Finance Officer At International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster, including the climate crisis, to survive, recover, and gain control over their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

IRC Poland: On 8 February 2022 three IRC staff arrived in Poland to initiate scoping of local and national actors in Warsaw, Lublin, and Rzeszow as well as across the Western, Central, and Eastern regions in Ukraine. When on 24 February Russian troops entered eastern Ukraine with the aim of toppling the government led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and conflict-affected individuals started fleeing to neighboring countries, the IRC established a presence in Poland to build partnerships with local state, civil society, and private sector actors to respond to needs of arriving refugees. As of April 26, over 5.3 million people have fled Ukraine seeking safety with nearly 50% (2.9 million) of those displaced fleeing to Poland.[1] Reports indicate almost all arrivals in Poland are women and children, including those that are unaccompanied and separated, as well as older persons. IRC Poland’s goal is to ensure the survival of emergency-affected people in a way that enables their safety, dignity, and empowerment. Working in the program areas of economic recovery and development and safety, the IRC will accomplish this by working to see that 1) People affected by the war in Ukraine are able to meet their immediate and basic needs with safety and dignity and avoid harmful coping mechanisms and 2) People affected by the war in Ukraine are protected and supported to recover from the consequences of violence and displacement through equitable access to services and information.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Finance Officer report to the Finance Coordinator. He/she will provide support to the Finance Coordinator and is responsible for preparing financial statements, maintaining cash controls. The Finance Officer must work within the Financial Manual of IRC, Tax Policies, and Procedures and in compliance with all National Acts and Legislation.

Responsibilities

Specific duties

1. Maintain Custody of Cash Box. Make Payments as necessary.
2. Review all POs and PRs for proper coding and budget adequacy before approval.
3. Submit expenditure spreadsheets on or before 3rd of every subsequent month
4. Review all payment documents for proper and adequate back up.
5. Assist in the implementation of Finance policies, procedures and systems.
6. Ensure compliance with IRC procedures and guidelines.
7. Review expenditure spreadsheets for accuracy and completeness.
8. Preparer cash and bank reconciliations
9. Ensure that statutory deductions are paid on time to avoid any penalty
10. Forward to the payroll Administrator every month, an outstanding personnel advances and charges related to D7 for recovery. Ensure that advances taken in each month are liquidated appropriately.

Finance/Budgeting

1. Act always in accordance with local law and standards of accounting practice.
2. Review with the objective of gaining a clear understanding budget guidelines and instructions
3. Review funding allocations to enable proper guidance to programs and proper coding.
4. Provide training to program staff on finance issues.
5. Receptive to training provided and to develop his or her technical and professional competence.

Common duties

1. Attend and participate in trainings identified/organized by your supervisor
2. Follow any new procedures and guidelines designated in circulars from Country Director
3. Report any violations of the IRC Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Code of Conduct (in-country and World-wide) as per the IRC reporting mechanism. The reporting of violations is an obligation on the part of all staff members
4. Assist where necessary in undertaking activities that aim to prevent the occurrence of sexual abuse and exploitation of refugees by IRC and other humanitarian workers.
5. Perform other duties as may be assigned by your supervisor

Security/Communication

1. Communicate with Finance main office on security issues within the office and outside the office
2. Report to the Finance Manager any irregularities that occur within the IRC office, staff compound and sites on policy and procedures.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Finance Coordinator Position directly supervises: n/a

Internal: Works with other sectors on finance matters related to the organization

Job Requirements:

• Accounting qualification from recognized College/Institution or ACCA/CPA.
• Minimum of three years of accounting experience.
• Computer literate
• The candidate should be mature, with stable personality and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; tact, patience, diplomacy, and appropriate assertiveness.

Must have the right to work in Poland

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and makes sure policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Gender Equality: The IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: At the IRC, our diverse clients, partners, and staff have the power, voice, and agency to shape programs and operations. We actively work to end all forms of systemic discrimination and foster an inclusive working environment where everyone feels respected, heard, valued, and supported. The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. The IRC encourages women to apply and work with us to reach the people most in need of humanitarian assistance, such as women, widows, and children. The IRC is committed to providing a decent and safe work environment that considers needs of women in the workplace, including through maternity leave and safety protocols.

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The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

[1] UNHCR data accessed April 27, 2022: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine