Finance Associate, approximately 20-30% FTE, Belgrad (national only)
HEKS/EPER employs around 600 full-time staff members. Its work is guided by the vision of a just world where peace prevails, the dignity of all people is respected, and natural resources are preserved. HEKS/EPER is active in 25 locations in Switzerland and 30 countries worldwide, running more than 380 programmes and projects with a total volume of 138 million Swiss francs. Within the framework of Agenda 2030, the organisation focuses on four priority themes: "Climate Justice," "Right to Land and Food," "Asylum and Migration," and "Inclusion." HEKS/EPER also provides humanitarian aid to victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts, aiming to bring about change at the social, economic, and political levels. HEKS contributes to improving the living conditions of people both domestically and internationally, advocating for their rights. It raises awareness and mobilises society, politics, business, and churches. In 2023, around 16 million people benefited from the work of HEKS/EPER.
Finance Associate, approximately 20-30% FTE, Belgrad (national only)
We are looking for a proactive and experienced professional to start on 1 October 2024 as a
Your main responsibilities:
Country Office
- Maintaining an administrative and financial office system in accordance with all HEKS/EPER’s policies and procedures, but primarily the Field Financial and Administration Guidelines (FFAG)
- Bookkeeping has to be conducted in a computerised double-entry accounting software with accrual principle
- Maintaining a complete and structured electronical and physical documentation and filing system (bookkeeping documents, HR documents, project documents)
- Preparing, checking and submitting the quarterly reports (group reporting) to the HQ. This includes amongst others the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow forecast of the Country Office
- Preparing a draft of the annual and phase country programme budget (incl. partner organisations) together with the Country Representative
- Checking, approving and settling monthly bills and monthly payroll for accounting
- Working with the Country Representative to formulate and implement the “Rules on Financial and Material Responsibilities” for the country office
- Ensuring that all financial transactions of the Country Office are as low risks as possible: payments made via bank transfers with double signatures, trustworthy bank, separation of duties, etc.
- Supporting the Country Representative to formulate and implement the “Staff Regulations” for the Country Office
- Ensuring compliance with all local legal requirements and obligations (such as tax, social security, etc.)
- Ensuring the preparation of documentation for the audit and that the audit is carried out in a timely fashion, as well as the implementation of the audit recommendation
- Ensuring that HEKS/EPER’s procurement and logistics procedures are duly followed
- Support Country Representative in developing new project proposals’ budgets
- Ensuring that the Country Office pay all legal, statutory and tax-related obligations
Partners
- Upholding good relationships with all of HEKS/EPER’s partner organizations and stakeholders
- Conducting on-site financial monitoring of partner organizations minimum of four times per year. Analyzing the information in the partners’ recordkeeping and reporting system and reporting key findings to the Country Representative (and, if severe, to the Head of Programmes)
- Ensuring that all financial transactions of the partners are as low risks as possible: payments made via bank transfers with double signatures, trustworthy bank, segregation of duties, etc.
- Supporting the partner organizations regarding financial and administrative management
- Informing partner organisation on HEKS/EPER’s accounting regulations, budget, administration and reporting guidelines according to the FFAG, and supporting them in implementing those regulations and guidelines
- Reviewing, checking and finalising partner’s budgets (including checking against price index) and comparing the partners’ accounting to the financial reports
- Checking the partners’ financial reports and cash flow forecast, identifying problems and risks and communicating back to partners for correction/clarification as well as reporting them to the Country Representative
- Ensuring that the Country Office and the partners meet all deadlines – otherwise reminding them proactively
- Monitoring of the flows of funds between the Country Office and the partner organizations
- Assessing new partners with respect to their financial and administrative capabilities
- Ensuring that partner organisations are audited in time and in line with HEKS/EPER’ requirements. Checking the audit reports of partners and ensuring that the audit findings/recommendations are implemented within a reasonable time
- Ensuring that the Country Office and partner organisations pay all legal, statutory and tax-related obligations
Administration and Programme
- Maintaining an appropriate filing system for the project to accommodate all aspects of HEKS/EPER’s work according to FFAG
- Ensuring that HEKS-EPER’s capital assets inventory information is recorded
To be successful you bring:
- Diploma in Finance and Accounting
- Minimum 5 years’ relevant experience in a similar finance function in an international NGO or NPO
- Proven ability for budgeting, cash flow forecasting, and financial analysis and monitoring
- Excellent knowledge of all relevant national and international accounting standards
- Proven capability to provide support and guidance to local partners
- Excellent analytical and conceptual skills
- Good communication skills and conversational command of English (spoken and written)
- Ability to ensure that deadlines are met by internal and external stakeholders (good prioritisation and time management skills)
- Ability to ensure that internal and external stakeholders understand and duly follow HEKS/EPER’s procedures and guidelines
- Excellent IT and computer skills (particularly Microsoft Excel and accounting software)
- Diligent and trustworthy person with appropriate attention to details
- Excellent team player and social capabilities
- Good knowledge of relevant local laws and obligations (labour, tax, social security, etc.)
- Available for frequent local and national travel
- Professional, cooperative, efficient and effective working attitude
What you can expect from us:
- A national position with duty station in Belgrad, with frequent national travel
- An opportunity to make a difference in this world
- An interesting and challenging position
- Service Contract with annual working time (approximately 20-30% FTE)
- Flexible working hours (please indicate your daily rate in your application)
Would you like to join the HEKS/EPER team? We are looking forward to your complete application in English (CV, Cover letter and certificates) exclusively via our online portal.
The deadline for applications is 31 August 2024. Interviews will take place during the week of the 9th September 2024.
For further information about HEKS/EPER, please consult our website https://en.heks.ch/.
The deadline for applications is 31 August 2024. Interviews will take place during the week of the 9th September 2024.
For further information about HEKS/EPER, please consult our website https://en.heks.ch/.
About the company
