The Finance Officer will support smooth and effective program implementation by handling financial responsibilities at the Hpa Ann Area Office, meeting relevant SCI Essential Standards and donor compliance.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Report to: Project Manager (SDC-Primary Healthcare Project)

Technical report to: Area Finance Coordinator

Direct Reports: Program Support Assistant (if any) or None

Financial Approval: No financial approval

Travel: Occasionally (up to 5 days per month)

Dimensions: Programme accounting; staff management; works together with Sub-grant Officer under the guidance of Project Coordinator (Community Health System Strengthening and Partnership)

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

Finance:

• Make various payments as per the authorization and approval of budget holders (BHs) and delegated BHs in accordance with Save the Children’s Scheme of Delegation and financial management policy.
• Develop an appropriate timetable to ensure a transparent cash transition method, including conducting cash counts with senior staff and reconciling all cash weekly and/or randomly.
• Ensure the cash in hand is balanced at all times by using manual cash books and maintain about 2 weeks’ expenditure of the following month at the end of the month
• Liaise with Area and Yangon finance staff regarding all relevant financial compliance issues.
• Capacity Building of budget holders and project officers in terms of financial control and compliance and budget management, etc, as required.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of cash transfer requests from the Yangon Head Office based on the program’s appropriate cash requirement forecasting.
• Ensure that all collections and payments are done against serially pre-numbered cash receipts and cash payment vouchers.
• Ensure conformity with Essential Standards and requirements set up in Agresso FMS for additional relevant guidance in float management and controls, including issuing, reconciling and recording.
• Completely fill in the relevant SCI payment/receipt vouchers for all transactions ensuring accurate description, coding, and enclosing relevant required supporting documents.
• Enter regular financial data into the cash and petty cash offline Excel spreadsheets based on approved payment vouchers.
• Ensure that all financial transactions are coded appropriately as required under the Agresso accounting system. Liaise and consult with Budget Holders, Area finance staff and Yangon Finance and Awards Management Departments as needed.
• Undertake month-end procedures in compliance with financial requirements and ensure timely submission of the full financial document to area and Yangon finance teams.
• Work together with the Sub-grant Officer in relation to both financial and award-related matters to support PHASEM partner viz. Karen Baptist Convention Social Mission is SCI’s sub-grantee to deliver expected results while managing the project
• Make recommendations where necessary to improve existing financial systems/controls and request support from Yangon for additional guidance, training, and advice on improvement wherever the need is seen.
• Organizing the filling system in accordance with the required standards to ensure a clear, logical audit trail.
• Scan for all payments and take regular backups of the financial data to make the appropriate records.
• With the support of the Area Finance team, facilitate the process of internal and external audit, providing necessary financial documents and other information.

Others:

• Writing reports and daily correspondence
• Perform any other relevant duties assigned by the supervisor
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to health and safety, security, equal opportunities and other relevant policies
• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects Save the Children’s commitment to safeguarding children in accordance with the Child Protection Policy

Children Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Provide Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct to all program beneficiaries through age-appropriate verbal or written information in relevant languages, to increase awareness and ensure compliance with these policies

QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree and/or specification in financial management/accounting

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Three years’ professional working experience, preferably in the development/health/humanitarian sector
• Professional working experience with international organizations is preferable
• High level of integrity and ability to work as part of a professional team
• Ability to work under high pressure to meet tight deadlines
• Skills in administration
• Proven team working ability
• Willingness to work in field office location
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles
• Good communication skills, including English language ability
• Computer proficiency, especially MS Excel

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
• Always acts in the best interests of children

Child Safeguarding:

• We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.