Job Vacancy at the Danish Refugee Council ( DRC )

DRC has been implementing emergency response projects in Tanzania since the onset of the Burundi refugee crisis in 2015 in three refugee camps in the Kigoma Region at the border with Burundi. DRC’s integrated projects for refugees, asylum seekers and host communities comprise sectors such as Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter and infrastructure, General Food Distribution (GFD) and Livelihoods. In 2018 the office in Bujumbura, Burundi in 2018 was set up aimed at strengthening cross border responses and enhance the impact of interventions in support of Burundian returnees.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Finance Assistant
Band: Employment band: I
Reporting to: Finance Manager
Technical line manager: Finance Manager
Direct reports: No direct reports
Unit/department: Finance Department
Location: Kibondo, Tanzania

Overall purpose of the role:
Under the supervision of the Finance Manger, the Finance Assistant provides financial and administrative support to DRC and partners as per DRC and donor regulations and procedures within the Country operations in Tanzania and Burundi. The Finance Assistant contributes to the development and implementation of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The Finance Assistant provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities.

Responsibilities:
Finance and accounting
• Daily accounting (bookkeeping) according to DRC operations handbook
• Handle Cash and bank payment vouchers needed for the day to day financial transactions.
• Ensure that all payment supporting documents are complete and are in accordance with DRC financial procedures and regulations.
• Manage petty cash and clear cash advances upon request.
• Ensure to update cashbooks on a daily basis to reflect the actual status of existing cash count and bank balance in all currencies.
• Issue cash receipts for all collected cash.
• Ensure all bank accounts statements are reconciled.
• Prepare weekly cash counts and ensure reconciliation in DRC Dynamics.
• Maintain proper filing of all financial documentation (vouchers, contracts, tender documents, etc.) and tracking all the payments done when needed.
• Create vendor Invoices in Dynamics for high value procurement.
• Process payment to vendors through bank cheques and Internet banking
• Process tax and all other statutory payments every month before deadline.
• Process payment of incentive workers on monthly basis.
• Stamp” PAID” all vouchers immediately after the payment is made.
• Create and post project expense journals for low value procurement
• Reconcile accounts payable and accounts receivables in DRC Dynamics.
• Routine record keeping and archiving
• Correctly use DRC Dynamics functionalities in area of concern
• Prepare and participate in donor verifications and annual audits.
• Update the Finance Manager on cash balance everyday by COB.
• Follow up with staff to ensure that all staff advances are settled within the same month.
• Assist the Finance Manager in other areas as required.

Reporting
• Assist with collecting, reviewing, correcting and filing all financial progress reports.
• Support financial report preparations to donors
• Submit progress and status reports

Experience and technical competencies:
• Minimum 1 year of relevant work experience
• Experience with carrying out admin tasks
• Good communication skills
• Advanced proficiency in Excel
• Basic proficiency in PowerPoint and Word
• Well-developed organizational and planning skills in order to meet deadlines
• NGO experience
• Advanced English proficiency
• Fluency in Swahili

Education:
• Diploma or equivalent professional qualification

Languages:
• English (Fluent, written and spoken)
• Swahili (Fluent, written and spoken)

Key stakeholders:
Internal
• Finance staff
• Program Managers
• Human Resources
• Procurement and Logistics
• Area Manager Tanzania
• Area Manager Burundi
• HOSS Tanzania/Burundi
• Country Director Tanzania/Burundi
• Regional Office/Head Quarters

External
• Incentive Workers
• Donors
• Local Auditor company in Tanzania
• Local TAX authorities in Tanzania
• NNB Bank

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:
• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Core competencies Basic Advanced Expert
Striving for excellence ☐ ☒ ☐
Collaborating ☐ ☒ ☐
Taking the lead ☐ ☒ ☐
Communicating ☐ ☒ ☐
Demonstrating integrity ☐ ☒ ☐

• Basic: I master the essentials, but may at times need help from others
• Advanced: I can work independently at full professional level.
• Expert: I am the go-to person when others need help.