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ECHO Finance Coordinator

Category:  Accounting and Finance
Location:  Addis Ababa
Career Level: Senior Level (5+ years experience)
Employment Type:  Full time

Job Description

 

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

 

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

 

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Our team

The Finance team has the overall responsibility of all aspects of financial management in Oxfam. This includes maintenance of effective controls and compliance in accordance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements. It also includes responsibility for budgeting and reforecasting, the monthly internal reporting cycle, partner grant financial management, donor reporting and compliance, and the annual accounts and audit process in Ethiopia.

Job purpose

Oxfam as a consortium lead organisation for the implementation of ECHO funded (HIP 2021) consortium project in partnership with Humanity and Inclusion (HI) to Supporting the most vulnerable among refugees, IDPs, host communities in Gambella and Tigray regions in Ethiopia, through WASH, Protection and Health response (ECHO HIP Gambella and Tigray 2021).

The ECHO Finance Coordinator is working in close collaboration with Oxfam Field Finance team and Country Finance and Systems Manager, will ensure that financial records are compliant with minimum standards and have oversight over the day-to-day financial transactions undertaken by Oxfam in Ethiopia with specific reference to ECHO consortium grant.

With the support of the Field Finance and country finance team, ECHO Finance Coordinator will ensure timely preparation of financial reports, the existence of smooth ECHO project finance operation, efficient management of cash and bank balances, and provision of optimal support to Consortium Coordinator on variance reporting. The ECHO Finance Coordinator will work with the Finance team to ensure that all financial transactions are properly documented and that day-to-day transacting takes place as efficiently as possible, as well as ensuring all paperwork is audit-ready for ECHO.

what the recruiting manager has to say about the role?

This is an exciting role in the finance and systems department. Its relationship is multi-dimensional,

internally with the program team, logistics and other teams in the department. Externally, it has relationships with donors, partners and other stakeholders. These relationships put this role as a very critical business role player that brings excitement for broader learning and future professional growth.

Core details

Location: Addis Ababa with 50% travel to the field locations Tigray & Gambella
Salary: As per Oxfam salary scale
Internal Grade: C2 National
Division Finance Job Family: Finance
Contract type: Fixed-term 9 months, with the possibility of extension
 

Hours of work:

                                                                                           37.5 hours per week. This is a full-time role; however, Oxfam offers various flexible arrangements which candidates can discuss with the Recruiting Manager at the interview stage
This role reports to: ECHO Consortium Program Coordinator as a line manager and Matrix managed by Country Finance and Systems Manager
Staff reporting to this post: : None
The annual budget          for the post: None
Key relationships/interactions: Program team, finance team, logistics, and consortium partners.
Screening checks: All successful candidates will be screened through Refinitiv World-Check One to comply with counter-terrorism and financial sanctions regulations.
References: Should you be successful and not already employed by Oxfam GB, we will require a minimum of two references covering five years of employment history.

key responsibilities

 1. Financial Systems and Procedures Implementation

  • Ensures that there is a proper comprehension, understanding and follow up of the Financial and Information Systems, Policies and Procedures. These policies are the ones defined by the Country Office (which will always consider Oxfam Global requirements as well as ECHO requirements).
  • Leads the analysis and monitoring of the financial information as well as provide strategic inputs to the ECHO Consortium Coordinator and field staff for timely decision-making at Programme level.
  • Leading internal audits to guarantee the proper quality of the office financial information with relation to the ECHO grant.
  • In collaboration with the finance teams in the country, the office provides required support to Gambela and Tigray offices related to finance on budget modification, budget monitoring and the coding structure setup for the project.

2.    Support to Consortium Coordinator and Programme Managers for proper programmes design and follow up

  • Responsible for the coordination of the ECHO budget monitoring process. Review the monthly BVA and document the key findings. Communicate with Country Finance and Systems Manager and ensure non-ECHO project related expenses are not reflected in the BVA.
  • Provide direct support to the management and budget holders on all matters of finance specifically on budget preparation for new ECHO HIP 2022 and other budgets where required, monitoring, control and reporting for ECHO contracts with a view to ensuring good financial standards are met,
  • This may also include some finance training depending on the needs of individual managers.

