SYR - SENIOR ACCOUNTANT - DAMASCUS (NATIONAL)

Desired start date: 01/10/2025
Duration of the mission: 6 Months - with possibility to extend
Location: Syria - Damascus

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI's interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers - intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.

About the mission

Solidarités International operates in Syria since 2013 with a very diversified programs portfolio in Hassake & Raqqa (NES), Aleppo and Idlieb (NWS) governorates. To achieve its humanitarian objectives the mission employs 350 staffs and developed meaningful partnerships with international and local NGOs.

In NES, SI is one of the leading agencies in the WASH sector, responding to emergencies, protracted situations and recovery needs. The strategy is complemented with a significant FSL component, addressing market rehabilitations, business development and agriculture.

In NWS, SI operates in Idleb and Nothern-Aleppo with large WASH programs, with a focus in camps settings for IDP populations, and rehabilitation programs, especially after the earthquake. SI also responds to new emergencies, including regular displacements, natural disasters and epidemics.

SI is also heavily involved in humanitarian coordination, both at strategic and technical level with relevant fora and stakeholders, including key donors.

Since regime's change, SI is redefining it operational model as well as well as its geographical scope and programmatic priorities. The organizational set up is being deeply reviewed with a Damascus-based coordination office, the reshaping of the base level structure. Assessments are being carried out in new areas including rural Damascus, South, Aleppo and Hama and new partnerships are being envisioned. This is to ensure relevance and efficiency, maximize impact through secured access and more generally ensuring the mission remains fit for purpose in a quickly evolving environment. And this on-going transformation will be at the core of the new CD responsibilities.

Goal/Purpose:

The senior accountant supports the deputy finance coordinator in processing SI's accounting operations on a mission.

He/she is one of those charged with ensuring that SI rules and procedures regarding commitment and follow up of expenses are followed at the base level as well as at the coordination level.

He/she offers administrative support to administrators and teams on all matters relating to accounting

Management of the mission’s accounting

Centralize the accounting for different bases within SAGA

Verify the monthly accounting pack of the different bases (Full check of accounting entries)

Carry out a systematic monthly check of advances from each cash box (matched and unmatched)

Carry out transaction matching at a mission level

Prepare the monthly accounting pack of the Mission

Link with Logistic department to ensure that lease contract sums due are paid and distribute the burden of costs

Check with the HR department that the personnel database is complete and up-to-date

Allocate invoices for expenses from/for other missions (inter-mission expenses)

Check cash box inventories and bank reconciliations for each Balzac

Carry out the required accounting changes if necessary (reallocations etc.)

Integrate the exchange rates sent by the headquarters into SAGA every month

Monitor the monthly allocation of Paris costs incurred by the headquarters within SAGA

Send SAGA to bases following monthly integration at the headquarters

Monitoring of mission’s accounting archives and Administrative management

Monitor voucher creation at bases level and the regular return of base documents to coordination

Verify and check vouchers and other supporting documents of all base

Assist to his/her Line Manager for the filing of supporting documents of each donor for preparation of audit.

Ensure physical and IT archiving, as well as securing accounting documents of the mission

Conduct the quarterly mailing of accounting archives to headquarters after internal inspection

Financial reporting and BFU updates:

In conjunction with his/her Line Manager, monitor whether supporting documents are consistent with financial reports

Prepare the accounting files for financial reports when requested by line manager

Prepare the BFU documents for base update (with the SAGA extractions)

Verify that partner’s accountancy is done as per requested in the MoU signed with them

Administrative HR management

Verify and validate monthly the cross check of operations between Balzac VX and Homere

Annual Closure of accounts:

Supervise the semi-annual analytic closure and the annual accounting closure with the administrative team, under the supervision of the administrative coordinator or his/her deputy (expenditure incurred, analytical and budgetary allocation, leave balances, donations in kind, equipment assets etc.)

Strengthen the accounting guidelines of the mission :

Participate to the training of new accounting staff both at Coordination and base level

Ensure monthly collective feedback on base accounting pack to support harmonization of accounting management at mission level

Prepare and animated bi-annual workshop for accounting staff of the mission

Develop new accounting policies and make sure the policies are harmonized at mission level

Team Management

Participate in admin team training and workshop

Verify the coordination base’s accounting

Train and supervise the finance officer of the coordination base

Experience/qualification:

BA in finance / accountancy
Minimum 3 years of experience in finance management and in a similar position
Required previous experience with INGO

Skills:

English: fluent with excellent writing capacities
Excel expert
Flexibility and willingness to travel to the Middle East area
Ability to work under pressure and to respond to / support several partners
Initiative, autonomy, rigor, communication

Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!

Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.

Thank you for your understanding.

To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org

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Solidarités International (SI) est déterminé à prévenir et à combattre tout type d’abus – tout acte d’exploitation, d’abus et/ou de harcèlement sexuels (SEAH) à l’encontre des membres des communautés bénéficiaires ou de ses collaborateurs et collaboratrices, atteinte aux personnes et/ou aux biens, fraude, corruption, conflit d’intérêt non déclaré, financement d’activités portant atteinte aux droits de l’homme - qui pourrait être perpétré dans le cadre de ses interventions. SI applique une tolérance zéro à l’égard de tout type d’abus, particulièrement des actes de SEAH.

Solidarités International est un employeur équitable qui combat toute forme de discrimination. SI ne demandera jamais une rétribution quelconque en vue de participer à un processus de recrutement.

Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.

Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.