Job Description
Senior Finance Manager
Damascus | Syria
The Syria Education Programme II (SEP II), funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and running until 2027, provides primary school children access to quality, inclusive and sustainable education in conflict-affected areas of Northwest Syria. The project provides comprehensive support to schools and teachers, including pedagogical supervision, learning assessments, psychosocial support, and safeguarding measures. The goal is to foster hope for future generations by investing in capacity-building and models that facilitate learning.
Position Overview:
Chemonics seeks a Senior Finance Manager to lead the financial management, compliance and reporting functions for the SEP II local entity in Syria. This includes full compliance with Chemonics UK, FCDO regulations, and Syrian legal frameworks, as well as oversight of financial systems, financial procedures, audits and team management. This role requires attention to detail, a thorough understanding of financial compliance in Syria, and the ability to work within a complex and evolving environment in Syria.
The Senior Finance Manager will adhere to and act in accordance with Chemonics’ professional code of ethics, ‘Living Our Values’, and will make the principles of the code a part of Chemonics’ culture and operating procedures. They will also foster and maintain good and professional relations with prospective and actual sub awardees and vendors, will disclose any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, and will maintain confidentiality regarding programme activities.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):
Financial Management and Compliance
- Lead the financial operations of the SEP II local entity in Syria.
- Ensure compliance with:
- FCDO financial standards
- Chemonics’ internal policies
- Syrian financial regulations
- Manage financial risks and ensure internal controls are in place and functioning effectively.
- Identify financial or corporate risks under local law and propose mitigation strategies.
- Maintain and strengthen financial systems and processes to ensure efficiency.
- Maintain the project's accounting files system. Make sure all vouchers are in order, completed properly and include all documentation required in the Field Office Guide to Field Accounting and Compliance.
- Receive and manage invoices from vendors to ensure timely payment by the project and ensure that appropriate documentation and approvals are obtained.
- Maintain transparent and audit-proof record keeping systems per Chemonics' policies.
Budgeting, Reporting and Documentation
- Ensure all expenditures are properly documented and coded.
- Generate accurate financial reports to internal and external stakeholders, respond to questions from home office accounting unit and project management unit.
- Monitor and update budgets in line with programme requirements and donor regulations.
- Support with forecasting monthly, quarterly, yearly finances in coordination with Programme Managers.
- Support monthly invoicing to FCDO with accurate and complete documentation.
Cash, Payroll and Banking
- Liaise with local banks, reconcile bank statements and verify all deposits and withdrawals.
- Lead payroll processing and benefits for all local staff in a timely and compliant manner.
- Prepare wire transfer requests based on projected expenditures.
- Oversee petty cash and petty cash reconciliation.
Team and Coordination
- Supervises, mentors, trains, develops, and evaluates assigned staff; provides regular performance feedback to supervisees, conducts performance reviews and responsible for preserving adequate time and opportunity to support supervisees to grow professionally.
- Collaborate closely with:
- Procurement, Operations and Grants teams to ensure financial compliance and documentation.
- HR and Operations Manager on employee-related financial matters.
- Head Office Finance teams for coordination and alignment.
Audit and Tax Compliance
- Ensure compliance with Syrian tax laws.
- Work with local certified tax accountants, auditors and lawyers as needed.
- Oversee and support audits.
Qualifications & Experience:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
- CPA, ACCA, or CIMA certification strongly preferred.
- Minimum 5–8 years in financial management, preferably in international development or humanitarian setting.
- Experience with donor-funded projects (FCDO experience preferred), multi-currency ledgers, and international audits.
- Strong analytical and financial planning skills.
- Proficiency in accounting software and financial reporting tools.
- Excellent communication and cross-cultural collaboration abilities.
- Fluency in Arabic, with strong speaking and writing skills in English.
- Has the right to work in Syria and based or willing to be based in Damascus.
The Senior Finance Manager will adhere to and act in accordance with Chemonics’ professional code of ethics, “Living Our Values,” and will make the principles of the code a part of the programme’s culture and operating procedures. They will uphold Chemonics’ programmes’ safeguarding standards at all times and will promote a safeguarding culture among partners, beneficiaries, and staff. They will also foster and maintain good relationships with potential and actual project stakeholders, will disclose any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, and will maintain confidentiality regarding program activities.
Reporting:
The Senior Finance Manager reports to and is directly supervised by the DTL – Operations and Risk.
Location:
This is a full-time position based in Damascus, Syria.
