Finance Officer – Hargeisa, Somaliland

Term of References for Finance Officer

1. Background

Somaliland National Youth Organizations (abbreviated for SONYO) is an umbrella youth member-based organizations with currently over fifty (56) youth member organizations country-wide. SONYO, established in June 5, 2003, is the first and the only nation-wide youth umbrella that is a non-governmental, non-for-profit, non-partisan, non-political, humanitarian and voluntary youth-umbrella. It was primarily established to operate as a fully-fledged national umbrella organization that is committed to advocate the rights of youth, the mobilization and coordination of youth and the socio-economic empowerment of youth and community at large.

SONYO today, has a well-structured hierarchy with different lines and functions that define the roles, responsibilities, chain of command, units, departments and sections. There are three major parts with regard to the structure of SONYO: (a) General Assembly; (b) National Council; and (c) The National Secretariat. SONYO’s membership-based coalition includes different youth organizations, associations, and student unions from higher educational institutions, particularly Amoud University, University of Hargeisa and Burao University whom are active in the six regions of Somaliland (Marodijeh, Sahil, Awdal, Togdheer, Sool and Sanaag).

1. Job description

Job Title: Finance Officer

Organization: SONYO Umbrella

Department: Finance

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Hargeisa

Duration: 1 Year with possibility of extension

Working Hours: 40 Hours/Week

Annual Leave: 24 Working Days per annum

3.      Primary Purpose:

The Finance officer will be responsible for the day-to-day accounting system, payments and payroll of the organization. He/She will work under the Finance Officer to support meeting with all financial policies and procedures required.

1. Key Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Executive Director, Admin/HR and other program staff to implement, improve and maintain administrative and financial policies, systems and procedures.
• Ensure monthly internal financial reports, bank reconciliation statements, reviewing, checking budget codes, and make sure data entered into the system is correct.
• Ensure that financial management systems and records are adequate in order to identify and protect the assets & interest of the organization.
• Support establishing donor financial management system to optimize funding & to ensure efficient & accurate reporting to donors.
• Assist ED in overall financial over-sight of the projects including budget preparations, monitoring and compliance with donors and donor reporting.
• Ensure cash and bank management are constantly monitored and up-to-date.
• Assist in the development & implementation of the Strategic Plan
• Actively participate in SMT meetings and be proactively involved in the decision-making processes.
• Maintain an effective and efficient system of internal controls, which comply with SONYO’s financial policies and guidelines.
• Review existing systems on an on-going basis in order to develop and improve internal controls, in compliance with SONYO’s policies and procedures
• Ensure timely & accurate preparation of donor reports for external donors / agencies.
• Reconcile all balance sheet items on a quarterly basis, in accordance with SONYO’s policies & procedures.
• Finalize year end accounts for external auditor and provide any ad-hoc year reports for National Council.
• Ensure that organizational financial operations comply with legal & statutory requirements e.g. audit & financial reporting to all relevant national authorities.
• Supervise appropriateness and updating of all procurement documentation at the various steps of the procurement process.
• Ensure budget availability of expenditures and that appropriate authorizations are in place.
• Support internal, external and donor audits.
• Ensure that all statutory deductions & taxes in respect of staff are complied with & to liaise with relevant authorities in this respect.
• Any other finance-related assigned by his/her supervisor.