I have about 17 years of experience not only in humanitarian response but also in development projects. I worked in different emergencies and natural disasters in South Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa.
During this period I managed a few huge funding projects like the 80 Million USD project of USAID. I also managed an annual budget from 9 million to 96 million during my career. I Managed PUI's biggest mission globally in Nigeria, DRC biggest mission globally in Iraq, Kurdistan, my last assignment was as Head of Finance for the Middle East looking to different countries of the Middle East. I am currently working as Global restricted funds oversight Finance Manager with OXFAM GB as HQ staff.
I have an extensive experience of working on projects funded or sponsored by various international donors, i.e., USAID, EC, DFID, BHA, ECHO, GFFO, JICA, DEVCO, DFID, ROTA, KFW, BMZ, GIZ, CIDA, WFP, FCDO, UNICEF, FAO, OCHA, UNHCR, AUSAID, SIDA, GAC, MFA, SDC, CDC, UNDP, and ADH.
My practical experience that includes (in addition to above) working for
During my assignments, I attained valuable knowledge and ability to
- Work in multicultural and multiethnic environments.
- Perform and lead staff under pressure.
- Follow a solution-oriented approach.
- Establish policies, procedures, and systems. And
- Plan capacity building and conduct training for staff.
Key tasks undertaken during my assignments were financial, contracts grants, Administration, HR, Supply Chain, fleet management and operational management of multi-donor/multi-sector programs preparation of budgets/financial reports finalizing resources allocation maintaining budgetary controls preparing funds draw requests ensured compliance with donor and organization
policies/procedures and regulations (CFRs/FARs) served as a focal point for external-A-133, internal and donor audits and responded to management letters performed internal/partner audits prepared compliance/internal audit reports including recommendations for improvements capacity building of staff/partner organizations.
Managing and supporting different countries of middle east emergency responses, of 96 Million portfolios.
Provides technical support and guidance to the Finance Managers and their teams in the region
Provides effective leadership to the staff directly line managed in Erbil
Coordinate with other mission staff to establish an effective capacity building strategy in financial areas, provides and/or coordinates trainings
on financial matters
Responsible for overall regional program economy (review of coverage table, budget, uncovered and their regular update, cash flow and cost
efficiency monitoring, FX rate risk, etc.)
Provide regular updates to Regional director and HQ on the mission economy
Ensure accurate budgeting, planning and allocation of the HQ and International Staff costs
Monitor the sustainability of the regional program and flags potential financial risks to the regional Management
Ensures compliance with each donors funding from financial part and provide technical summary on each project regarding each donors’
specific financial requirements
Highlights any potential compliance issues to CD’s/ RHOS / RPD and RD.
Provides technical input/guidance in developing and/or updating current financial guidelines (such as financial security guidelines, SoPs for
specific activities in collaboration with other mission staff)
Supports the adoption of correction measures in reaction to external and internal audits
§  Financial procedures during emergency responses, including meeting all relevant responsibilities in the Rules and Principles for Emergency Response of 65 Million portfolios which is DRC biggest globally.
§  Managed 4 expats and 10 national staff directly and about 20 staff indirectly. About 30 active projects of 12 different donors.
§  Support the Country Director (CD) in the management of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices
§  Ensure with Programme Operations and Support Services that systems are in place for the control of all assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities
§  The formulation of country work program and resource allocation.
§  Providing effective support and guidance to the Senior Management Team and other key program staff during planning and allocation exercises.
§  Designing and keeping up to date cash management procedures adapted to local conditions, suggesting alternatives in the light of any changes, authorizing and organizing the transfer of funds to the bases
§  Develop appropriate training tools and on an on-going basis offer/conduct training and capacity building to staff and implementing partners on program/grant compliance and accountability systems and requirements, where needed.
 Responsible for all aspects relating to finance, including budgetary and accounting elements, as well as the mission cash flow.
 Represents the association in its relations with partners, authorities and different local players for the financial, administrative, legal and human resources areas of the mission.
 Budgeting the proposals, doing the donor financial reports and organizing the audits of the projects on the field.
 Centralizes and diffuses information within the mission and to headquarters for all financial, administrative, legal and human resources aspects of the mission, and consolidates the internal and external reporting for these domains.
 Regular visits to bases, controls, monitoring, training, etc…
 Externally, represents PUI with tax and administrative authorities (Tax Directorate, collection agencies…).
 Ensures efficient flow of information to field teams, the capital and headquarters.
 Ensures administrative coordination at the mission level through regular visits to bases, controls, monitoring, training, etc…
 Supports the Base Manager and Admin/Log Manager in the performance of their finance activities, in a functional, not hierarchical, relationship.
