FINANCE HR COORDINATOR - SYRIA

Position name: Finance HR Coordinator
Duration: 12 months renewable
Starting from: ASAP
Duty Station: Syria, Damascus, Aleppo, Amuda
Closing date of the vacancy: 26/10/2026
Monthly gross salary: 2.900-3.200

Context Presentation:
Un Ponte Per (UPP) is an Italian NGO established in 1991. It started its activities as “Un ponte per Baghdad”, in the aftermath of the first Gulf war, with the aim of organizing solidarity initiatives in support of the Iraqi civilian population. In subsequent years, UPP missions expanded to include Serbia and other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. The NGO aims at preventing armed conflicts, protecting human rights and supporting local civil society, especially in the Middle East, by promoting the nexus between its humanitarian, peacebuilding and development programs.

Since 2015, UPP has been one of the leading INGOs in the North East Syria (NES) response. Providing humanitarian aid and capacity building of local actors in Health and Protection as well as environmental health, including waste management. In partnership with local partners, UPP has been able to develop a comprehensive system of health services delivered in 26 facilities, including mobile units, hospitals, primary health care centres, and an ambulance network. For further information please refer to our website: www.unponteper.it/en/

Tasks

Finance and administration

• Definition of the financial strategy for the mission together with the Head of Mission/Country Representative and in collaboration with the technical referent at HQ
• Coordinate and supervise general cash and accounts of the mission
• Ensure and enforce compliance with the organization Anti-Fraud, Anti-Terrorism, Anti-Corruption policies and local financial laws and provisions
• Ensure proper implementation and respect of organization policies and guidelines, design or adapt relevant local policies, procedures and tools for optimized management of the mission financial resources
• Support HQ Administration department in preparing country’s yearly financial forecast of mission (staff, running, shared and indirect costs) and annual budget
• Support Head of mission/Country Representative in elaborating and consolidating the annual accounting of the mission and the report to the relevant authorities and donors
• Support external and internal audits
• Oversee banking relationships and signatory responsibilities delegated
• Monitor the overall financial management of the mission
• Is responsible for coordinating and ensuring effective treasury management for the smooth running of operations, while maintaining appropriate controls to mitigate security risks. Identify and promptly flag financial shortfalls or overspending in the mission's financial management and propose corrective measures.
• Ensure compliance with general accounting and project financial management principles, as well as with UPP's anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-terrorism policies and procedures.
• Provide training, orientation and tutoring for finance and logistics staff and partners where necessary and/or requested
• Assess and mitigate the financial risks on the mission, ensure that reliable internal control systems are in place, and financial ethics is respected
• Check that the administrative procedures related to taxes and payment of social security obligations are followed, and comply with established legal procedures in the country
• Monitor the payment of suppliers and staff salaries

HR management

• Together with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and the field managers, plan HR operational and budget needs, in order to efficiently ensure the required sizing and capabilities of the mission
• Support the coordination team and managers in the recruitment processes, ensuring a coherent management of administrative and legal procedures (recruitment, end of contract, payment of national and local taxes, proper upkeep of personnel files, management of extra hours and leaves, etc.), all across the mission in order to meet resources needs
• Support the Senior Management Team (SMT) and the field managers in detecting training needs according to operational requirements, in evaluating people’s performance and in implementing the associated action plans to improve people capabilities
• Is responsible for training and coaching all HR staff in the mission on the key Human Resources pillars, policies, procedures, and practices, as well as raising awareness among key management staff, including coordinators, on HR responsibilities, risks, and good practices
• Define and coordinate the local implementation, in accordance to UPP practices and local regulations, of a fair rewarding policy in order to ensure internal equity
• Coordinate the implementation of local HR administrative protocols and procedures, ensuring compliance with UPP policies and applicable legislation; monitor and mitigate related legal, compliance and operational risks, provide regular information and briefings to personnel, coordinators and managers, supervise expatriate administrative processes, and support management in addressing staff conflicts.
• Ensure the effective implementation of UPP's HR strategy and standards across the mission, adapting them where necessary to the local context and applicable legislation.
• Provide support and guidance to line management in handling staff (expat or national staff) conflicts
• Coordinate and oversee the preparation of the monthly payroll, ensuring accuracy and compliance with applicable local legislation on salaries, taxation and social security contributions.

REQUIREMENTS

• Essential degree in Economics/Finances/HR management, Psychology, International Relations, Political Science. Master in HR Management desirable
• Essential 3 years’ experience in Finance and HR Management with at least 2 in HR managerial positions in humanitarian contexts with NGOs
• Excellent oral and written English essential
• Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)
• Experience of financial reporting and grant management with a range of external donors using Excel and administrative software
• Financial management skills and knowledge of finance systems and procedures
• Strategic vision
• Leadership
• Team building and cooperation
• People management
• Ability to work in multicultural environment
• Non-discriminatory attitude
• Active listening and empathy
• Behavioural flexibility and stress management
• Planning
• Desirable experience in main donors funded project (EU, UN, USAID, AICS, CDCS etc.)
• Desirable knowledge of the Middle East context and relevant local actors
• Desirable knowledge of Arabic or Italian
• Ability to travel in Middle East and in Europe

UPP requires criminal background check certificate (released max 3 months before the date of job offer) to confirm a job offer. We are aware that in some countries the release of criminal background certificate by the competent authorities might require several weeks. However, UPP runs selections to deploy staff in emergency programs and time-lapse between job offer and field deployment is often very short. Thus, we kindly ask all candidates to get prepared on time and be able to submit their certificate promptly in case of success in the selection.

Un Ponte Per is an International NGO committed to diversity and inclusion within its teams, in line with the principle of non-discrimination. UPP encourages all candidates irrespective of gender, religion and ethnicity including persons with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization.

Ethical Conduct & Safeguarding

UPP takes a zero-tolerance approach to any form of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH), Child Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, and Physical/Emotional Harm, including online abuse, and is committed to recruiting only those suitable to work with children and the communities we serve. As a participant in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), UPP systematically requests information from previous employers on any substantiated findings of SEAH or serious breaches of child safeguarding, reserves the right to contact any organisation a candidate has worked for, and requests data on investigations ongoing at the time of their departure. All posts are subject to vetting checks including criminal records disclosure and screening against anti-terrorism, anti-money-laundering, anti-corruption, and anti-fraud sanctions lists. Shortlisted candidates must provide a criminal background check certificate issued no more than three months before the job offer; candidates are encouraged to obtain this in advance as processing times vary. By submitting an application, candidates confirm their understanding of these procedures, authorise UPP to conduct all mandatory inquiries, declare that they have never committed or been subject to findings of SEAH or Child Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, or Physical/Emotional Harm. All selected candidates are expected to work in accordance with UPP's Code of Conduct and all PSEAH and Child Safeguarding policies. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

How to apply

HOW TO APPLY Interested candidates are invited to submit a detailed CV (PDF format) with the authorization to use and process data on the base of the EU Regulation 2016/679 - GDPR and a brief cover letter (PDF format) that includes the contact information for three Professional References (relevant and recent) to: https://www.impactpool.org/jobs/1230838

Be informed that UPP screens prospective colleagues through anti-terrorism/anti-money-laundering/anti-corruption/anti-fraud sanctions lists before job offer. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.