Job description

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday 
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated 

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

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.

Save the Children International seeks to always be a child-safe organization by fulfilling its obligations to the community and through programme implementation carried out by the organization for safeguarding children and improve their living standards of the child.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Finance Assistant (FA) is responsible for supporting the daily financial operations of Save the Children International Yemen – WB SEAL team, in line with the SCI-Y Country Office Finance Manual, World Bank compliance requirements, internal controls, and applicable laws and regulations.

The role supports payment review, transaction registration, beneficiary payment documentation review, bank and financial service provider follow-up, query resolution, and proper financial filing and archiving. The Finance Assistant will also support field offices by coordinating financial archive readiness, following up on required supporting documents, conducting sample checks for payment and beneficiary documentation, and ensuring preparedness during internal audits, external audits, donor reviews, and spot checks.

The role requires close coordination with finance staff and focal points in field offices to ensure samples are complete, properly organized, easily retrievable, and aligned with SCI and World Bank standards & requirements. The Finance Assistant is expected to maintain effective working relationships with staff, suppliers, banks, service providers, partners, and other external stakeholders, while providing extended support to field offices whenever needed.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Finance Coordinator (FC)

Key internal contacts: Finance, Programme, Supply Chain, Awards and Field teams.

Key external contacts: Banks, financial service providers, suppliers, vendors and partners as relevant.

Location: Aden/Lahj (1), Ad Dalea (1), Hayes,  AlHodeidah (1), Shabwah (1).

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Financial Operations, Payment Processing and Control:

• Assist the Finance Coordinator and Finance Officer in maintaining complete and accurate financial records in line with the SCI-Yemen Country Office Finance Manual, World Bank requirements, internal controls and applicable laws and regulations.

• Support the preparation, review, registration and processing of bank and cash payments in line with the valid Scheme of Delegation, SCI-Yemen procedures, World bank compliance requirements and official regulatory requirements.

• Ensure that all payments are supported by complete documentation, correct coding, proper budget availability checks and full authorisation from the respective Budget Holder before processing.

• Review invoices, programme payment requests, procurement supporting documents, contracts and other financial documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness and compliance before payment processing.

• Support the review and processing of advances, settlements, reimbursements, supplier payments, programme payments and other routine financial transactions.

• Ensure all cheques, cash payments, bank transfers and payment vouchers are properly stamped, cancelled, filed and documented after payment completion.

• Assist the Finance Coordinator and Finance Officer in the submission of internal and external financial reports by collecting documents, updating trackers and providing required supporting information to ensure a smooth flow of payments.

2. Audit Preparedness, Compliance and Documentation Support

• Support preparedness for internal audits, external audits, donor-specific audits and authorised third-party reviews by coordinating document retrieval, sample preparation, archive review and evidence collection from Aden and field offices.

• Assist the Finance Coordinator, Finance Officer and Area Finance team during internal audits, external audits, donor specific audits and any authorised third-party review of financial records.

• Support audit preparation by retrieving documents, organising samples, responding to document requests and ensuring a clear, complete and well-documented audit trail.

• Follow up on audit sample requirements with field offices and relevant departments to ensure requested documents are submitted on time and in good order.

• Support the review of audit samples before submission to ensure completeness, consistency, proper authorisation, correct coding and compliance with SCI and World Bank requirements.

• Escalate any missing documents, weak supporting evidence, repeated filing gaps or compliance concerns to the Finance Coordinator or Finance Officer for timely action.

3. Coordination, Query Resolution and Cross functional Support

• Coordinate with Finance, Programme, Supply Chain, Awards and field teams on payment processing, document completion, coding corrections, beneficiary payment issues and required supporting evidence.

• Review official emails daily, respond to queries from suppliers, banks, service providers and colleagues in a timely and appropriate manner, and raise critical issues with the line manager at the earliest opportunity.

• Maintain effective working relationships with staff, suppliers, banks, financial service providers, partners and other external stakeholders to support smooth financial implementation.

• Support field offices when needed through remote follow up, document review, sample checking, archiving support and coordination of finance requirements.

• Attend world bank finance and project coordination meetings when required and provide updates on payment status, pending documents, archive readiness, sample tracking and follow up issues.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI Values in Practice)

Accountability:

•    Holds self-accountable for completing finance tasks accurately, on time and in line with SCI policies, donor requirements and internal controls.

•    Uses resources responsibly, maintains proper documentation and escalates financial risks, compliance concerns or safeguarding issues promptly.

•    Protects confidential financial, supplier and beneficiary information and contributes to a strong culture of child safeguarding.

Ambition:

•    Takes responsibility for personal development and continuously seeks to improve finance processes, documentation quality and service delivery.

•    Works with energy and commitment to support timely programme implementation and achieve results for children.

Collaboration:

•    Builds and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues, suppliers, banks, service providers, partners and other external stakeholders.

•    Communicates clearly and professionally, follows up on queries, and works collaboratively with Finance, Programme, Supply Chain, Awards and field teams.

Creativity:

•    Applies required finance knowledge and attention to detail to improve accuracy, filing, tracking and archiving of financial records.

•    Identifies practical solutions to routine finance and payment follow up challenges in a changing operating environment.

Integrity:

•    Acts with honesty, transparency and professionalism in all financial transactions, communication and documentation.

•           Displays sound judgement and promptly raises concerns where guidelines are not being followed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

•           Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

•    Previous 1-2 years of relevant finance, accounting or financial administration experience with good numeracy skills.

•    Experience reviewing invoices, payment requests, beneficiary payment documents, payment lists and supporting evidence for accuracy and completeness.

•    Experience of working in a multi-currency environment.

•    Good written and oral English proficiency.

•    Good MS Excel and analytical skills, with the ability to work with large amounts of data and maintain accurate trackers.

•    Good organisation and document management skills to ensure that finance documentation is filed and archived on a timely basis and is easily accessible.

•    Good communication skills by phone, face to face and in writing, with the ability to explain processes clearly and resolve queries with suppliers, banks, service providers, colleagues and other external stakeholders.

•    Energetic, flexible and proactive approach, with the ability to work independently and cooperatively within a team setting and maintain good working relationships.

Desirable

•    Experience working for World Bank funded projects

•           Good MS Excel and analytical skills, with the ability to work with large amounts of data.

Additional job responsibilities

The job duties and responsibilities set out above are not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to carry out additional finance-related duties within the reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

(Embed counter-fraud and ethical controls in all operational processes, ensuring compliance with donor and legal requirements, while collaborating with Finance and Counter-Fraud teams to mitigate risks and conduct assessments for high-value programs)

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.  A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply

“Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply”