About NGO Jobs in Ethiopia – Finance Controller (Compliance and Audit) Re Advertised:
This role has a country focus and ensures compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities.
Provide on-site support and conduct periodic spot checks, reviews, and audits of DRC operations (Ethiopia) through the review and audit of financial systems, as well as other policies and procedures, to determine accountability and assess the reliability of the control systems as a whole, and to identify the measures required to ensure that the systems are operating at the desired levels of efficiency and effectiveness.
Ensure that field offices and CO management receive timely and accurate financial information as well as technical assistance to aid in decision-making, budget monitoring, and financial control.
Also, Apply: Knowledge Management Officer – INGO Jobs in India
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Compliance – Field Monitoring:
- Provide remote and onsite help to DRC offices for document checklists, minimal documentation and review, physical and electronic archiving, audits, and other compliance-related issues.
- Conduct regular periodic spot checks, and internal reviews, and implement action plans (based on both internal and external audit reviews) to address weaknesses and improve internal control systems.
- Review and validation of financial records for compliance with DRC’s Operations Handbook and donor policies and procedures for all support units (log, procurement, HR, finance, admin).
- Responsible for doing frequent and continuous quality checks on payment requests/financial documents prior to payment, as well as giving DRC colleagues clear feedback/suggestions on system improvement to avoid payment delays owing to a lack of documentation.
- Create internal control review reports; stay current on donor compliance standards and regulations, as well as DRC’s Operations Handbook policies and procedures.
- Perform periodic reviews, in-depth analysis, and reconciliation of key accounts (balance sheet items mainly cash, deferrals, advances, intercompany accounts, suspense, and clearing accounts) and recommend action points.
- Assist in the timely completion of month-end procedures and year-end account closure.
- Undertake Partner Finance reviews and conduct monitoring visits.
Risk Mitigation – Strategic:
- As appropriate, assist the Finance Manager in the formulation of SOPs and localized policies based on observed gaps in organizational policies or local requirements (such as statutory audit proceedings)
- Monitor the use of internal controls and provide guidance to strengthen them
- Validate and review compliance self-checks and follow up on action plans
- Create innovative compliance self-checks and work with the Regional Office Compliance department to control areas of poor or weak controls by adopting new policies and checks on a regular basis.
Audit (Internal and External):
- In collaboration with the Finance Manager and the Head of Support Services, serve as the focal point for project-specific external audits.
- Facilitate annual statutory audit of the Country Office and its timely submission to the regulator
- Ensure compliance with statutory requirements of the regulating agency, labor law, and taxing authorities.
- Examine the Addis and Field Office accounts. Generate monthly reconciled payroll tax (PT), withholding tax (WHT), and pension fund schedules (PF).
- Liaise with field offices and remind all field offices that PT, WHT, and PF are paid to the Inland Revenue and Customs Authorities on a monthly basis.
- Report and give assurance to FINANCE MANAGER that all tax and pension obligations are settled.
- Ensure that the recommendations of both internal and external audits are followed up on every quarter.
Fraud and Corruption:
- Help with fraud and corruption investigations as directed by the DRC’s Code of Conduct Authorizing Officer.
- Identify risks and develop/ improve internal control systems to reduce the associated risks
Experience:
- At least 3 years experience working in compliance functions in the finance field at a similar level position.
- If no compliance experience is available, at least 5 years of finance industry experience is necessary (general).
- Experience working for a large INGO in Ethiopia, with in-depth knowledge of INGO rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Knowledge and experience with financial system software, particularly an ERP system. Microsoft product experience is strongly preferred.
- Full professional proficiency in English is required.
Education:
- Master’s degree in finance (MBA – Finance) or other similar field of Finance/accounts
Languages:
- Excellent verbal and written English.
- Knowledge of Amharic is advantageous.