Job Summary

The primary function of the Regional Finance and Audit Coordinator is to ensure effective coordination of financial operations at the RMU COs level and is accountable for organizing and providing high-level quality financial and compliance services to individual COs and RMU staff. S/He works closely with the Shared Services Center (SSC), Regional Business Services Lead and COs finance and program support staff to ensure appropriate financial and compliance support.

The profile includes very strong accounting, financial, audit and compliance management knowledge, analytical skills, attention to detail, ability to work effectively under time pressure, very strong business partnering and training skills, team player, proactive individual with the ability to offer structured guidance and effective support, proven experience in capacity building of finance and non-finance staff, proficiency in English communication – verbal and written.

The position has a direct reporting line to the Regional Business Services Lead.

The Regional Finance and Audit Coordinator is responsible for managing the daily routine  financial transactions, providing technical and compliance service for the RMU financial management under the close supervision and guidance of Regional Business Service Lead.

S/he provides technical financial support to the COs to ensure effective implementation of sound internal controls, strong financial, audit and compliance management, implementation of Audit recommendations and corrective action plans, as guided by the Regional Business Services Lead.

Roles and Responsibilities

Task # 1: Accounting and Budgeting for the RMU funds

• Technical support for budget preparation for the Regional Management Unit - RMU UNR(unrestricted) or any other fund allocations related to the RMU staff and operations under the close supervision of Regional Business Services Lead
• Data entry for annual Budget Mates for the RMU funds
• Monitor spendings through the detailed expenditure reports for all fund allocations for the RMU and prepare the analysis for the Regional Business Services Lead
• Ensure that all expenses are charged to the correct codes and if the mistakes are discovered, coordinate the immediate corrections or reclassifications.
• Work on technical aspects of various funding agreements for the RMU such as Project ID, Fund Code and Budget set ups and processing in close collaboration with the Shared Services Center (SSC)
• Ensure that all receivables are collected by the RMU timely – fund allocations through the different agreements, Intracompany billings or any other receivable. Communication with different parties as required
• Ensure that all payables are paid timely by the RMU in close collaboration with the respective staff
• Works closely with the hosting Country Office finance team to resolve any issues related to the RMU finances in the balance sheet or accounting transactions
• Provide accurate information on charging codes to be used for various expenses incurred by the RMU or related staff and online time entries for different roles in the RMU or hosted/connected with the RMU; coordinate and address any issues related to that
• Liaison focal point for HQ USA, SSC, CARE Member Partners-CMPs, Country Offices or any other stakeholders for the daily transactional issues related to the RMU finances under the supervision of Regional Business Services Lead
• Any other task as assigned by the Regional Business Services Lead related to the RMU Accounting, Budgeting and Audits

Task # 2: Accounting and Budgeting for the Country Offices

• Work closely with the SSC and COs teams as related to the COs balance sheet/financial statements and other related technical or transactional  issues, as necessary
• Review the Financial Analysis reports(FARs) prepared by the SSC for the COs, alert the Regional Business Services Lead, as necessary; follow up and support the COs for the resolution of the issues if/as applicable
• Focal point for annual budgeting process - coordination of MENA COs from the RMU end: quality and completeness review of projections, shared program costs(SPC) and budget narratives under the guidance of Regional Business Services Lead

• Review and analysis of COs’ expenditure reports and forecasts based on low burn rate trends and escalation of the issues to the Regional Business Services Lead, as required. Random check/quality review of COs Donor expenditure reports/BvAs and provide with the observations to the Regional Business Services Lead

• Any other task as assigned by the Regional Business Services Lead related to the COs’ accounting, Budgeting and Grants management
• Any other task as assigned by the Regional Business Services Lead related to the COs Accounting, Budgeting and Audits

Task # 3: Audit, Compliance and Internal control for the Country Offices

• RMU focal point to support the SSC, HQ USA Internal Audit and Fraud teams for any required follow up for the COs’ within the scope of CARE USA financial statement audit, USG funding audit, internal audits or fraud investigations under the supervision of Regional Business Services Lead
• RMU focal point to support, follow up and verify the COs for successful completion of Corrective Action Plans(CAP) issued by the Internal Audit and Fraud teams, Donor Compliance Unit (DCU) and external auditors. Escalation to the Regional Business Services Lead as required
• Conduct the Procurement or any other required Spot Checks or internal control review(authorizations, vendor management, fleet, property etc) for the COs if/as required and guided by Regional Business Services Lead
• Any other task as guided by the Regional Business Services Lead within the scope of audit, internal control and compliance related to the RMU or Country Offices

Task # 4: Training, Capacity building and Backstopping for CO Finance teams

• Serves as a deployable capacity to the COs in MENA Region when required to fill key/senior Finance staff gaps or surge capacity in the Region for finance and Audit scope.
• Participate/support in the onboarding process of CO Finance key finance staff
• Support the Regional Business Service Lead in assessing training, capacity building and development needs of COs’ key Finance staff as part of the talent management and succession planning
• Support the COs in the roll out and implementation of new finance or other compliance policies and procedures, tools and templates – if/as required
• Provide policy clarification and assistance to COs in understanding and complying with CARE USA and CARE International policies and procedures-if/as required
• Support the CO teams in training and capacity building for the Implementing Partners if/as required
• Support visits to the COs if/as required and guided by the Regional Business Service Lead
• Any other task as guided by the Regional Business Services Lead within the scope of capacity building and backstopping

Task # 5: Others

• Various emerging assignments guided by the Regional Business Services Lead based on the priorities and needs of the Organization as related to the scope of financial, audit and compliance management

Education, Qualification, Professional Experience and Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Management or equivalent
• Thorough understanding of financial accounting, budgeting, reporting, grants and contract management, Audit& Donor compliance
• Facilitation skills to conduct training sessions for small, medium, and large-sized groups
• Solid analytical skills, problem-solving, and experience with major donor (e.g., USAID, EU, etc.)
• Strong oral and written communication skills and effective liaison with all stakeholders
• Customer focused while handling multiple priorities
• Ability to quickly learn new systems, processes, and procedures and adapt local practices to global standards
• Effective team player with strong coaching and capacity building skills

• Proficiency and advanced computer skills including spreadsheets and presentations
• Hands on experience of an Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP)

• Works with minimum supervision , is  proactive and has a personal drive
• Works well in a multicultural and diverse environment; Strong interpersonal skills
• Seven(7) to ten (10) years of experience in International NGO finance and Audit field
• Experience in Regional coordination roles and exposure to multiple country Operations  
• Core competencies include – Building effective teams; Functional/technical skills; process management; Organization agility; Managing diversity; Command skills; planning and communicating with impact

Contacts/Key Relationships 

This role is expected to establish and maintain open, professional, and cordial relations with the internal and external customers. These include and are not limited to.

Internal: Country Office teams; Shared Service Centre, Regional Office, HQ and CMPs

External: Implementing Partners

CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer promoting gender, equity, and diversity. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The post holder will be expected 30%-40% travel/visits to Country offices in the MENA region as may be required.

This job description is intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may vary from time to time in the light of strategic developments, evolving need and following discussion with the post holder.