Finance Officer

Oxfam is one of the world's leading International Humanitarian Agencies, assisting people affected by poverty, natural disasters and conflict throughout the world. With over 5,000 staff and dedicated volunteers in more than 90 countries, Oxfam is able to achieve the greatest impact to alleviate poverty and suffering through combining emergency response work, long-term development programmes, and campaigning for lasting change. 

Oxfam has been working in Nepal since the 1980s, addressing the poverty and injustice faced by women and other socially excluded groups and now Since, April 25, 2015 Oxfam is also responding for the Earthquake crisis. It is a challenging environment in which to work but Oxfam’s global influencing experience is its strength. We know our policy goals and with a new Constitution in place, we need to move fast! There is much to do.  Are you interested?  A new team is forming so there isn’t a better time to join!  

Finance Officer

Contract Duration: One year fixed term contract with possibility of extension.

Location: Nuwakot, Nepal

Level – D2

Salary – Competitive salary and benefit package 

OXFAM PURPOSE: To work with others to overcome poverty and suffering.

JOB PURPOSE: To work closely with Finance Co-ordinator (Field) on day-to-day management of financial matters of Oxfam field office, and to ensure that field office maintains a high standard of budget, accounting and financial controls. 

REPORTING LINES: 

Postholder reports to: Finance Co-ordinator (Field)

Staff reporting to this post: Finance Assistant (Field)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Donor Contract Management

• To compile and prepare all donor financial reports as required by ensuring that they are accurate and of high quality and meet donor requirements.
• To submit to Finance Co-ordinator all donor reports for review and technical sign off and onward submission to the Country Office. 
• To link donor-reporting codes as per the contract to Oxfam chart of accounts and ‘C’ codes. 
• To monitor Donor Reporting Schedule to ensure reports are prepared in a timely manner and that the relevant budget holders are aware of dates reports are required.
• To acquire a detailed knowledge of all current donor reporting requirements, and other financial and logistical requirements to be able to advise program staff as necessary when they are preparing budgets and reports and keep this knowledge up to date.
• To ensure that donor reports are reconciled to the PeopleSoft GL transactions and any differences identified are addressed accordingly.
• To provide monthly variance reports in donor formats and to initiate re-allocation of expenditure / budgets as advised by the Finance Co-ordinator. 

Accounting & Financial Management

• To ensure that financial transactions are processed in accordance with Oxfam GB’s applicable accounting policies, procedures and standards.
• To ensure that financial transactions are accurately recorded in the bankbook / cashbook in a timely manner.  
• To ensure that financial transactions are accompanied by appropriate and relevant supporting documentation dually signed and authorized by relevant Program Manager / budget holder. 
• To review and check financial supporting documentation for integrity, accuracy and completeness before transaction is approved for payment. 
• To ensure that financial records, both paper and electronic formats, are up to date, filed in an orderly manner, kept securely, and easily retrievable. 
• To submit to Finance Co-ordinator monthly cashbook / bankbook, in a timely manner and as per agreed deadlines, for review, sign off and onward submission to Country Office. 
• To ensure that a complete and accurate record of all petty cash transactions is maintained at all times, that petty cash expenditure are fully monitored and reconciled, and that requests for replenishment are made in a timely manner or as and when required. 
• Monitoring and management of expenditure and budgets of the field office, especially donor-funded projects as well as transactions posted by other offices.
• To provide budget v actual analysis to Finance Co-ordinator on a monthly basis or as and when required highlighting major variances for follow up and action. 
• To monitor bank / cash balances for the field office and request for top ups through the Finance Co-ordinator in a timely manner. 
• To ensure that bank statements are reconciled and dually signed and authorized periodically or as and when required. 
• To ensure that cash is counted, reconciled with cashbook balance, recorded on the cash count form, and dually signed and authorized on daily basis. 

Partners Support

• To provide financial management support to partner organizations through capacity building using participatory approaches, development of effective operational finance systems and procedures. 
• To review financial reports, transactions and supporting documentation submitted by partner organizations for integrity, accuracy and completeness and to provide feedback to Finance Co-ordinator.
• To carry out partner visits regularly or as and when required. 
• To participate in partner assessment / appraisal processes. 

SKILLS AND COMPETENCE: 

• Professional degree in accounting / finance from a reputable institute or equivalent professional qualification from a professional accounting body 
• Comprehensive knowledge and a minimum of 3 years of proven experience in core financial management activities such as budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Strong knowledge of major donors (ie EC, ECHO, DFID, OFDA, UN agencies etc) requirements and financial procedures in regards to their grants. 
• Sound knowledge and experience of Restricted funds management and ability to work with/manage finances of multi-donor grants.
• Strong numeracy skills and attention to details. 
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems and suggesting improvements.
• Strong computer literacy, and proven experience of computerized accounting packages, preferably PeopleSoft. Strong proven experience in using Excel Spreadsheets.
• Excellent activity planning, prioritization and implementation skills and commitment to deliver against agreed deadlines. 
• Ability to work in demanding situations under pressure in a team independently with minimum supervision and deliver against team objectives.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, influencing and persuasive skills. 
• Experience and capability in motivating and training others (both finance and non finance) in Oxfam and donors’ financial policies, procedures and concepts.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. 
• Good team player/builder and ability to manage staff.
• Willingness and ability to travel at short notice and/or to work extra hours as necessary, often in difficult circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims, objectives and organizational culture of Oxfam.

Applications for the above positions can be sent by 30 December 2015 via mail to recruitment_nepal@oxfam.org.uk or G.P.O. Box 2500. Please submit the application letter indicating clearly the position applied. "Candidates who have applied earlier need not apply again.”