Finance Officer at Oxfam

Internal Job Grade: D1
Contract type: 1 Year Fixed Term
Reporting to: Finance Manager

Job Purpose

• The Finance Officer will support the delivery of all financial management functions of according to Oxfam Financial Manual, including but not limited to petty cash management, time sheets recording, monthly payroll processing and the monitoring of financial activities and requirements as they relate specifically to Oxfam’s relationship with partner organisations.
• S/he will check all expense supporting documentation to ensure compliance with organization’s policies and related law, prior to obtaining approvals and payment processing.
• S/he will coordinate and act as focal point for issues relating to finance at country office and the field offices.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Reporting:

• Assist in preparation of the budget for the project budgets.
• Review budgets, activity plans and partnership agreements to ensure compliance with donor requirements and Oxfam policies and procedures.
• Assist with regular forecasting of project budget utilisation and in effectively managing the resources for the respective projects.
• Produce accurate, complete, and consistent financial accounts, comments and supporting documentation for inclusion in project budget planning.
• Supports on the finance implementation of projects.
• Coordinates with Compliance Manager on the finance implementation of the grants implemented by counterparts.
• Prepares monthly financial progress reports (budget monitoring reports) for ongoing projects, and provide all relevant parties with effective budget analysis.
• Support and advice programme team on all relevant finance issues regarding project management.
• Produce accurate, complete, and consistent financial accounts, comments and supporting documentation for inclusion in donor reports, ensuring that all donor reporting deadlines are met and that reports adhere to donor requirements before sign-off by the Finance Manager

Financial Transaction and Cash Management:

• Ensure the management of cash and treasury including timely and accurate payments of suppliers and locally hired short and long-term staff. Ensure cash and banks accounts are regularly reconciled.
• Manage and oversee projects inventory, capital equipment and issues related to offices and guest houses management
• Ensure detailed and accurate records of all financial transactions are maintained physically and electronically in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
• Check accuracy, completeness, and validity of financial data before payment and posting into Finance system.
• Review payment vouchers to ensure that correct budget codes are charged and approvals have been made with appropriate delegated authority.

Financial Control & Risk Management:

• Support the development of risk mitigation strategies to eliminate loss or fraud.
• Carry out financial/ compliance risk assessment of financial and organisational systems of partner organisations according to Oxfam’s partner assessment tools, in line with donor requirements.
• Proactively review and identify any potential issues which would interfere with reporting requirements and/or meeting compliance standards and take appropriate action to resolve them.
• Maintain an effective report monitoring system, ensuring adherence to Oxfam policies and procedures on partner management.
• Highlight and indicate financial processes that need to be changed to optimize group value.

Donor and Partner Management:

• Proactively review and identify any potential issues which would interfere with reporting requirements and/or meeting compliance standards and take appropriate action to resolve them.
• Visit partner organisations to fully understand the context and operating environment they work in to ensure effective support is provided.
• Participate in regular meetings with partner organisations to ensure that the working relationship between them and Oxfam is positive, open, and conducive to the successful achievement of agreed objectives.

Educational, Experience & Competence
Essential:

• First degree or equivalent in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or any Social Science discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years experience of all core financial management activities, including accounts payable, bookkeeping cash management, budget development, statutory requirements and standard accounts
• 2 years proven knowledge and experience of grant accounting and sound experience with donors funding regulations, procedures and reporting requirements
• Monthly VAT report preparation/submission to TAX inspection; compiling financial documents For audit reviews as needed
• Strong numerical skills and experience using a computerised financial management information system
• Good analytical skills and experience using a computerised information management system (Ms. Word, Excel, Accounting software etc.)
• A critical focus on providing a superior service level to managers and colleagues and delivering agreed results within time and budget constraints and to expected standards
• Excellent organization skills and flexible approach to planning comprehensively, managing and prioritizing effectively a high workload and multiple tasks and deadline
• Ability to adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through
• Good analytical and conceptual thinking skills with a proven proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems and suggesting improvements that continuously seek to provide a better service to Oxfam.
• Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English
• Ability to represent Oxfam in a professional and competent manner with external individuals and organisations
• Proven experience as a team worker and demonstrably cooperative with members of other teams, responding quickly and accurately to queries and issues
• Commitment to Oxfam’s overall aims and policies and experience of promoting women’s rights and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of Oxfam’s work

Desirable:

• Recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) and relevant post qualification experience
• Knowledge or experience of Oxfam's (or similar organisation’s) program work, including field experience and/or with institutional donors
• Knowledge and / or experience of common Oxfam norms objects, standards and tools

Key Behavioural Competencies
Relationship Building:

• Must understand the importance of building relationship, within and outside the organization.
• Candidate should have the ability to engagewith traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in ways that lead to increased impact for the organization.

Humility:

• Must put ‘we’ before ‘me’ and place an emphasis on the power of the collective, nurture the team and play to the strengths of each individual.
• Candidate must not be concerned with hierarchical power, and should engage with, trust and value the knowledge and expertise of others across all levels of the organization.

Listening:

• Must be good listeners who can see where deeper levels of thoughts and tacit assumptions differ.
• Must be able to send out messages clearly to others, and consider different preferences.

Mutual Accountability:

• Must be able to explain decisions and how they have been taken based on our organizational values.
• Candidates must be ready to be held to account for their actions and behaviors, as well as hold others accountable in a consistent manner.

Systems Thinking:

• Must view problems as parts of an overall system and in their relation to the whole system, rather than reacting to a specific part, outcome or event in isolation.
• Candidate must have the ability to focus on cyclical rather than linear cause and effect.
• By consistently practicing systems thinking, candidate must be aware of and manage well unintended consequences of organizational decisions and actions.