Finance Compliance Specialist – Damascus – National International Position National Position

– Context
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with
communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater
resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.
Our team of more than 7,000 staff and local volunteers work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and
the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education
and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.
We do this by working with local actors to develop safe and inclusive local programming that is
evidence based, conflict sensitive, climate smart, and reaches those in need.
Relief International is an alliance of four organizations with one shared mission, comprised of Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK and Relief International Europe, which operate under a one-team concept under a single senior leadership team.

Job Profile :
Under the direct supervision of Finance Manager, the primary responsibility of the Finance
Compliance Specialist is to support monitoring of compliance with RI financial policies and enhancing
internal control methods including the donor regulations and guidelines, adhere to the GAP principles
to ensure that the Finance department functions in an efficient and well-organized manner. The
position ensures compliance with all accounting and financial reporting functions, oversees cost and
general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, payroll booking processes and audit readiness.
The position will serve as main Audit Focal Point ensuring all the supporting documentation is
compliant and all transactions are supported with proper back up to ensure proper audit trail. Finance
Compliance Specialist will be responsible for liaising with the CPA, local tax, banks, and other authorities.
– Key Responsibilities :
The Finance Compliance Controller position requires a high level of accountability, integrity, and adaptability to navigate the complexities of the role and effectively contribute to the organization’s mission and impact.
Accounting:
• Responsible on the NetSuite accounting system for Syria mission including all
locations/accounting books.
• Reviewing the accounting entries posted by the team members and approve them after
ensuring they meet the required compliance and procedure in NS system.
• Reviewing the monthly reconciliation and match them with the reports (Bank transactions
journals, cash transactions journals, the petty cash log sheet).
• Reconcile all payable/receivable accounts in the balance sheet for Syria County Office books (all locations)
• Making of the monthly clearances and match them with the field payments (Card System reconciliation)
• Coordinating the monthly intercompany reconciliations and HQ’s clearances and ensure they match the payments made by the HQ payments’ team.
• Check and validate the balances in the monthly income statement and the exchange rate in the general ledger and coordinate with regional teams for clearing GSO shared account monthly.
• Review the accounting end-of month / Year end reports for Syria Country books and share them with RSO/Support team.
• Implement and maintain systems to ensure that cash is controlled and accounted for in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with RI, donor and audit requirements.
• Monthly review for the transaction list and do the adjustments for any incorrect charges related to the field locations and monitor any adjustments needed
• Ensure that all financial records and backup documentation have been archived to cloud server electronically on monthly basis.
• Prepare the task orders for the projects and upload them to NetSuite.
• Supervision of booking partners financial reports
• Supervision of the payments made on behalf of the partners and report the backup to them to reimburse RI (if any).
Financial Reporting :
• Reviews the transaction GL to spot any possible discrepancies against donor approved budgets.
• Provides support to Finance Manager and Budgeting and Reporting specialist with data analysis.
• Generates as accounting related reports (internal month / Fiscal Year closure) or external reports (Financial statements – governmental reports as required or Financial Statements required by donors if any)
Cash Management:
• Focal point person for the cash-flow in all offices.
• Prepare the monthly and quarterly cash forecast to ensure adequate cash liquidity is met in all locations and submit to Support (RSO) team for processing
• Ensure cash management procedures are followed and all cash and bank accounts are reconciled.
• Oversee the Card System process in all locations.
• Act as main FP for bank matters – including but not limited to opening, closing bank accounts, adding signatories, preparing reconciliations, payments, ensure sufficient balances are available to avoid liquidity shortages, other matters as required) and train the field office team on making bank transactions.
• Prepare any governmental reports as required per local requirements (i.e. Social security, tax departments, any relevant financial institution bodies) and share with CPA.
Donor Compliance:
• Train and support finance staff on minimum accounting standards, governmental and donor finance compliance, and cash management
• Proactively identifies and acts upon deficiencies and areas for improvement in the Finance team on financial/accounting reporting
Audit:
• Finance focal point for donors audits on Syria projects with ensuring full preparation and coordination.
• Oversee the audit process (internal, donor led audits and/or spot checks, governmental audits) – coordinate with the team to timely provide to the auditors requested samples, justification, and do the needed adjustments for external and internal audits.
• Lead the preparation of government audit and provide the required documents and reports to
the auditors and solve any related issues.
• Ensure that applications for Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions are filled and prepare the
declarations submitted to the authorities.
Financial Review:
• Oversight of compliance procedures and accountability, proper compliance principles are
followed, project allocations are accurate and ensure that all financial procedures are in line
with RI policies, RI policies and donor regulations.
• Checking and signing procurement and financial documents in all locations as per the limits in
the authorization matrix (PR1, PR2, petty cash payments, payment vouchers, national and
international staff payments, HFs running costs …. etc.)
• Coordinate with HR team on direct and indirect staff payrolls, make the final review/approval
and follow up booking and payment procedures.
• Focal point for the taxes and social security payments in coordination with HR department and organization’s lawyer.
Behavior and Conduct :
• Will ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
• Will be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members
• Will ensure own actions and the actions of the teams members they manage do not impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve
• Will ensure external stakeholders are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms
• Report any concerns
– Person Specification
Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.

Essential criteria :
• A bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, engineering, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of professional experience in finance in INGOs.
• Proficient with computer applications including but not limited to Microsoft Excel, Word, outlook, etc.
• Professional-level oral and written fluency in Arabic and English.
• Experience in working on CPA, Social insurance and government reporting.
• Experience managing project budgets, resources, documentation, and other financial components.
• Experience in working with internal and external audits.
• Flexible in schedule, attitude, and work processes with the ability to handle stressful situations.
• Ability to solve complex financial and administrative challenges and evaluate options for optimizing project implementation and ensuring compliance.
Desirable criteria
• Experience at a senior Finance level in INGO.
• Experience in double-entry accounting systems.
• Ability to work under high pressure and without constant supervision.
• High level of initiative.

RI Values
Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as
well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:
• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability

How To Apply

To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button in the job advert page.

• You will be asked to upload a CV and Cover Letter.
• The cover letter to include why you are interested in this post with Relief International and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

Closing Date

April 19, 2026.

As a humanitarian organization, Relief International is committed to the safeguarding of all those we come into contact with through our work. We are committed to the core humanitarian principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. Relief International expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviors outlined in the Code of Conduct.

Recruitment to all roles in Relief International include a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checks.

Tagged as: Agriculture, Food Security and Livelihoods