About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency based in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. In Pakistan CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, livelihoods and education.

Job Summary:

You ensure a high level of resource stewardship, strict financial accountability and financial risk management while ensuring the effectiveness and robustness of the USAID funded Education Resilience Activity (ERA) project and relevant partners’ financial management systems, processes, and practices in support of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You anticipate and manage financial management services needs and delivery challenges, and identify and implement improvement solutions, as needed, to minimize CP and partners’ exposure to financial risk. This project will support the Ministries of Education to improve the education systems’ climate resilience and inclusiveness of marginalized populations, particularly girls and children with disabilities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage overseeing the financial processes and compliance delivery in accordance with policies and provide proactive service delivery, advice, and support to managers, staff, and subrecipients in relation to managing the whole project cycle (Design, Start-up, Implementation, Close-out), ensuring efficiency and compliance with CRS’ policies and procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements.
• Provide direction and coordination of effective budget development and management (Annual Program Plans and project budgets), ensuring accuracy and consistency of financial data and safeguarding of resources.
• Ensure integrity of accounting information by reviewing account issues for compliance and establishing quality control over accounting transactions and financial reporting. Oversee maintenance of supporting documentation for a reliable and easy to follow audit trail.
• Lead the preparation of accurate financial data, analysis and projections and support the Senior Management Team and Program/Project Managers in interpreting data for decision-making and effectively managing financial risks.
• Ensure all financial plans, invoices, reports, and other financial documents and transactions are accurate, timely, and consistent with CRS and USAID guidelines and regulations.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Oversee the performance of accurate reporting procedures and timely submission of reports to USAID and relevant stakeholders (Regional Office, HQ/Finance, local government entities).
• Lead assessment of staff and subrecipients’ financial management capacity, ensure capacity strengthening on finance policies and regulations, as needed, and monitor and measure impact.
  • Lead efforts to close audit financial management findings in a timely and sustainable way.
  • Ensure all financial plans, invoices, reports, and other financial documents and transactions are accurate, timely, and consistent with CRS and USAID guidelines and regulations.

Basic Qualifications

• A master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or another relevant field from an accredited, recognized university.
• At least seven years of experience managing finances for large development programs including working with large donors.
• Extensive experience with project operations and financial management, including financial controls, accounting, and audits, as well as reporting on accruals, pipeline, and expense validation and reimbursement to service providers.
• Knowledge of USAID policies and business practices and with direct experience managing the finances and administration of a USAID-funded project is highly preferred.

Required Languages - Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, Urdu and/or other languages spoken in Pakistan.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 40 % in the field program area.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment and decisions
• Very good planning, monitoring and organizational skills
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results oriented.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Have sound understanding of Oracle or Microsoft based ERP environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations highly preferred.
• Substantial budgeting, budget/expense analysis, and accounting experience.
• Knowledge of local law in taxation and local regulatory reporting procedures.
• Staff management experience.
• Strong experience in presenting and facilitating on financial management topics.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Finance Officers

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Country Manager, Country Finance Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor,, Senior Technical Advisor for Inclusive Education,

External: USAID, Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Education, Consortium members leadership, other donors’, Auditors, and communities.

We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer