Director, Finance

Summary

Join Search for Common Ground as the Director, Finance, overseeing all financial, administrative, and operational functions for the Syria country program. Reporting to the Country Director, you will lead strategic financial planning, budget development, and monitoring across multiple grants, ensuring compliance with donor and institutional regulations. You will also be responsible for building and supervising a high-performing finance and administration team, providing coaching, mentorship, and performance oversight. The position is based in Damascus, initially remote, contingent upon donor funding and final funding approval. The role requires significant experience in finance administration, accounting, or a related field, with regional experience in the MENA region. Strict adherence to safety protocols is required due to the volatile security conditions in Syria.

Requirements

• BS/BA degree with a minimum 13 years’ experience in Finance Administration, Accounting, or a related field
• Regional experience in the MENA region is required

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in designing, implementing, and monitoring finance systems to ensure programs are delivered within approved budgets and in alignment with Search’s strategic objectives and donor requirements
• Lead the development and management of multi-grant budgets, ensuring alignment with Search and donor policies; oversee forecasting to ensure adequate funds are available for programmatic and operational needs
• Conduct regular pipeline and burn rate analyses, budget-to-actual comparisons, and expenditure audits; present clear financial insights to support internal decision-making and donor reporting
• Identify financial risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure compliance with international sanctions, anti-terrorism vetting protocols, and regulatory frameworks
• Facilitate ongoing capacity building for staff and partners through targeted training in financial systems, donor compliance, and policy implementation
• Ensure strict compliance with donor requirements (e.g., FCDO), Search’s internal policies, and host country regulations by developing, implementing, and enforcing robust financial controls, systems, and procedures
• Lead the timely preparation and submission of accurate, high-quality financial reports to donors, consortium partners, and Search region/headquarters
• Review and approve financial reports and expenditures submitted by consortium members; conduct periodic spot checks to ensure compliance, accuracy, and accountability
• Act as the primary custodian of all financial records and transactions, upholding confidentiality and data integrity at all times
• Provide financial guidance and training to consortium partners and sub-grantees to strengthen compliance, financial management capacity, and transparency
• Lead the development and dissemination of standardized financial tools, templates, and guidelines to promote consistency and quality among implementing partners
• Support the negotiation, budgeting, and monitoring of sub-agreements in coordination with Search’s grants and legal teams
• Oversee office operations, procurement, and logistics in accordance with Search, donor, and national policies, ensuring effective systems are in place for inventory management, fleet oversight, and security
• Ensure procurement processes are transparent and well-documented, including bid analysis, vendor due diligence, and contract management
• Supervise administrative systems, including payroll, taxation, and insurance compliance, in close coordination with HR and legal advisors
• Build and supervise a high-performing finance and administration team, providing coaching, mentorship, and performance oversight to drive excellence
• Foster synergy and collaboration across departments to ensure financial systems support effective program implementation
• Serve as the focal point for financial coordination with Search headquarters, regional offices, and relevant government bodies
• Support internal and external audits, donor assessments, and compliance reviews
• Represent the finance function in relevant coordination meetings, donor engagements, and strategic planning discussions
• Perform other related duties as required by the Country Director or Regional Finance leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's level degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field preferred
• Experience with FCDO contracts is highly desirable
• In-depth knowledge of or experience in the Syrian context is strongly preferred