Child Safeguarding Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children, Pakistan is seeking a Senior Finance Officer, for its USDA-funded McGovern Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in Pakistan. The Sindh Sustainable School Meals (SSSM) project which will be implemented in three districts of Sindh including Tando Mohammed Khan, Thatta and Sujawal, to reach 722 schools and over 150,000 direct beneficiaries over the course of six years. 

Under direct supervision of Senior Coordinator Finance & Awards is expected to perform financial duties around accounting cycle and internal control environment, including; to ensure accuracy of accounting records & system, adherence of organizational policies & procedures and to ensure compliance of statutory obligations.

S/he is expected to ensure that financial regulations and controls are in place at all times and all the financial transactions are administered, recorded and reported in accordance with both Save the Children and donor policies and procedures.  The post holder will ensure that all reports whether periodic, statutory or donor related are accurate and meet the required standard.

The post holder will also be responsible for proper maintenance of Save the Children’s computerized accounting system (i.e. Agresso) and time closure of month-end and year-end accounts.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Senior Coordinator Finance and Awards.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Nil. 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of the Finance Team, contribute to:

• Follow an organisational culture that reflects our values, promotes accountability and high performance and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our Members and donors

Financial Accounting and Transaction Management:

• Review financial transactions and supporting documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, appropriate authorization, correct coding and compliance with SCI policies, procedures and applicable donor requirements.
• Review payment requests, invoices, purchase orders, contracts, goods received notes, service completion records and other supporting documents, as applicable, before processing.
• Prepare and process bank payment vouchers and related accounting documentation, ensuring that payments are supported by complete documentation and approved by the appropriate delegated authority.
• Verify the accuracy of calculations, tax deductions, statutory deductions and other applicable financial obligations before payments are processed.
• Ensure that payments to suppliers, consultants, service providers and implementing partners are processed in accordance with approved terms, payment schedules and organizational procedures.
• Maintain complete and properly organized financial records, including vouchers, invoices, reconciliations, approvals and supporting documents, in accordance with SCI's document retention and audit requirements.
• Ensure that transactions are recorded accurately and on a timely basis in Agresso and other approved financial systems and tracking tools.

Budget Monitoring, Forecasting and Financial Analysis:

• Assist the Senior Coordinator Finance and Awards in preparing and updating the master budget, periodic budget revisions, monthly BVA reports and financial forecasts.
• Maintain appropriate financial tracking tools to monitor budget utilization, expenditure trends, commitments, partner advances and liquidations.
• Ensure that financial transactions comply with SCI policies, delegated authority limits, financial procedures, applicable statutory requirements and USDA donor rules.
• Review financial processes, records and supporting documentation to identify control weaknesses, potential fraud risks, errors and areas requiring corrective action.
• Assist the Senior Coordinator Finance and Awards in reviewing implementing partners' budgets, financial reports, liquidations, expenditure schedules and supporting documentation.
• Review general ledger transactions and account balances and investigate unusual entries, incorrect allocations and unreconciled items.

Month-End, Year-End and Audit Management

• Assist the Senior Coordinator Finance and Awards in completing month-end and year-end accounting and reporting processes within established deadlines.
• Assist in preparing audit schedules, reconciliations, expenditure listings and supporting documents required by auditors.

Finance and Program Staff Capacity Building:

• Assist the Senior Coordinator Finance and Awards in building the financial management capacity of programme staff, budget holders and relevant project personnel.
• Conduct finance orientation sessions for newly recruited project staff on SCI financial procedures, payment documentation, expenditure controls, budget monitoring and financial accountability. 

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in finance or business administration or similar relevant area;
• Additional professional certificates - ACCA/ CA /Part Qualified CA is desirable
• Minimum 5 (Five) years of relevant work experience with at least 2 (two) years in an INGO /National NGO.  Previous INGO experience is strongly preferred.
• Excellent inter-personal communication skills
• Strong analytical approach and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of computerized accounting application is must requirement with strong analytical skills in spreadsheets
• Fluency in written and oral English communication skills 

Additional Job Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.

Health and Safety:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Save the Children has zero tolerance towards Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Fraud, Bribery and Corruption.