Job Description

Position Title: Senior Finance Officer

Reporting to: Finance/Admin Manager
Duty Station: Islamabad
Unit: Operations

Summary of Key Functions

The Senior Finance Officer plays an essential role in the day-to-day financial operations of the organisation. Reporting directly to the Finance/Admin Manager, this position will handle a wide range of financial duties to support the accurate, efficient, and transparent management of funds across projects and organisational activities. The Senior Finance Officer will work alongside other finance team members, sharing responsibility for maintaining financial records, reporting, processing payments, and ensuring compliance with financial standards and regulations.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Financial Support and Coordination: Assist the Finance/Admin Manager in maintaining and executing the financial operations of the organisation. This includes handling cash management, ensuring timely and accurate recording of financial transactions, and assisting with overall accounting practices.
• Transaction Management: Process and review financial documents, ensuring that transactions comply with internal policies, donor guidelines, and legal regulations. Work collaboratively with the team to ensure that all financial transactions are correctly entered into the accounting system.
• Payroll Support: Assist in the timely processing of payroll, including verifying salary and benefit calculations, and ensuring that tax deductions, EOBI and other deductions, if any, are accurately calculated and paid on time.
• Assist in Financial Reporting: Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for management, ensuring that project expenses and organisational costs are in line with the approved budgets. Support the team in reporting to donors as required.
• Budget Monitoring and Support: Work closely with the finance team to monitor and review expenditures across different projects, ensuring they are within the approved budgets. Collaborate with project managers to track the financial status of each project.
• Expense and Payment Review: Review invoices, payment requests, and supporting documents to ensure accuracy and compliance before submission for approval. Collaborate with other finance officers to verify details and avoid discrepancies.
• Financial Data Entry and System Maintenance: Ensure that all financial data is correctly entered into the organisation’s accounting software, maintaining accurate records for both organisational and project-specific activities.
• Grant Payment and Financial Requests: Support the team in reviewing grant payment requests to ensure all necessary documentation is attached and the amounts align with the project budgets. Help ensure that financial records for grants are properly maintained.
• Support Audits and Compliance: Assist in internal and external audits by providing necessary financial documents, supporting the review of financial processes, and ensuring that all procedures comply with donor requirements and organisational policies.
• Assist with Tax and Statutory Deductions: Help ensure that taxes (withholding tax, EOBI, etc.) are properly deducted and paid to the relevant authorities. Work with tax consultants to ensure the timely submission of required tax reports.
• Banking and Account Management: Assist in liaising with banks, managing the organisation’s bank accounts, and supporting the finance team with daily reconciliations of transactions and cash flow.
• Financial Policies and Procedures Compliance: Work alongside the finance team to ensure all financial operations adhere to internal policies and procedures, as well as donor and regulatory requirements.
• Documentation and Record Keeping: Assist in maintaining financial records for all projects, ensuring accurate and up-to-date documentation of financial transactions for auditing and reporting purposes.
• Financial Analysis and Support: Support financial analysis activities to help identify trends, discrepancies, and areas for financial improvement. Collaborate with other team members to assess the financial performance of programmes and help identify cost-saving measures.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with other finance officers, providing support as needed, and contributing to a collaborative, effective finance team. Share responsibility for managing workload during peak times, such as budget preparation or financial reporting cycles.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Perform other finance-related tasks as requested by the Finance/Admin Manager, ensuring that the financial operations of the organisation run smoothly and efficiently.

Job Specifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3-4 years of experience in finance or accounting roles, particularly within NGOs or non-profit sectors.
• Skills: Proficient in financial reporting, accounting principles, and software (QuickBooks, Tally, etc.). Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Knowledge: Familiar with donor regulations, tax laws, and financial controls within the NGO sector. Understanding of audit processes.
• Competencies: Ability to work collaboratively with a finance team and share responsibilities equally. Strong communication skills, problem-solving ability, and a proactive approach.
• Language: Fluent in English and local languages, with good written and verbal communication skills.