Finance Assistant

Job title: Finance Assistant (Latin America)
Location: Remote (Candidates based in the Americas are invited to apply)
Contract Duration: 12 months ( with possibility of extension)

Deadline: November 08 2024 (Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply soon)

ABOUT IWPR:

Founded in 1991 and operating currently in three dozen countries around the world, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) is an independent non-profit organisation that supports journalists and civil society to help drive change in countries experiencing conflict, crisis, and transition. Our work includes:

• Training and mentoring: IWPR trains and mentors journalists and rights activists to improve their ability to identify and present factual information.
• Providing platforms: IWPR helps local talent establish and strengthen media outlets and civic groups.
• Removing barriers: IWPR works with partners to remove barriers to free expression and citizen engagement
• Strengthening media and civil society: IWPR helps strengthen the ability of media and civil society to speak out.
• Empowering societies: IWPR helps societies find their own solutions.

IWPR’s reporting has exposed violations, led to political and legal reform, and improved people’s lives.

SUMMARY:

IWPR’s Latin America and Caribbean office is seeking a Finance Assistant to provide support to the accounting cycle in compliance with US government grant and other donor norms and regulations, under the direction of the Finance Manager. The position will be remote and qualified candidates based anywhere in the Western Hemisphere (Americas) are invited to apply.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in the administration, accounting, and finance aspects for Latin America field office;

• Support the completion of all finance reports. Ensure compliance with all regulations including donor and IWPR;

• Prepare the monthly finance spreadsheet including bank reconciliation and complete the backup documentation to be signed off by the finance manager and Country Director for Monthly accounts submission;

• Review expense reports and payment requests by all staff and consultants, ensuring their accuracy, correct allocation, their reasonability and their allowability, providing feedback to requestors to improve their payment requests prior to approval;

• Set up banking wires for approved payments. Follow up in a timely manner with beneficiaries and project managers in the case there are issues with payments;

• Maintain program trackers and documents related to financial matters, including payment trackers, subaward trackers, vendor lists and others updated at all times;

• Ensure that detailed programmatic and financial filing systems are in place and that supporting documentation for financial systems are properly recorded and kept safely;

• Support the Finance Manager to ensure implementation of all IWPR internal policies and procedures to ensure IWPR LAC office is compliant with donor regulations;

• Support the monthly review of project expenditure reports and schedules by the Finance Business Partner. Follow up with the project managers on recodes and reclassification of expenses and inform the Finance Business Partner for the region.

• Support to maintain the project cashflow projections documents updated for all ongoing projects, in collaboration with Project Managers and Finance Manager;

• Attend meetings with project managers and regional programs director to review cashflow, BVAs and other financial management processes;

• Assist in day-to-day administrative issues responding to any related requests from Regional Directors and Chiefs of Party;

• Support the Finance Manager in monitoring cash and bank balances to ensure availability of funds at all times, and coordinate monthly cash flow requests from the field in order to consolidate them and send a fund request for approval to Country Director and submit it to HQ;

• Support bank reconciliation and cash count with the assistance of the Finance Manager;

• Collect, record, and archive the project’s financial documents and invoices;

• Manage all correspondence related to administration and finance;

• Support the Finance manager and project managers with specific procurements needed under projects including bids, documentation and other bid processors;

• Support with the management of assets and inventory;

• Other relevant duties as assigned by the Finance Manager and Country Director.

The successful candidate will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or finance is required;
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required;
• Residency in the Western Hemisphere (North, Central, South America or Caribbean) is preferred;
• A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in the finance department of an NGO or equivalent is required;
• 1-2 years experience working within International NGOs is preferable;
• Experience with US government donors is preferable;
• Demonstrated competency with computerized general ledger software;
• Advanced computer skills in MS office and particularly in Excel;
• Strong organizational skills; ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel;
• Professional standard of finance ethics and ability to enforce IWPR and donor policies and procedures;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing;
• Demonstrate attention to detail and the ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines;
• Willingness to work remotely, and travel on occasion.

To apply:

Please attach your CV, a cover letter outlining the key experience, skills and abilities that you would bring to the job, and indicate your monthly salary expectation in US dollars (based on current earnings and level of experience).

Only those who have been selected for interviews will be contacted.

IWPR will never ask for payment for recruitment.

Equal Opportunities

IWPR is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all staff. We do not tolerate discrimination. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color/colour, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy, maternity, sexual orientation, and gender assignment and identity), national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, marital or civil partnership status, or any other characteristic protected by law.