Lebanon: Lebanon : Country Finance Manager - Beyrouth

Country:Lebanon

Duration 12 months

City: Beyrouth

Starting date: 2017/09/01

Background on ACTED

Since 1993, as an international non-governmental organization, ACTED has been committed to immediate humanitarian relief to support those in urgent need and protect people’s dignity, while co-creating longer term opportunities for sustainable growth and fulfilling people’s potential. ACTED endeavors to respond to humanitarian crises and build resilience; promote inclusive and sustainable growth; co-construct effective governance and support the building of civil society worldwide by investing in people and their potential. We go the last mile: ACTED’s mission is to save lives and support people in meeting their needs in hard to reach areas. With a team of 4,300 national staff 300 international staff, ACTED is active in 35 countries and implements more than 450 projects a year reaching over 11 million beneficiaries.

Country profile

Country Profile Number of projects: 16
Number of areas: 2
Number of national staff: 63
Annual budget (EUR): 4,41M€
Number of offices: 2
Number of international staff: 5
Position context and key challenges:

Lebanon has generously opened its borders to refugees fleeing conflict in neighbouring Syria, and now hosts over 1.1 million refugees. After four years, Lebanon’s resilience has reached a critical point; economic growth has faltered, public services are overwhelmed and unemployment is rising. In a complex context and with many communities already vulnerable prior to the crisis, Lebanon’s fragile stability requires an integrated assistance framework, which encompasses all affected communities. In 2014, ACTED developed and implemented a holistic approach to meet basic emergency needs and ensure continued basic service provision, targeting the most vulnerable at the household, community and institutional levels.

In Greater Beirut, living conditions of vulnerable households have deteriorated rapidly due to tremendous pressure on housing markets, increasing prices, and limited access to income. In response, ACTED provides integrated WASH and Shelter emergency assistance to displaced families in informal settlements, unfinished buildings, and other types of sub-standard housing. This aims to ensure access to clean water, basic washing and sanitation facilities, improved hygiene practices, protection from the elements, and privacy. This assistance is complemented by cash transfers to enable the most vulnerable to meet their basic needs. In total, over 110,000 individuals have benefited from such assistance in 2014.

Working with service providers, local authorities and civil society in Akkar, Beirut and Mount Lebanon ACTED has also implemented over 30 Community Support Projects to increase the capacity of host communities and authorities to cope with challenges caused by the refugee influx, including pressure on local resources and infrastructure. These focused on supporting basic service provision (water provision, waste management, electricity, school infrastructure), as well as on addressing the economic impact of the crisis on vulnerable communities’ access to income through vocational training and support to agricultural livelihoods. In 2014, these community-level interventions have benefited over 100,000 individuals.

In 2015, ACTED Lebanon will engage with humanitarian stakeholders to ensure the cost-effectiveness of activities, notably through increased reliance on cash assistance, which has proven an effective delivery mechanism, as well improved targeting of the most vulnerable communities and households. Strengthening the capacity of Lebanese civil society and local authorities to jointly tackle key community concerns, including service provision and income generation, will also become an increasingly critical means of addressing the impact of the Syrian crisis in Lebanon. Finally, ensuring community participation in the delivery and coordination of assistance will allow for more effective interventions, as well as improved protection of refugees by addressing rising social tensions.

Position profile

Under the authority of the Country Director and Finance Director in HQ, the Country Finance Manager (CFM) will be responsible for ACTED accounting and financial management in-country. The CFM ensures that national legislation is adhered to, and that the country specific standards are applied in ensuring efficient use of resources.

1. Accounting and Financial Management
   Accountancy
   Treasury
   Commitment of expenditure

2. Budget Management
   Ensure budget follow-up
   Develop project budgets

3. Department Follow-up
   Team leadership
   Internal Procedures and Information Flows
   Required

Qualifications

• Master degree minimum in Finance or related area
• 3+ years of solid experience in financial management and monitoring systems, preferably of large development programs, possibly complemented by academic expertise
• Excellent financial and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting on programme financial performance
• Ability to manage a financial/monitoring team and demonstrate leadership
• Ability to monitor and evaluate financial and monitoring skills of communities through capacity-building efforts
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility
• Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements;
• Prior knowledge of the region an asset
• Fluency in English required - ability to communicate in local languages an asset
• Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management software

Conditions

• Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
• Additional monthly living allowance
• Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse
• Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
• Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

Please send your application including cover letter, CV and references to jobs@acted.org under Ref: CFM/LEB