Partners unliquidated advances report.
• Support the Finance Manager in the preparation of the quarterly and year-end financial schedules.
• Carryout monthly support visit to the project partners and submit report.
• Carry out identified capacity building trainings for partners.
• Follow up staff advances to ensure prompt liquidation and submit monthly report to CO.
• Conduct and document regular partner visits to ensure compliance with grant agreement.
• Monitor partner burn rate and offer timely advice to the partner and programs team for prompt action and decision-making

Support the Field Office Treasury Management and Cash Forecasting to ensure the availability of funds for country operations (20%).

To do this, the role will:

• Prepare and submit the monthly Cash forecast.
• Support the Finance Manager – To ensure that monthly cash forecasts are timely submitted.
• Prepare and submit quarterly cash forecasts to donor as may be required.
• Ensure that the cash and bank accounts balances are never in negative.
• Follow up bank account issues in a timely manner.
• Prepare the monthly bank reconciliation statement and submit for approval.

Manage the operations of the SAP system to meet Plan’s spending and financial reporting requirements (25%).

To do this, the role will:

• Undertake accuracy checks to ensure all transactions entered in SAP are correct.
• Regularly review NRGRANT status to ensure grant related expenditures are charged on applicable grant.
• Ensure correct use of WBS (work breakdown structure) for all requisitions, purchase orders and journals.
• Ensure that invoices are posted only when good receipt note have been entered by Procurement dept., to avoid GR/IR (Good receipt/Invoice receipt) related issues
• Advice CO on all field level intercompany recharges.
• Maintain separate real time filing for the assigned project related SAP payment vouchers and reports.
• Support budget preparation, modification and reflect same on the SAP system
• Ensure timely set-up of grants in SAP system and monitor compliance.
• Maintain a grant tracking mechanism in order to effectively follow up grant activities and to determine progress with an eye on Tracking contractual obligations.
• Manage assigned portfolios, in collaboration with the program and finance team

Implement Internal Financial Controls & Payment processes for the attainment of value for money at all times (25%).

To do this, the role will:

• Ensure payments made are as per Plan’s approved policies, procedures, and that of the donor rules and regulations.  
• Review the finance sections of purchase requisitions, advance requests, liquidations, and purchase orders for financial conformity with respect to Plan and assigned approved policies.
• Support the review of projects online payments/cheques issued before signing off by Plan Authorised Managers.
• Prepare project financial audit action list after each audit and ensure compliance.
• Ensure all expected costs are timely and accurately recovered from the project.
• Support the accurate and timely payment of statutory deductions. 
• Ensure all withholding taxes are remitted as per statutory time lines and receipts collected.

Others:

• Provide training and share good experience/practice among the team to strengthen team capacity and team building.
• Keep Supervisor informed of any initiative or difficulties relating to the job’s responsibilities.
• Fulfil Plan’s Child Safeguarding Policy at all times to protect children from all forms of abuse.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned by your Supervisor from time to time to support the achievement of organizational goals

Skills and Qualifications

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or equivalent is required;
• At least 4 years’ experience in a similar role;
• Fair knowledge in grants and project management.
• Knowledge and use of accounting software (Preferably SAP)
• Preferred qualifications: knowledge of and experience with the key donors in the industry is strongly preferred.
• Experience providing capacity development assistance to sub-grantees strongly preferred.
• Experience working with sub-grantees required.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of using SAP or D365 Microsoft Dynamics

Skills

• Excellent communication, problem solving and record keeping skills
• Strong analytical and financial interpretation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Committed, honest and transparent
• High degree of confidentiality and integrity
• Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

1. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
2. We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
3. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

 Female Candidates Are Strongly Encouraged to Apply

How to apply

Please send fill out the online application in Success factor appears in the link of the application and attach your CV and cover letter into the system.

Three professional references with institutional emails should be included into your CV.

Please be informed that Applications with personal emails or irrelevant references’ will be automatically rejected.

Please Note that Plan International Does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Application deadline:  31st March 2023

Apply Here