CRS Moldova is hiring Senior Finance Officer

Job Title: Sr. Finance Officer

Department: Operations

Salary Grade: 8

Reports To: Finance Manager

Country/Location: Chisinau, Moldova

Interested candidates are welcome to apply by sending their CV with email to crsapplicationsmd@crs.org mentioning in the subject line the title of the position “Senior Finance Officer”.

 About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community 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. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

 CRS in Moldova and Ukraine 

CRS has operated in different capacities in Moldova since 2004 and in Ukraine since 2015. CRS works with local partners to implement an integrated, multisectoral program portfolio of humanitarian and development assistance. In Ukraine, CRS works in partnership with Caritas Ukraine and Caritas Spes Ukraine, to deliver life-saving humanitarian and recovery assistance to vulnerable households affected by the war, including home and infrastructure repairs, protection, basic needs and livelihoods. In Moldova, CRS is focused on meeting both the immediate and long-term needs of Ukrainian refugees and vulnerable Moldovan families, including cash, education and psychosocial support (PSS), and shelter programs. CRS is also working with governmental and non-governmental partners to end the placement of children in residential care institutions through the Changing the Way We Care initiative. CRS’s portfolio is resourced by institutional donors and private emergency funding.

 Job Summary:

You will support the Finance department’s management of accounting systems, policies and procedures in compliance with CRS’ established accounting standards, donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements to support high - quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. As part of the finance team, you will help coordinate daily financial activities through preparation and delivery of financial services.

CRS is hiring for this position for one year, with the opportunity to extend.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Review and validate supporting documentation before processing of financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete and authorizations are in place.
• Ensure setup and maintenance of all data required for processing financial transactions for assigned accounts in financial accounting package (ERP Oracle Based Cloud).
• Record financial transactions following appropriate authorizations. Review and analyze various accounts to detect irregularities. Advise on corrective actions and prepare correcting entries and adjustments, as necessary.
• Monitor disbursement schedules, alert relevant staff of due payments, and maintain appropriate communication and follow-up to facilitate timeliness of financial resource management.
• Perform assigned treasury (cash payment, cash forecast, etc.) duties, as long as segregation of duties is ensured.
• Prepare financial reports, including cost allocation of shared costs, to verify financial transactions. Prepare balance sheet account reconciliations to ensure all transactions are accurately stated and appropriately classified. Work with relevant staff to address irregularities and resolve accounting issues; and ensure correction of accounting entries and payroll.
• Complete standard financial documents (Invoices, wire transfer requests, electronic bank payments, etc.) following a sample template with prescribed guidelines and circulate as needed.
• Compile supporting documentation (payments, liquidation/receipt package) to support processing of financial transactions. Communicate with staff, subrecipients, partners, suppliers to follow up on required documents.
• Provide administrative and clerical support to financial transactions processing. Prepare, type, photocopy, and scan related documentation. File accounting and financial reporting documentation as instructed.
• Prepare financial reports accurately and disseminate timely as per established reporting schedules and assist staff and subrecipients with financial reports analysis.
• Maintenance of a good filing system of required supporting documentation to ensure easy access and retrieval, and a reliable and easy to follow audit trail.
• Keep grants tracking and filing (updating Shared Drive / Gateway records etc.), provide photocopies/scan documents of required journal entries for donor financial reporting and audits.
• Perform regular grants monitoring visits to sub-recipients ensuring that sub-recipients are in compliance with local accounting laws, SRFM Policy and CRS/sub-recipient agreements.
• Certify sub-recipients’ financial monitoring reports by verifying the supporting documents as per SRFM Policy. Process monitoring reports for approvals and preparing journal entries in Insight. (Certification is a proof that reports are correct, complete and costs are allowable under the sub-recipient agreement).
• Review and process the Liquidation of Sub-recipient Advances, Sub-recipient advance requests and processing Sub-recipient payments.
• Prepare Sub-recipient aging report and Sub-recipient Budget Comparison Report; and share with concerned Staff (Deputy Finance Manager and Program Managers).
• Assist on development of project budgets with input from project team, operation team, and finance team.
• Prepare monthly Budget Comparison Reports including liquidations for each project and ensure all transactions are coded properly and ensure commitment are recorded correctly.
• Support on Sub-Award budgeting, monitoring.
• Review all partner liquidation and communicate with relevant staff any questions.
• Ensure personnel lists are accurate and expenditures are monitored monthly.
• Ensure partner advance requests are accurate and endorse for team coordinators.
• Conduct Sub-recipient financial assessments, support Sub-recipient in development of corrective action plans / Internal Control Improvement Plan (ICIPs) and take follow up on ICIPs.
• Updating Gateway records / Dashboard for sub-recipients’ data (partner assessments, agreements, monitoring reports, certifications etc.)
• Create and maintain tracking system of expenditures and commitments in real time.
• Ensure all payments are processed correctly and on time.
• Ensure all pre-payments and relevant liquidation entries well before month end closure.
• Support audit facilitation (Project Audits, UG Audit, Internal Audits) and donor verifications.
• Support month end closures as per Finance Checklist and support year-end closures.

Basic Qualifications

• BA/BSc Degree in finance, financial management, economics, accounting, or related field from recognized institution. Additional experience may substitute for some education. Additional working experience may substitute for some education.
• Master’s degree in Economics, Finance & Accounting will be considered a plus.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience.
• Substantial budgeting, budget/expense analysis, and accounting experience.
• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Strong computer skills, particularly Excel, Word.
• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles and procedures preferred.
• Experience with accounting systems is required.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook, Teams), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of Oracle Cloud Based (Insight ERP) financial accounting package or similar financial reporting software preferred.

Personal Skills

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment and decision.
• Excellent organizational skills with great attention to detail.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results oriented.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Demonstrated strengths in financial management with a strong client service focus; able to work with diverse groups of people and team-oriented environment.
• Skilled in obtaining information necessary to accomplish duties.
• Able to prioritize work, multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level.
• Able to express technical ideas and concerns in a non-technical environment.
• Strong customer orientation and oral and written communication.
• Able to adapt and learn.
• Ability to develop effective systems considering organizational effectiveness and impact on people.
• Maturity and discretion, able to work with, and maintain confidential information.
• Knowledge of or experience with social service programming preferred

Required Languages – Spoken proficiency in English and Russian/Romanian required.

Travel – Occasional travel within Moldova and Ukraine may be requested.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

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.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

 Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: None 

Internal: CRS Finance and Operations team, other CRS staff

External: Donors, Banks, Partner Organizations, Auditors and Local Government Officials

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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.

Disclaimers: 

• 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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer; CRS is always looking for qualified, diverse and compelling candidates to join our agency and support our great work.
• By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics. 
• Please note that applications will be continuously reviewed, and CRS reserves the right to close the vacancy before the deadline once a suitable candidate is identified.
• We thank all applicants for their interest, however only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.