Job Description

The Organization

Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. Search seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 400 staff worldwide, Search implements projects from 39 offices in 36 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work at, with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff who love their work. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role. Search has been working in Yemen since 2010 to promote social cohesion through work with youth, media, and women’s groups across the country. Search Yemen is seeking highly qualified individuals for the following position:

Organizational Responsibilities

Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Child Safeguarding Policy.
Commit to implementing the goal of gender equality and maximize the participation and involvement of women and men in all aspects of program implementation.
Ensure a safe working environment for all people involved in project implementation and maintain the highest standards of behavior when working with the community targeted.
Adhere to all organizational policies and procedures as outlined in Search policies and procedure manuals.
Follow all organizational protocols and regulations according to guidance provided by the HR department

Job Summary:

The Senior Finance Officer will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day financial operations, ensuring accuracy in financial reporting, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. The role requires excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to lead financial projects. You will collaborate with various departments to optimize financial performance and help shape long-term financial strategies.

Job Title: Senior Finance Officer
Reports to: CD
Location: Aden
Job Type: Full-Time 

Key Responsibilities:

1.    Budget Preparation, Management and Monitoring:

• Work in existing grant modifications by ensuring all relevant stakeholders are involved in the budgeting process.
• Maintains information on budget availability for all grants.
• Ensures budgets in BVA report are updated on a periodic basis.
• Assists to produces high quality Budget vs. Actuals (BvA) analysis to support budget holders in their budget management.
• Ensure necessary JVs if required are passed in the accounting system based on feedback from program team.
• Using pre audit data validation worksheet.
• Coordinate the development of the master budget and ensure all costs/assumptions are included and up to date.
• Participates in monthly budget monitoring meetings, identifying any areas of slow or fast burn rates or other challenges.
• Develops action plans based on findings of BvA meetings.
• Provides advice/training to budget holders on budget management and budget phasing.
• Review reclassifications requests proposed by program staff for eligibility ensuring consistency with donor regulations and Relief International Financial Management policies.
• Support the RC, CD, Program team, and Mena team to have a clear vision of the financial situation of each project.
• Monitors the projects' liquidation period and make sure all payments are done prior to the end of the liquidation period.
• Work directly with the designated Audit Committee assigned by the donor to ensure that the annual audit completed on time.
• Identifying potential financial risks (exchange rate fluctuations, inflation, over expenditure, audit risk delay in program implementation...) and informing Head of Finance.
• Support in production and archiving of financial reports & proposals.
• Review expenses on daily basis to ascertain validity of booking/coding, eligibility and compliance with the donor policies and procedures
• Reviews Cost Allocation Methodology produced entries based on allowable and allocable criteria.
• Carries out inductions and staff trainings for finance procedures, donor requirements etc.
• Review and improve financial processes and systems for efficiency.
• Oversee the budgeting process, including preparation, monitoring, and review of budgets.
• Analyze budget variances and provide recommendations for corrective action.
• Work with department heads to develop and manage financial plans.
• Provide insights into financial performance, helping the leadership make data-driven decisions.

2.    Financial Reporting:

• Prepare and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reports in compliance with relevant accounting standards.
• prepare the management reports, including forecasts, variance analysis, and recommendations.
• preparing initial financial reports at the end of the projects with explanations and analysis, mainly focusing on implementing site according to donor guidelines.

3.    Compliance & Audit:

• Coordinate with external auditors to facilitate audits and ensure clean reports.
• Stay updated on changes in financial regulations and ensure the organization adheres to them.
• Ensures compliance with all donor requirements and advises budget holders on compliance issues.
• Advises budget holders on how best to utilize a programme’s funding portfolio.
• Ensures donor regulations are communicated to all staff and that all activities meet donor requirements.
• Review monthly cash projections based on budget availability & coordinate with Accounting & Finance Department on cash requests.
• Ensures donor financial reports are submitted in a timely manner, in adequate & credible quality.

4.    Team Leadership:

• Supervise finance staff, provide mentorship, and ensure professional development.
• Delegate tasks effectively, monitor performance, and ensure deadlines are met.
• Lead projects related to financial systems upgrades or process improvements.

5.    Tax Management:

• Ensure timely and accurate tax filings, including corporate income tax, and other statutory obligations.
• Implement tax-efficient strategies and ensure compliance with all tax regulations.

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

1.    Initiates brainstorming or problem-solving meetings. With time in the job, develops skills for analyzing and communicating program successes and failures; reports lessons learned to the team and other members.
2.    Represents Search at local and international events and meetings for professional organizations, vendors, partners, and funders. Develops skills to independently initiate and maintain relations with vendors, partners, and funders. Articulates Search program/project goals and objectives within Search and to external audiences.
3.    Demonstrates appreciation for diversity of thought. Builds cross-functional relationships with other functional departments.
4.    Demonstrates ability to be adaptable and willing to confront and change own ideas and preconceptions with the resiliency and flexibility to make changes based on hearing a diversity of thoughts.
5.    Drafts team documents, briefing materials, and presentations. Articulates program/project objectives and how they fit into a team’s goals and/or Search’s mission and adapts to the communications setting.
6.    Applies standards, identifies areas for standardization, and coordinates across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
7.    Takes into account the environmental landscape, assesses one's own and others' viewpoints in their environment, and proposes solutions from an ethical perspective.
8.    Recognizes the options available for solving problems, conducts analyses, and calculates metrics and other technical tools to support informed decision making.
9.    Conducts Quality Control of team documents, briefing materials, presentations, and systems data. Carefully reviews and checks the accuracy of information in work reports, management information systems, or with other individuals and groups. Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’ work. Proactively informs management of potential risks and concerns; suggests resolutions.
10.    Independently prioritizes time to reach deadlines and reaches end results of assignments with ability to accomplish multiple steps with limited to no supervision.

Type and Nature of Contacts

Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact.
Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including donors, vendors, and international and local partners.
Interacts with country office and regional staff.

Education and Experience

Typically BS/BA with minimum 7 years’ experience; typically includes 1 - 2 years’ experience with Search systems, processes, and culture.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel internationally minimally to none.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility

May supervise one or more staff members.