Field Accounting Controller; FAC)

• MSF experience required :
  Previous MSF experience as an asset

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

Within MSF OCB (Operational Center Brussels), the Finance Department collaborates and partners with different departments and units throughout OCB and other sections. This way, we want to provide an expertise that promotes and supports MSF's social mission into the future.

Within the Finance Department, the Field Accounting Controllers unit (FAC) controls the missions’ accounts and their consolidation in our HQ accounting system.

Under the supervision of the Field Accounting coordinator, you are, as Field Accounting Controller (FAC), the point of contact for missions for all accounting related questions. You ensure at headquarters the quality of accounting in the missions and its conformance to MSF OCB accounting policies and procedures to guarantee available and reliable actual costs. You can also provide technical accounting software support on top of the MSF ICT helpdesk.

Operate the consolidation of missions’ accounting closings in HQ accounting software and manage balances discrepancies

Check the monthly missions’ accounting closings by collecting the mandated closing documentation and verifying compliance of balance sheet accounts and expenses

Monitor missions’ monthly closing deadline and foster corrective actions in case of delays

Reconcile transfers, re-invoicing and reimbursements between headquarters and the missions and/or other sections

Act as first point of contact for mission accounting issues

Act as Accounting Manager for the projects/missions with non-standard Finance setup and operate the monthly closings in the HQ accounting software

Act as focal point for external audits at HQ and provide requested documents. Ensure implementation of audit recommendations at mission level

Ensure proper archiving of accounting vouchers at mission level and availability of accounting vouchers scans at HQ level

Allocate expenses to donors’ financing contracts

Participate in Accounting/Finance Management trainings as trainer

Participate in HR briefing and debriefs of expatriates with finance profiles

Participate in the recruitment of Accounting Managers in the missions

Visit the missions to provide support according to the agreed terms of reference

Possibility to engage in gap filling work for a short-term period (detachments)

Degree in Accounting or Economics is mandatory

Minimum 5 years of professional experience in accounting or in finance management control functions

Experience as Finance Coordinator with MSF in the projects is a strong asset

Experience in training / knowledge transfer is an asset

Computer skills: MS Office, Advanced Excel, Accounting software

Strong communication skills: active listener, communicates clearly and effectively, sense of diplomacy and pedagogical skills

Strong analytical skills

Thoroughness/precision/quality control

Autonomous and self-organised

Strong ability to work in a team and to work/navigate multi stakeholder environment

Adaptation to changing circumstances, contexts, tasks, responsibilities, and people

Customer support oriented

Written and spoken knowledge of English and French is mandatory

Location*:
Brussels (Belgium)

* Other location/s where there is an MSF entity could be exceptionally considered. The final outcome…