Senior Finance Officer

Job Title: Senior Finance Officer

Location: Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (KRI), with occasional travel to other areas of KRI. 

Type of position: Employment contract

Length of Contract: One year

Compensation and Benefits: Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with skills and experience.

About SEED: 

SEED is a locally registered NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SEED’s mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is committed to delivering quality and holistic approaches, combining international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan. SEED’s programming focuses on three key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive services including case management, mental health, and legal services, as well as psychosocial support activities; 2) strengthening the capacity of service providers through education, training, and capacity-development programs; and 3) ​promoting policy and social change to strengthen rights and protections for vulnerable groups and individuals through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy.

Role Summary:

SEED is seeking a Senior Finance Officer to join our team in Erbil. The Senior Finance Officer will play a key role in ensuring sound financial management and compliance across SEED’s programs and donor-funded activities. This role involves performing compliance reviews, monitoring budgets, supporting donor reporting, and reviewing sub-grants. The successful candidate will work closely with the Finance Manager and program teams and will support internal controls, audits, and financial reporting processes.

Responsibilities:

Financial Compliance & Documentation

• Review and verify the completeness, accuracy, and compliance of all supporting documents related to financial transactions across programs.
• Ensure that all expenses align with donor regulations and SEED’s internal financial policies.
• Conduct regular internal compliance checks and field visits to ensure proper documentation, control measures, and transaction integrity.
• Maintain audit-ready financial records; support internal and external audits by preparing requested documentation and managing audit files.

Budget Monitoring & Reporting

• Maintain and update detailed Budget vs. Actual (BvA) tracking for each donor-funded project.
• Coordinate with program managers to review BvA reports monthly, discuss variances, and update forecasts and spending plans.
• Prepare financial inputs for donor reports, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance with donor formats and requirements.
• Analyze financial performance trends and identify risks, under- or over-spending, and suggest corrective actions.

Monthly and Annual Financial Closures

• Oversee monthly closing activities in coordination with the Finance Manager, including:
• • Ensuring all expenses and accruals are recorded by cut-off dates.
  • Reviewing the general ledger for accuracy.
  • Reconciling bank and cash accounts, advances, and balance sheet items.
• Support annual financial closure and year-end audit preparation, including finalizing entries, schedules, and reconciliations.
• Prepare financial statements and reports required for management and donors during closure periods.

Sub-Grants and Partner Financial Oversight

• Review sub-grantee financial reports and supporting documents to ensure completeness, accuracy, and donor compliance.
• Monitor sub-grantee budget utilization and flag financial risks or inconsistencies to the Finance Manager.
• Coordinate capacity assessments and spot checks of sub-grantees to strengthen financial accountability.

Systems, Filing, and Recordkeeping

• Ensure that all financial records are organized, labeled, and archived in both hardcopy and electronic formats.
• Regularly update transaction registers, trackers, and internal controls documentation.
• Ensure that scanned copies of financial documents are systematically stored in shared drives according to SEED’s archiving protocol.

Treasury and Cash Management

• Support bank reconciliations, cash reconciliations, and cash flow monitoring across multiple accounts and field offices.
• Assist in preparing and submitting fund requests and wire transfers.
• Maintain clear and reconciled records of fund disbursements and ensure timely processing of payments.

Team Coordination and Capacity Building

• Provide guidance and day-to-day support to junior finance staff, ensuring compliance and accuracy in their work.
• Participate in capacity-building efforts for program and support staff on budgeting, donor compliance, and financial procedures.
• Coordinate with the Finance Manager and program teams to improve financial systems and internal controls.

Essential criteria:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field
• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive experience in finance roles, preferably within the NGO or donor-funded sector.
• Strong understanding of donor compliance and regulations (e.g., USAID, EU, UN, GIZ).
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables, formulas, and data validation).
• Experience with accounting software or ERP systems (e.g., QuickBooks, Odoo, etc.).
• Excellent attention to detail, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• High standard of written and spoken English; Kurdish and/or Arabic is an asset.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.