The Role:

Oxfam Syria is looking for Roving Senior Finance Officer

JOB PURPOSE: To work closely with and support the Finance team in the Syria Country Programme on day-to- day financial matters concerning the month end closing, yearend process, BVAs preparation, Top up, forecasting, monthly reports, partners related matters. Ensures that Financial and Internal Controls and full compliance with Oxfam GB and donor(s) policies and procedures, build the national staff capacity and assist in the co-ordination and management of the sub offices for humanitarian project with responsibility for financial management

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)

Technical - 70%:

• To act as a focal point on all financial issues relating to the field offices
• To ensure that Oxfam financial procedures are followed in humanitarian programmes, and that compliant systems are developed to accommodate the needs of those programmes.
• To assist in the co-ordination and management of the sub offices for humanitarian project with responsibility for financial management.
• To line manage staff as per Oxfam performance management processes and as per the line management.
• To coach, train and build capacity of finance staff in agreed procedures, particularly in bookkeeping and basic accounting procedures, conduct practical exercises in accounts preparation and on Oxfam internal financial management systems (PeopleSoft)
• In some circumstances, the post holder may have to take responsibility for establishing and/or maintaining administrative aspects of the programme which could include: recruitment of local staff, keeping staff files, respecting local employment laws, paying taxes, and generally ensuring that Oxfam personnel policies are adhered to, establishing an office, including ensuring the necessary communications systems and routines are in place, and that the filing and information flow is properly maintained.
• Support to lead on day-to-day finance operation needs.
• Contributes to the design of and preparation of regular (monthly/quarterly) management reports to meet the needs of programme managers within the programme and to meet the requirements for regular reporting set by the RC and Oxford, ensuring timeliness and accuracy.
• Advise SFO and FO in level of the field offices on establishing and updating of Bank Mandates
• Advise SFOs/FOs at the field offices on the preparation of month-end reports, BvAs and Cashflow/Top-ups Requests and year-end reports and e-filing in the Box and proper archiving for audit trails and ensure that the proper archiving ( hard and soft) and storing system are maintained to keep all the financial records safe and retained as per the compliances requirement of donors at level
• To work with logistics staff to ensure logistics systems adhere to finance's minimum standards.
• Leads, motivates and supports the Finance staff to work effectively together in their jobs; provides close technical support to Senior Finance Officers/Finance Officers in the field offices
• Support the CFM to establishes effective relations with Programme Managers & other managers for application of dotted line management responsibility of field offices’ finance staff.
• Provide support to the reporting unit and coordinate with field project team on donor narrative and financial reporting, including establishing audit trails, understanding donor requirements.
• Provide advice and support to field team as to appropriate ways of effective accounting on specific grants
• Support the CFM on assessing the performance of offices in complying with financial standards and ensures adequate internal controls are in place.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of the programme strategy and annual budget in close collaboration with the Country Director and the Programme team.
• Provide advice and support to the Programme Managers on the preparation of Budget proposals
• Verifies budgets prepared by Field Offices for accuracy and advises on design for optimum monitoring.
• Working with the PMs and SFOs/FO to ensure that all restricted contracts are allocated and phased in OPAL.
• Ensure by providing support to SFOs/FOs on the drafting of budget codes/chart of accounts and its use for easier identification of miscoding/errors and budget monitoring
• Liaises with CFM to clarify specific requirements and guidelines, resolve queries on submitted financial reports

General departmental Administration – 24%:

• To ensure that the Oxfam financial department systems, procedures and working practices are adhered to Oxfam procedures and are in integration and harmony of all other departments.
• To attend staff meetings and other related meetings where financial inputs are necessary.
• Follow the Code of Conduct at all time and report any misconduct at per HR procedures.
• Adhere to all applicable SoPs, rules and regulations, and report any non-compliances when observed.
• To provide regular management information on the financial status of the humanitarian programme.

Team support – 5%:

• To provide support to Country Offices Finance Team on special projects, unwrapped funds compliance and recommending appropriate ways of effective accounting on these new sources of funding.
• To provide support to country offices on Oxfam on day to day operation.
• to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

Security - 1%:

• Follow all SoPs of Security and safety.
• To work closely with relevant staff to ensure that all Oxfam staff adhere the security protocols
• Upon need and advice, collaborate with the Security and Safety unit, and Field Security Focal to train staff in security management as may be requested
• Report any security misconduct and security accident, as per SoP.

Any other duties that may be reasonably required in support of achieving, team, departmental or organizational objectives.

An ideal candidate for the role will also be / have: 

ESSENTIAL:

• Self-Awareness
• Strategic Thinking and Judgment
• Relationship building
• Listening
• Decisiveness

In addition:

• Bachelor Degree (completed) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration.
• For candidates with a Master's degree, a minimum of 3 years of experience is required; OR those with a Bachelor's degree are expected to have 5 years.
• Relevant experience in in financial management, accounting, and auditing, ideally within a humanitarian NGO. This experience should include Finance related roles (such as Senior Accountant, Senior Accounts Officer, Finance Operations Officer, Senior Budget Officer, Senior Financial Analyst, etc.) within the humanitarian, development or corporate sector, at national levels.
• Demonstrated experience in budget management, financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with donor and internal financial regulations.
• Expertise in preparing and reviewing monthly financial statements, ensuring accurate reconciliations of bank accounts, and maintaining proper documentation for audits. Also working on closing months and year end.
• In-depth knowledge of donor regulations and requirements.
• Experience in compliance with donor agreements, ensuring accurate and timely submission of required documentation. Prepare BVAs and donor reports.
• Experience in internal and external audits, including preparing audit documentation, implementing audit recommendations, and ensuring compliance with organisational policies and donor rules.
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial controls, risk management, and compliance frameworks.
• Knowledge of local tax regulations in Syria, including income tax, social security requirements.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to work in complex, high-pressure environment.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Fluency in both spoken and written Arabic and English in essential.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with at least 2 years of experience managing and developing teams, fostering collaboration, and driving performance.
• Experience conducting capacity-building for staff on organisation or donor compliance and financial best practices.
• Strong communication skills for engaging with local authorities, suppliers, and internal teams.

  Desirable:

  • Experience in working, implementation, and optimization of financial systems (ERP, financial software) to improve financial management and reporting.
  • Demonstrated experience in long-term financial planning, forecasting, and scenario analysis in volatile or uncertain contexts
  • Relative experience in international NGO context

We offer:

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits. 

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more. 

You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.