Finance & Administration Officer

Merlin

Position: Finance & Administration Officer
Responsible To: Country Finance Director
Location: Ramallah, with some travel to Jerusalem and Qalqiliya
Start Date: 1st April 2010

About Merlin
Merlin is a UK non-governmental organisation (NGO) charity specialising in health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, disease and health system collapse. Merlin’s work is guided by the following principles: Humanitarianism, impartiality, inclusiveness, professionalism, and lasting impact. Merlin has worked in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 2002, has a country representative office in Ramallah.

Job summary
Under the direction of the Country Finance Director (CFD), the Finance & Administration Officer will support the administrative, human resources and financial activities of Merlin’s work in OPT. This role requires a strong team player with sound organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines.

Core responsibilities

Administration
-Preparing information and paperwork (for registration, legal contracts etc)
-Ensuring that all soft and hard files are labelled and stored properly according to the Merlin system
-Organising travel arrangements for international and local staff
-Updating external databases (donors, etc)
-Translating materials and correspondence from Arabic to English
-Participate in all Senior Management Team meetings, producing meeting minutes for distribution.
-Any other tasks as requested by Country Director and Country Finance Director.

Finance
-Tracking office needs and expenses cash needed on a weekly basis.
-Ensuring that appropriate administrative and financial Merlin systems/procedures are in place, maintained and adhered to so that all support functions are carried out effectively and efficiently.
-Coordinating issues relating to finance (including salary, payment of accrued annual leave, timesheets)
-Working alongside CFD with internal or external auditors in completing different types of institution and project audits.
-Tracking regular payments on a monthly basis
-Daily bookkeeping of Merlin accounts, in conjunction with CFD.
-Assisting in all cash handling in conjunction with the CFD.

Human Resources
-Working with the CFD, to assist in the consistent and accurate Human Resource administration/documentation across Merlin OPT, including personnel files, contracts, job descriptions, recruitment, insurance, organogram, warning letters, annual leave and sickness records.
-Ensuring that all HR matters and files are treated in the strictest confidence at all times.
-Participating in recruitment and promotion of the Programme personnel through panel cycle.
-Preparing relevant recruitment packages if requested by CFD(interview and recruitment sheets)

Selection Criteria

Essential
1-Knowledge of, and experience in setting up and maintaining administrative procedures and systems
2-Experience in cash handling and managing relevant paperwork / records
3-Very good computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook)
4-Effective prioritisation skills
5-Fast and accurate typing ability
6-Strong Arabic language skills
7-Excellent spoken and written English
8-Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise
9-Knowledge of key UN, INGO, NGO organisations and their functions
10-Good communication skills and team player

Terms and conditions
Merlin provides an attractive employment package which includes health insurance and flexible working conditions.
Salaries are awarded as per the Merlin salary scales.

How to apply
Please email or send your CV and a letter of application, giving examples of how your knowledge and practical experience relate to the selection criteria by 25th March 2010 to [email protected] or by fax 02 2957847.
Please include the names, phone numbers and emails of at least 2 referees.