Finance Manager – Audit and Accounting-Damascus

Background/Context:

The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of over 700 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery. It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and adapting to the evolving context.

With the new realities under the new government, as of December 2024, the IRC has deployed a team to Damascus to set up operations and engage in coordination structures for newly accessible areas across Syria—including parts of NES, NWS, and other previously unreachable locations in South and Central Syria, adjusting operations to maximize coverage and efficiency.

Job overview:

The Finance Manager – Accounting & Audit is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership across accounting, audit, internal controls, compliance, and financial risk management. The position ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial records maintained in the Integra system, oversees month-end and year-end closing processes, and ensures effective management and reconciliation of cash, bank, and Hawala transactions and all balance sheet accounts on timely fission.

The role strengthens financial accountability by ensuring that internal controls and compliance mechanisms are effectively implemented, financial risks are proactively identified and addressed, and organizational assets are adequately safeguarded. It also supports audit preparedness and follow-up, promotes the efficient and transparent use of resources, and ensures adherence to IRC policies, donor requirements, applicable regulations, and accounting standards.

Responsibilities:

1. Accounting and Financial Management and Internal Control

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Accounting Department
• Assist with the implementation of finance policies, procedures and systems
• Ensure compliance with IRC procedures and guidelines and donor guidelines
• Review supporting documentation for payments to ensure accuracy and ensure that costs are allocable and allowable.
• Review expenditure worksheets for accuracy and completeness
• Review and approved entries according to the assigned authorization limit from files offices before posting into Integra, including but not limited to: PO, and Non-PO, Journal entries, cash receipts, cash deposits, payments.
• Ensure monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing processes are completed in accordance with organizational policies and deadlines.
• Monitor financial data quality and ensure proper maintenance of accounting records and supporting documentation.
• Provide oversight of cash management activities to ensure adequate liquidity and effective safeguarding of funds
• Review and approve bank and cash reconciliations, ensuring discrepancies are identified and resolved in a timely manner
• Ensure Hawala transactions are properly authorized, documented, recorded, reconciled, and monitored.
• Strengthen controls over cash transfers, banking activities, and Hawala settlements.
• Maintain monthly Folder for WOS filing and balance sheet analysis, make sure all month/year end closures are properly updated and archived including cash and bank and lease statements.
• Liaise with the budget holders regarding the monthly cash forecast, support in preparation of cash transfer Reports due to regional office and HQ before the end of each month.
• Ensure donor funds are used in accordance with grant agreements and organizational policies.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously strengthen internal control systems to safeguard organizational assets and resources.
• Identify financial and operational risks and develop mitigation measures to address control gaps.

2. Audit Management

• Support Finance Coordinator in the planning and coordination of internal, external, donor, and statutory audits.
• Ensure complete, accurate, and timely provision of audit documentation and information requests.
• Monitor audit findings and recommendations, ensuring corrective actions are implemented and tracked to closure.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives arising from audit observations and lessons learned.
• Maintain audit readiness throughout the year through proactive review of financial records and controls.
• Monitor implementation of audit recommendations and report on progress to direct manager.
• Conduct regular audits of timesheets to ensure adherence to policy and approved allocations

3- Balance Sheet and Reconciliation Management

• Oversee the preparation, review, and timely clearance of all balance sheet reconciliations.
• Ensure Monthly reconciliation of cash, bank, Hawala, advances, accruals, payables, receivables, and other balance sheet accounts.
• Investigate and resolve unreconciled items and ensure corrective actions are implemented promptly.
• Maintain strong oversight of ageing balances and ensure timely resolution of outstanding items.
• Respond to Regional office for any quarterly and monthly related trail balances

4- Payrolls:

• Oversee the monthly payroll review process to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with organizational policies, local labor regulations, and statutory requirements.
• Ensure payroll costs are correctly allocated to projects, cost centers in accordance with donor requirements and approved budgets.
• Forward to the Payroll Administrator every month, outstanding personnel advances and charges related to T7, for recovery.
• Responsible for payroll allocation for Expat staff and reviewing the payroll costs and its allocation for National staff.

5- INTEGRA System Related processing:

• Ensure effective utilization of the Integra system and promote best practices in financial data management.
• Performing and supervising the posting of entries ensuring accurate general ledger(accounts payable, receivables, Invoices, payroll, journal entries)and proper controls are enforced and appropriate systems in place to maintain all required supporting documentation for each single transaction.
• Develop expertise in controlling the system, develop new reports and be able to train staff in processing data.
• Support Finance coordinator in monthly and quarterly and yearly reports required to HQ including but not limited to (Cash forecast, lease schedule, Month closure package, Yearend closure package, address HQ notes on closure of month/Year)
• Identify and resolve system errors or discrepancies, escalate to service now when needed.
• Support in Production and address of required monthly and ad hoc financial reports (Analytical Package, Vendor, Financial Exposure Request, accrued expenses, pending PO…. etc.)

6- Team Leadership and Capacity Building

Supervise, mentor, and develop accounting and finance staff to ensure high-quality performance and professional growth.

Establish clear objectives, performance expectations, and accountability mechanisms for finance team members.

Build staff capacity on accounting principles, internal controls, financial systems, compliance requirements, and organizational policies.

Foster a collaborative and high-performing work environment that promotes continuous learning and improvement**.**

Establish very collaborative workspace with all other departments stakeholders, to excel the teamwork and fill gaps and address cross departmental related issues in collaborative way and on time**.**

Job Requirements:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, or Finance or CPA.

Proficient in Microsoft (MS) suite applications; experience in using advanced MS Excel is essential

Work Experience:

Minimum of Seven years’ accounting experience.

Minimum of 2 years’ experience in Audit-related performance.

Minimum of one year knowledge of an accounting system package such as Integra system is preferable

Experience with an International NGO preferably.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• 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.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a 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 when needed.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Damascus Finance Coordinator-Audit and Accounting.
Position directly supervises: Finance Officer in Damascus.

Indirect Reporting:
Key Internal Contacts: Other Finance team members in all areas, Supply Chain team, Field Director, program colleagues, Security unit, Compliance Unit.

Key External Contacts: Contractors.

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 where this position is based and are currently residing outside of your home country, you may be eligible for an attractive relocation package. Eligibility is determined based on IRC's operational needs and specific role requirements. 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.

How to apply

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/9BUYTuqBx7