Ensure that effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control including: Accounting and management information systems; Cash and cash flow management and control
Advising other departments on their financial and budgetary needs
Collecting datas and writing the financial and budgetary section of proposals and reports to funding bodies and financing plans, and negotiation of the Z1 after validation of Country Director
Representing the mission to outside bodies on issues of finance and budget and developing a network for the exchange of information and good practice
Ensuring that parameters of the accounting software are properly set up
Ensuring that all accounting, extra-accountingand expatriate data are entered into the accounting software
Supervising the checking of invoices and ensuring that they are archived according to ACF procedures
Verifying and approving the monthly accounting bundle and ensuring that it is forwarded to headquarters
Designing and keeping up to date cash management procedures adapted to local conditions, suggesting alternatives in the light of any changes, authorising and organising the transfer of funds to the bases
Monitoring contractual payments made by funding bodies and signed off in the field
Approving the choice of banking establishments, checking their solvency and reliability, securing optimal conditions, approving and requesting the opening and closing of accounts and the adding of signatories according to ACF procedures
Preparing and revising the mission's annual budget
Identifying financial risks (exchange rate fluctuations, inflation...), making Heads of Department aware of financial risks in their field, alerting the Country Director and headquarters, providing support in the management of risk
Production and archiving of financial reports according to the deadlines and formats required by funding bodies
Ensure that effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control including: Accounting and management information systems; Cash and cash flow management and control
Ensure with Programme Operations and Support Services that systems are in place for the control of all assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities
Monitor and support completion of financial reports for awards/contracts.
Work with budget holders to estimate funds request on a timely basis to ensure resources are in place for carrying project activities.
Ensure appropriate staffing within finance & Administration team, and manage finance & Administration team by defining expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly.
The formulation of country work program and resource allocation.
Providing effective support and guidance to the Senior Management Team and other key program staff during planning and allocation exercises.
Design, implement and oversee the maintenance of the offices, administrative / filing systems for the efficient functioning of the field offices.
Work closely with program team for adjustment of Variances in Budget Vs Actual.
Evaluate and strengthen contractual agreement formats, particularly regarding shared liability and other points of possible weakness
Develop appropriate training tools and on an on-going basis offer/conduct training and capacity building to staff
Assist Provincial Team Leaders and Project managers in grant close out processes, including final donor reports preparations.
Ensure all grants related documents & information are appropriately collated for future audits and verifications.
Establish result based system and follow up. Ensure adequate segregation of finance and operation.
Managing country program in respect of HR, Procurement, Logs/Inventory, Administration and finance.
Assisting CD in developing implementation plan and overall country strategy.
Managing country office and 4 regional offices.
At country level, developed, drafted and implemented human resource, financial, procurement and administration manuals and systems so that they are in agreement with country operational and legal requirements.
Supervising and managing contracts and grants.
Ensuring compliance with organization and donor policies/procedures and regulations.
Serving as a focal point Internal, fiscal and donor audits.
Conducting follow up reviews on internal audit observations;
Participating in investigations into regulatory and compliance issues;
Planning and analyzing the requirements of internal and external compliance and internal controls needed to effectively meet the mandates;
Ensure that project funds are correctly managed according to the specifications of Welthungerhilfe and Co-Financers.
Ensuring That documents of data, account assignment and bookkeeping entries are carried out correctly (WINPACCS Cashbook and Accounting)
Sharing analysis of spending and commitment cost with Project manager for timely decision making.
Ensuring Correct Personnel management within the project.
Supporting local administrative staff and building there capacity.
Making purchases and awarding contracts according to the valid contract awarding regulations.
Treasure management for smooth implications of projects. Ensuring sufficient funds availability.
Ensure the Country Office meets the contractual fiscal and administrative standards of donor emergency contracts
Oversee full sub-grant management, from IPIA review to agreeing to feedback on final financial reports. Specifically this entails:
o Supervision of financial management of sub-grant
o Overseeing sub-grant selection and assessment
o Preparation of sub-grant agreements
Reviews draft grant agreement and IPIA and prepares grants long/short form checklists, which will enable identification of exceptional items which require approval by CLT, ARMU, and HQ. Facilitate submission of the same to ARMU or HQ when required.
Support finance director or act as focal point on CARE internal project agreements between CIM and CO (IPIA).
Perform detailed audit review of selected grants, as determined by the management, with special attention to procurement processes and supporting documentation, specific donor compliance requirements, and quality of reporting;
Support Provincial Team Leaders and Project managers in the development of program plans (DIP and GANTT charts) and budget plan (operational, quarterly, annual pipelines).
Supervise the Project Finance staff in consolidating the financial and program information, including donor or other reporting requirements.
Develop appropriate training tools and on an on-going basis offer/conduct training and capacity building to staff and implementing partners on program/grant compliance and accountability systems and requirements, where needed.
Supervise maintenance of grants related information and track donor and other stakeholder reports requirements. This includes supervision of the processes to maintain updated central grants files/information.
