Background/IRC Summary:
The Syria crisis is considered the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the Cold War, with 16.5 million people in need of assistance due to economic decline and ongoing violence. Of these, 7 million are internally displaced, and 5.4 million are refugees in neighboring countries. The fall of the Syrian regime in December 2024 has left the situation complex and volatile, posing significant challenges to humanitarian efforts.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is responding robustly to the crisis with a $90 million annual regional portfolio and over 3,000 staff. IRC’s programs in Syria and neighboring countries focus on health, cash assistance, education, child protection, women’s protection and empowerment, and livelihood programming. The work addresses critical issues such as access, security, funding, and coordination in these challenging settings.
Job Overview/Summary:
Oversee grant budgeting, financial reporting, spending analysis, and donor compliance for multiple projects, ensuring accurate budget management by budget holders and timely reporting, supports proposal development, and collaborates with stakeholders to strengthen financial planning and grant performance.
Responsibilities:
- Reviews budget spending and advise relevant staff on spending status. Requests feedback on all over/under spending.
- Manage the process of monthly allocation and submit to Finance Coordinator monthly timesheet allocations and pool cost charging files
- Prepares monthly Budget versus Actual (BvA) reports for Syria assigned grants and distributes on time.
- Prepare budget medications’ and realignment for assigned portfolio
- Review budget holder spending plans with arithmetic accuracy and alignment with approved budget and compliance requirements
- Participates in monthly Grant Review Meetings (GRMs) and presents spending status. Follows-up on action points identified during the meetings.
- Attends and provides support to all Grant Opening, Grant Review, and Grant Closing Meetings.
- Provides support and feedback to Operations and Program Managers on all questions regarding the BvAs.
- In compliance with donor requirements, propose adjustment entries required for all BvAs and financial reports.
- Prepare new budget line coding and budget uploads for each new grant and updates in the system.
- Prepares donor financial reports for assigned portfolio for review by the Finance coordinator/ Manager. Ensures reports are following donor reporting formats and submitted in a timely manner as per contractual requirements
Required Experience/qualification/Skills:
- College graduates/studies related to accounting or any other similar subject.
- Minimum 3-4 years of relevant work experience in budgeting and budget management, especially on finances/grants management in an international organization.
- Previous experience with various donors financial policies and guidelines including USAID, Europe Aid, Sida, CIDA, UNICEF, UNHCR, ECHO,GFFO and other institutional donors
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
- Excellent MS Excel skills.
- A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
- Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development
- Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
- Solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
- Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
- Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
- Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
- Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.
Language/Travel:
- English is required
- Travel: 15% to field sites
- Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Budget and Reporting Coordinator
Position directly supervises: N/A
Indirect Reporting (If applicable):
Key Internal Contacts: finance team, budget holders, partnership unit
Key External Contacts: N/A
Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing, and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.
Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.
IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.