3.    Donor Finance Management

  • Ensure timely and accurate donor reporting for ECHO programmes.
  • Leads a primary audit trail from primary documentation to the accounting system for accurate and rapid ECHO reporting and general record keeping.
  • Guarantee that programme managers have access to timely and quality financial information related with the ECHO contract, highlight challenges if needed and give them strategic inputs for proper decisions making.
  • Responsible to ensure that ECHO Financial Requirements are followed and when this may not be possible, bring innovative and creative solutions to be negotiated and agreed upon with the donor in collaboration with the Funding and Grants Manager.

4.    People development and Management

  • Involve in the preparation of role profiles for ECHO HIP2021 finance staff
  • Responsible for the effective performance management of finance staff reporting to the position, ensuring assessment, development and performance management against objectives and organizationally agreed competences
  • Accountable for implementing Oxfam’s people management policies, procedures and standards
  • Manage and supervise the staff directly reporting to the position and ensure that any training needs are identified and met
  • Support a climate of continuous professional improvement in finance
  • Uphold principles of Oxfam’s gender and diversity principles in the workplace.
  • Assists HR staff with the recruitment of finance staff by conducting interviews and providing assessments on candidates’ technical abilities.
  • Coaches, mentors and appraises subordinates in accordance with Oxfam GB Performance Management System.
  • Create staff development opportunities for finance staff by extending their engagement beyond the job descriptions
  • Provide relevant orientation for staff, both at the start of the contract and ongoing, to ensure their understanding and compliance with Oxfam GB policies, organizational strategies, and job expectations.
  • Ensure staffs have equal and relevant opportunities for professional and career development.
  • Closely work with Country Office finance team
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor within the scope of general responsibilities.

 

Oxfam general:

  • Ensure implementation of Oxfam GB’s operational policies, procedures and guidelines, especially gender equity, in all aspects of Oxfam’s work.  With support from technical advisors and programme service staff as needed.
  • Act as Oxfam’s representative at the local and national levels with local authorities, partners etc. as required, mainly in events relating to accounting/finance.
  • Be a member of Oxfam’s team, participating in appropriate staff meetings, planning sessions and on-going liaising as needed.

 

 

Job Requirements

Essential – Experience, Knowledge, Qualifications & Competencies

Essential

  • BA/MBA in Accounting or any other related areas that can bring added value to the job from a recognized university/college.
  • Relevant 7 years of experience in financial management, out of which 2 years should be supervisory/managerial experience.
  • The professionally qualified finance manager, preferably with some experience in a large and/or complex organisation, and the ability to influence and support colleagues in appreciating the importance of financial standards, procedures, and controls.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills, including high-level interpersonal and representational capabilities.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
  • An understanding of gender and diversity considerations within key areas of responsibility and commitment to addressing inequalities in the workplace and the programme.
  • A strong commitment to Oxfam’s proposes, a broad understanding of the work culture in the “development” sector and its impact on key areas of responsibility and a commitment to humanitarian principles and action
  • Trustworthy, Flexibility and adaptability.
  • Willingness to travel at short notice, and often in difficult circumstances.

 

Your commitment to Oxfam

  • Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women’s rights
  • Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

Key Attributes:

  • Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
  • Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
  • Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Organisational Values:

  • Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
  • Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
  • Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

Note to candidates: Shortlisted candidates will be assessed on our organisational values and attributes at the interview stage. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to adhere to our code of conduct. We encourage candidates to read and understand our code of conduct here.

How to Apply

As part of your online application, please upload your up-to-date CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile through www.ethiojobs.net or using Oxfam’s internal /External application portal https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk / or  https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/15682/description on or before 23rd September  2021.

 

Your application will be shortlisted based on your CV and your responses to the above questions. You need not comment on your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.