Finance and Accountancy Manager

Background:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a leading international independent medical humanitarian organisation, dedicated to providing expert medical relief to vulnerable populations at times of conflict or disaster. In over 71 countries worldwide, MSF provides both life-saving emergency relief and longer-term assistance to make basic healthcare services available to the most vulnerable or excluded communities.  MSF Netherlands in Italy coordinates the Search and Rescue operations in the central Mediterranean which provide lifesaving activities and basic assistance operating with the Geo Barents ship.

Scope and objectives of the position

Coordinating and supervising the accounting of the mission (accounting, treasury, audit procedures, etc.) according to the instructions of the Finance Coordinator, and in compliance with legal obligations and MSF standards and protocols in order to provide quality, reliable and transparent information to the organization on the use and allocation of resources in the mission.

Main responsibilities:

• Being responsible for quality and timely accounting for the whole mission e.g. cash procedures, bank accounts, receipts and supporting documents, electronic data entry, consolidation of overall mission accounting, monthly closing process and documents, ensuring strict respect of deadlines and strict compliance to MSF guidelines, financial standards and procedures.
• Coordinating and overseeing the monthly and yearly closing of accounts and balance sheet, and reporting the mission’s accounting statement through monthly and weekly reports, in order to verify the evolution of project finances and provide information about them.
• Being responsible for the financial management of donor contracts e.g. preparing and verifying the financial reports to donors, following up and analyzing the need for amendments. Ensuring reporting conditions are met and stakeholders in the mission are informed of their responsibilities (for example, logistics for stock inventory, quotes)
• Coordinating and overseeing the payment of tax liabilities in order to comply with legal obligations.
• Coordinating and supervising the conduct of local audits relating to accounting, tax, labour, stock and asset management
• Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required and to improve people’s capabilities
• She/he Is the technical reference for any accounting-related issue including compliance with MSF financial standards and procedures, legal compliance, training and support on the MSF accounting software system
• When required, briefing all staff involved, on specific accountancy management (Mission Coordination Team, Administration Managers, Logistics Managers, etc).

Specific Accountabilities:

Due the unpredictable development of the activities, the Finance and Accountancy Manager should be flexible, pro-active and problem solving. The rotational nature of the mission is such that the effect can indirectly impact on the work flow, mainly because the rest of the team is focused on the port call.

This position is based in Augusta but it could require some travel to the coordination based in Rome.
Although this is a shore based position there might be a small needs to go onboard when the ship is in port. The Finance Accountancy Manager is the only finance person at project level.

Specific tasks:

• Performing cash/bank transactions, verifying supporting documentation, coding and recording cash/bank transactions on UF, and maintaining records according to MSF standards and local finance policies.
• Performing monthly reconciliations before closing the monthly accounts, managing bank reconciliations and monthly bank statements in line with the standard procedure, with due quality and on time.
• Assessing and suggesting mitigation measures of the financial risks of the project.
• In collaboration with the Log and HR department follow up of the contracts with third parties, their timely payment and renewal.
• Responsible for the archive at mission level.
• Monitoring the per diems of all staff, including the staff on board the vessel and the staff and visitors on shore.
• In close collaboration with the Project Coordinator and the Finance Coordinator, support on the forecasted of the monthly Budget Control Report (BCR).
• Support the Finance Coordinator on drafting Finance policies and procedures

Requirements:

• Essential solid accountancy training and experience
• Professional accounting qualification.
• Desirable University degree in accounting, finance or business administration
• Essential 4 years previous experience in similar relevant position jobs
• Desirable Experience in opening missions and set-up financial processes in the mission
• Mandatory written and spoken English C1 Level; Italian essential C2 Level
• Essential proficient computer literacy (word, excel, internet)
• Desirable MSF accounting software, ERP system knowledge, local laws.
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Behavioural Flexibility
• Cross Cultural Awareness
• Commitment to MSF principles

Conditions:

Contract: Fixed term contract (12 months), full-time. Level II of Italian CCNL Commercio Terziario Distribuzione e Servizi. Candidates should hold a work permit to work in Italy.

Gross Annual Salary: Between 36,680 Euros and 44,016 Euros, depending on MSF experience of the selected candidate.

Location: Based in the MSF Netherlands Augusta (SR) Sicily office

Starting Date: 19th August 2024

Application procedure: 

To apply for this role, please submit your application to mediterranean-jobs@oca.msf.org
Subject: FAM_Your Surname
Including the following:
-CV (in English)
-motivation letter (in English)
-Availability
-2 contact for references

The application deadline is 9th June 2024
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Applicants not invited for interview within 4 weeks from the closure of the vacancy may consider their applications unsuccessful.
MSF-Netherlands is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No employee, or applicant for employment, shall be discriminated against in any term or condition of employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or sexual orientation. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values. We expect this same commitment from our staff.