Assist Provincial Team Leaders and Project managers in grant close out processes, including final donor reports preparations.
Ensure all grants related documents & information are appropriately collated for future audits and verifications.
Ensure sub-grants are managed in alignment with CARE’s grant management standards,
Develop Corrective Action Plans for sub-grantee based on the audit report findings and onwards follow up
Organizing and conducting grant and sub-grant start-up/close-out processes/workshops including training/orientation on budgets, project implementation/results based activities, monitoring and evaluation and other relevant requirements.
Reconcile Grants/Contracts and Private Restricted Funds; Reviews the monthly financial reports prepared by the project finance/grant teams and be part of the monthly grants review meetings with Grants Manager and budget holders.
Orient IPs on the financial policies and procedure of Care International; actively seek out opportunities and funding to build the capacity of our local partners
Work closely with program team for adjustment of Variances in Budget Vs Actual.
Evaluate and strengthen contractual agreement formats, particularly regarding shared liability and other points of possible weakness
With the support of Program and Program Support units, develop standard, high quality induction modules on CARE’s systems and reporting requirements to be offered to partners when sub-grants or other agreements entailing financial accountability come into place
Establishment of a feedback/complaints mechanism for partners who are concerned with some aspect of CARE’s performance
Responsible for the effective performance management of finance staff reporting to the position, ensuring assessment, development and performance management against objectives and organizationally agreed competencies;
Supervise Sub-Ledger accounts to ensure that the accounts are being liquidated in a timely & accurate manner. This include the review & reconciliation of the sub-ledger with the trail balance
Ensure recharging of expenses to facilitate preparation of financial reports to Donors according to set deadlines.
Review all financial entries for accuracy & compliance; Provide relevant and timely financial information relating to the flood response to Finance Controller & Senior Management Team.
Review and verify the financial reports of Implementing Partners of KPK & Sindh Region; Ensure that Partner's Advances are liquidated well ahead of contract closing & expenses are included in donor report on time; Ensure no unallowable/ineligible costs are charged to any donor.
Actively involved in the assessment of finance functions in sub-offices and setting up finance structure thereafter; consolidate the Cash forecast for the regions & forward it to account manager
Ensure that expenses are timely & appropriately charged to respective Funds codes
Ensure timely adjustment of staff advances as well as all venders advances, Deduction of withholding taxes & timely submission, Payroll & computation of gratuity & other staff benefits
Prepare financial reports of donors (USAID, EC, ECHO, JICA,CIDA,AUSAID, ROTA, DFID, OCHA, BMZ, DIPECHO, ADH, DEC, RAF etc)
Consolidation of SPC budgets (quarterly, ad-hoc, and start of FY)
Liasoning with Auditors on audits as and when required.
Design, implement and oversee the maintenance of the offices and team houses, administrative / filing systems for the efficient functioning of the field offices and team houses.
Liaise with Mansehra office regarding national and international visitors and staff for logistic arrangements
Kept fixed assets record update and submit the monthly fixed asset reports and cash counts to the Finance Manager
Liaise with the admin and procurement Mansehra regarding the requisitions submitted for event management and assets
Assist Admin Manager to negotiate, create and finalize contracts for newly acquired buildings and set up and furnish new offices and housing facilities; Supervise and manage the transport fleet in the zone
Assist ADM in preparation of the annual administration department budget for Kaghan; Coordinating, planning and maintaining updated information on budget and available financial resources & advise the respective Grant project managers for the timely grant budget utilizations
Reviewing and analyzing monthly status of allotments and ledger accounts, reporting to Program Officers on the financial status of individual projects
Check the available grant budgets before releasing any funds for purchase requests and to the sub grantees fund request
Coordinate with HR the monthly payrolls are paid timely and all staff payroll are chargeable within the existing Fund Code; Receive duly approved Employee Expense Reports and disburse cash timely.
Control all the grant budget releases according to the budget line items whenever there are requests by the departments
Preparation of monthly admin & finance expenses analysis report
Keep fixed asset records update and submit the monthly fixed asset reports and cash counts to the Finance Manager
Hold the organization’s Dollar and Rupee Petty Cash according to the approved limits
Update the fixed assets record whenever assets are issued out or status changes or moved from place to place, or person to person
Keep the Cash Receipt Acknowledgement Book, unpaid Payment Journals and the Check Books in the safe box
Receive the sun systems ledger from the General Accountant on monthly basis and update the assets record
Maintain Cash Book for both Rupee and dollar Petty Cash
Prepare cash balance sheet; count the cash, Replenish, close, sign and submit to Finance Manager daily by 5:00 p.m.
Prepare letter to transfer funds from Dollar to Pak Rupee bank account and forward a copy to General Accountant after submission to the bank.
Keep the assets record reconciled with the sun systems ledgers, on monthly basis.