Finance Specialist

Overall purpose of the role:  

The Finance Specialist will be working closely with the grants and finance teams, ensure that budgets and financial reports are accurate, in line with DRC, donor and government rules and submitted in a timely manner.

Responsibilities:

Budget development and review

• Support in collecting budgeting information from HR, SC and IT and Admin Department and update the unit price information in Share point folder, and maintain oversight of regular operational costs.
• Support in budget development process, using DRC’s internal budgeting template, including development of BOQs for specific activities and respond to budget-related questions
• Convert internal budget template into relevant donor templates

Expenditure and financial transaction review

• Review all financial transaction in DRC’s Dynamic system to ensure that costs are correctly coded.
• Flag any mistakes with relevant budget holders and once approved, re-book on monthly basis, ensuring that these are done on time.
• Support program teams with provision of budget codes, while checking expenditures against available budgets,

Financial reporting

• Preparation of monthly expenditure statement
• Support the production of monthly budget versus actual reports in timely manner
• Prepare accurate financial reports for internal review and submission to programmes team, regional office and/or head quarters on a timely basis and follow up on questions raised.
• Ensure the expenditure in donor financial reports matches DYN records, and ensure that all transactions included in donor reports are accurate and in line with donor rules.

Support financial management of grants

• Support accurate and timely filing of financial documents
• Support in updating expense forecasts in DRC Dynamics for new contracts and maintain updated budget ledger on the system
• Participate in BFU review meetings with Budget Holder, grant staff and other relevant staff, and follow up on agreed action points arising from the meeting.
• Review partner expenses with budget holder (program accuracy) and awards (eligibility of expenses) and work with accounting department for posting in to DYN.
• Prepare partner Advance liquidation statements through proper follow up of Advance and liquidation reports of partners.
• Facilitate partner advance and reimbursement requests
• Participate in project kick off and close out workshops and support the proper close of the grant per the close out check lists.
• Train and support FO finance staff in the DRC Finance System, how to review TDL, BFU and other areas of budgeting and reporting
• Regularly visit area offices, providing technical support, training and spot checks of financial transactions to ensure compliance with DRC financial rules and regulations.
• Follow up in clearance of commitments and pending transactions
• Perform other ad-hoc tasks as required by immediate supervisor.  

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY

• 3-5 yrs. work experience in finance and/or grants, in particular with budgeting and reporting
• Strong analytical skills and ability to transform complex spread sheets into meaningful narrative reports
• Experience with data analysis and preparing and addressing variances between actual and budgeted expenditure
• Proficient in MS Office applications, especially Excel
• Experience with online financial management software – experience working with Dynamics a strong asset
• Strong attention to detail, with experience reviewing transaction lists
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills;
• An energetic, flexible and proactive approach with the ability to work independently and cooperatively within a team setting
• In depth knowledge of donor regulations, especially of donors such as BHA, EU, ECHO, UN, DANIDA, FCDOand other donors
• Ability to manage a complex and varied workload; to work effectively under pressure; and to organize and priorities work to ensure deadlines are met
• Willingness to travel, as role will require regular visits to DRC Area Offices
• Commitment to DRC values

Education:

• B.A Degree Accounting from recognized university or college

Find the definition of DRC’s Core competencies here

Languages:

• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Key stakeholders:

• DRC staff at country office and field office levels
• Implementing partner staff
• Donors
• Government tax authorities

¨Basic: I master the essentials, but may at times need help from others

¨Advanced: I can work independently at full professional level.

¨Expert: I am the go-to person when others need help.