Job Description

MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS: Accounting, Bookkeeping, Grant Compliance, Biblical Stewardship, Training SUMMARY:
As the Finance Officer, you will bring together Christian faith and financial expertise to support our ministry\xe2\x80\x99s aims and objectives locally and internationally. You will administer the finances of Children of the Nations UK & Ireland and, as part of a dynamic International Grant Compliance team, you will monitor finance reporting from each of our international partners, in accordance with the Christian principles and ethos with which the charity operates. This will involve providing training, advice and spiritual encouragement to finance staff supporting the direct care of children in Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. You will provide expertise in budgeting, reporting and procedural best practice, encouraging prayerful reliance on God for all financial resources and applying principles of Christian stewardship to those resources.
YOU\xe2\x80\x99LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR\xe2\x80\xa6

• Pray with and for each COTNI implementing partner with which the post-holder is working.
• Support the Annual Operational Plan Budget process, ensuring accuracy and compliance with standards, creating an annual consolidated budget and corresponding Grant Disbursement letters.
• Provide oversight to monthly granting process, ensuring funds are granted in line with commitments made to partners and monthly transfers are documented and authorized appropriately.
• Analyse implementing partner monthly reporting to ensure completion, identify inaccuracies and budget variance and support International Liaison and Grant Compliance Officers to resolve any issues arising.
• Manage completion of COTNI finance standards assessment every two years with each partner and monitor corrective action progress.
• Review reports of external auditors for each partner annually and identify areas of concern.
• Identify areas of training needed by implementing partner finance staff and facilitate the completion of this training according to an agreed schedule.
• Mentor implementing partners in biblical principles of accounting, service, stewardship and prayer.
• Provide consultation support for implementing partner finance staff, including supporting a full transition to Quickbooks Online.
• Ensure consistent updating and adherence to the Common Chart of Accounts.
• Make recommendations regarding potential efficiency savings and overall process improvement.
• Review exchange rates and economic trends in each implementing country.
• Administering the finances of COTN UK & Ireland, processing donations, gift aid, payments, international transfers, managing payroll and preparing budgets and reports.
• Represent Children of the Nations \xe2\x80\x93 in particular its Christian mission - to partners and at events, fundraisers and conferences, when required.
• Advocate for the work of COTN UK & Ireland among church contacts and others who are likely to be supportive of the aims of the charity.

YOU MUST HAVE\xe2\x80\xa6

• Completed or partially completed CAI/ACCA/ACA (or equivalent).
• Experience of international Christian ministry (in a paid or voluntary capacity)
• Minimum of 3 years\' experience within an Accounting Role.
• Detailed knowledge of QuickBooks
• Detailed understanding of Biblical Stewardship and its application
• Excellent numerical skills with the ability to analyse data, statistics and review budgets and expenditure
• Ability to lead prayer meetings and pray for others one on one
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work cross-culturally with sensitivity
• Ability to run face to face and remote training and to mentor international teams
• Strong computer skills, including use of Microsoft Office applications
• Proven organisational skills and the ability to work on own initiative and to deadlines
• Personal faith in Jesus and a passion for reaching the world with the Gospel
• Strong commitment to uphold the vision and mission statements of the employer
• Strong commitment to prayer
• Personal integrity and trustworthiness
• Willing to work flexibly, including evening working

IT\xe2\x80\x99S AN ADDED PLUS IF YOU HAVE\xe2\x80\xa6

• Full driving licence (and access to a car)
• Experience working for a charity or Christian mission agency in a similar finance role
• Experience of public speaking in a church context
• Payroll experience
• Knowledge of financial legislation relating to charities
• Proficiency in French and/or Spanish
• Willingness to travel internationally if necessary

Only those applicants who appear from the information contained in the application forms to be the most suitable in terms of relevant experience and ability will be short-listed for interview. You should note that candidates who do not demonstrate how they fulfill all of the essential criteria will not be shortlisted for interview. The employer reserves the right to shortlist on the essential criteria only or on the essential and desirable criteria as identified in the Person Specification as may be appropriate. It is essential that you fully describe in each section how you meet the particular experience and qualities sought, giving examples and specifying exact dates as appropriate.
BENEFITS, PERKS, & OUR TEAM\xe2\x80\xa6 We have the joy of working hard to change children\xe2\x80\x99s lives every day and are passionate about taking care of our teams!
Children of the Nations offers flexibility in where/when you work and we are dedicated to helping staff grow professionally and thrive in their roles. We take time for prayer and connection with one another, read books together, and enjoy having fun too!
This is a work from home position, with weekly meetings in Belfast.
We pursue excellence in all we do and strive to be:

• RESPECTFUL: We are gracious, friendly, and treat each other with honour.
• GLOBAL: We value and promote cultural diversity. We actively study and work to understand all cultures represented within the COTN Global Alliance.
• ADAPTABLE: We seek to be open-minded and see challenges as opportunities to be innovative.
• ENGAGED: We are proactive, committed and solution-driven in our work, continually seeking to improve and expand the ministry.
• COLLABORATIVE: We work together and support and learn from one another in a spirit of helpfulness.

ORGANISATIONAL OVERVIEW We believe all children deserve the chance to reach their full potential! At Children of the Nations (COTN), we are dedicated to raising children out of poverty and hopelessness so they can become leaders who transform their nations. We currently provide care to orphans and children from the most destitute situations in Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. We work through local partners to provide long-term holistic care for children \xe2\x80\x93 we have a Children\xe2\x80\x99s Homes Program for children who have been orphaned, Village Partnership Program for children living with destitute families or caregivers who cannot properly provide for them, and a University & Vocational Program to provide continued education and support for youth finishing secondary school\xe2\x80\xa6helping them reach their fullest potential! We believe true, lasting, and meaningful change to families, communities, and nations takes place when you deeply invest in children, so they are our mission. Join us and you will help children go from living on the street to graduating from college and becoming entrepreneurs, teachers, and doctors! For more information, visit cotni.org and cotnukireland.org!
Data Protection Statement
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If you succeed in your application and take up employment, the information will be used in the administration of your employment. The employer may also use the information if there is a complaint or challenge relevant to this recruitment process.
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By submitting an application it will be assumed that you agree to the processing of sensitive personal data (as described above), in accordance with the principles set out in Data Protection Legislation.