Ghada Shatarah
Peoria,IL
Summary
Budget and reporting specialist with solid background in data analysis and reporting. Successfully developed and streamlined reporting processes to enhance decision-making. Demonstrated strong analytical skills and proficiency in various reporting tools.
Overview
2
2
Languages
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Finance Officer- Budget & Reporting (JO-CP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
08.2021 - Current
- Assist in preparing the Fiscal year Budget following the IRC standard format to meet the required deadlines.
- Update the Fiscal year budget that will serve as a guide for all new donor proposals as well help in times of rapid growth, decline of program to advise timely management decisions.
- Provide recommendations for funding shortfall and / or coverage for each component.
- Prepare new donor budgets and cost proposals.
- Conduct a detailed preparation of existing grant budget revisions ensuring that all costs are covered and are not under/over budgeted in addition to accurate use of the IRC's and the donor budget formats.
- Prepare the monthly Budget Versus Actual (BVA) reports and distribute on time.
- Provide monthly analysis for Finance Manager per grant after each month closing and provide recommendation for the budget holders to ensure accurate grants' spending.
- Review the budget spending plans and advise relevant staff on spending status and ask for feedback on all over/under spending.
- Prepare and update spending plans for all active grants in coordination with the appropriate budget holders.
- Review and update the commitments lists from Supply chain, Admin& Human Resources to be included in monthly BvA’s.
- Participating in the periodic Grant review, opening and closing meetings and present the spending status.
- Provide support and feedback to Operations and Program Coordinators and Managers for all questions regarding the BVAs.
- In compliance with donor requirements propose and prepare adjustments entries, attaching all supporting documents for finance records and posting into SUN system.
- Preparing Donor Financial reports for all grants for review by the Deputy Director Finance. Make sure the reports are complying to donor reporting formats and timely submitted as per contractual requirements.
- Provide analysis of grants spending plan vs. actual spending.
- Review PRs and advise charge codes.
- Follow up / make sure that all budgets are uploaded on the BVA in the accurate way and according to donor format.
- Analyzing, monitoring and reporting/addressing all budget excesses.
- Track the spending on support costs and provide quarterly analysis for the purpose of any budget amendments or new budgets.
- Assist the Finance Manager in conducting regular training sessions in Amman and other IRC field offices on Budget Management and donor regulations to Program, Operations and Finance staff in close coordination with Grants Coordinator.
Acting Sr. Finance Officer (SYR-CP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
05.2021 - 07.2021
- Compliance check of finance documents/transactions for payment to ensure that all payments are approved as per the authority Matrix. Also, to make sure that all payments are processed within 3 working days.
- Focal person for Per Diem and Consultant payments. To ensure that these payments are processed within 3 working days.
- Preparation of the intercompany report every month.
- Preparation of the 2930 NY report every month.
- Preparation of the SPCA/SPCE allocation every month.
- To represent Finance team in bid opening meeting.
- To provide support for the finance team in the office.
- Deal with HQ communications and as instructed from the supervisor.
- Follow up on the PRTS with the concerned staff from SC and other departments on closing grants to assure all expenses has been captured and reported.
- To update Balance sheet Analysis by 16th of every month and ensure that there are no long outstanding balances. Also, to provide justification and expected clearance date for outstanding balances.
- Assisting Focal person for Cash Assistant Program to ensure that Finance database is in-line with Program database. To review and verify all request for cash assistance before sending to the bank to avoid any back and forth with Bank.
- To establish good coordination with Supply Chain, HR, and Program department in Coordination with other departments establish the workflow and deadlines for timely submission of the payment documents.
- Participating in the monthly closing by supporting Finance Manager for any task required.
- Review accruals JVs for the month closing.
- Review of the national staff payroll every month.
- Assisting in the supervision of the finance Amman staff.
Budget & Reporting Officer (SYR-CP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
09.2018 - 04.2021
- Prepare the monthly Budget Versus Actual (BVA) reports and distribute on time.
- Review the budget spending and advise relevant staff on spending status and ask for feedback on all over/under spending.
- Prepare and update spending plan for all active grants in conjunction with the appropriate budget holders.
- Review and update the commitments lists from SC, Admin& HR to be included in monthly BvA’s.
- Participate in the monthly Grant review meetings and present the spending status. Follow up on the action points based on the comments from the meeting.
- Attend and provide support in all grant opening, review and closing meetings.
- Provide support and feedback to Operations and Program managers for all questions regarding the BVAs.
- In compliance with donor requirements propose and prepare adjustments entries, attaching all supporting documents for finance records and posting into SUN system.
- Prepare the new budget line coding (T2 codes) for each new grant and update in SUN system.
- Assist in preparing Donor Financial reports for all grants for review by the Finance Controller. Make sure the reports are complying to donor reporting formats and timely submitted as per contractual requirements.
- Provide Technical assistance when required to other IRC Country offices.
- Update the staff salary mapping, follow up on SPCA table update and propose to FC for review and further approval.
- Provide update on grant spending status to FC.
- Provide analysis of grants spending plan vs. actual spending.
- Provide detailed analysis and tables for long-term allocation.
- Review PRs and advise charge codes.
- Have regular head-to-head meetings with Program Managers to make sure they fully understand the budget and that proper action are been taken.
- Review Sub-Grant budgets and follow up with Sub-Grant department on updating the Sub-Grant budget reports.
- Participate in the pre-award assessment process for Sub-Grants.
Finance Officer (SYR-CP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
02.2018 - 09.2018
- Manage all aspects of day-to-day operations of accounting department.
- Assist in the implementation of Finance policies, procedures and systems.
- Ensure compliance with IRC procedures and guidelines.
- Verify completeness and accuracy of all accounting documents.
- Fill all finance records and make it available for internal /external audit and review, and trace all documents (PRs, payments, checks, and service requests).
- Calculation, deduction, and reconciliation of Tax.
- Keep up to date records for staff program advances and follow up with them to liquidate advances.
- Liaison with Supply Chain, HR, and Programs.
- Verify payments with paying attention to all Purchase Orders and Purchase Requests for proper coding and budget adequacy.
- Maintain Payment register for all payments received and payments returned to make sure that there is no long outstanding payment as well as payments are not missed/lost in process.
- Focal person for All payments sent/received to/from Amman and to ensure that Amman process payments within given time. Custodian of Check books, (preparation) and Issuance of Checks.
- Participating in the month end closing and preparing necessary JVs as required/requested.
- Reconciliation of accounts and preparing the balance sheet reconciliation and bank reconciliation.
Finance Assistant
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
08.2016 - 01.2018
- Assist in the implementation of Finance policies, procedures, and systems.
- To reserve/prepare CDs for all ready cheques on daily basis. And share cheques distribution plane with Supply chain/concerned department on weekly basis.
- Make all necessary efforts to ensure accuracy of the data entry.
- Update spread sheet on daily basis with high rate of accuracy.
- Filing all finance records and making it available for internal /external audit and review, and trace all documents (PRs, payments, checks, and service requests), also Copying and scanning of documents.
- Scanning required documents for the intercompany charges and always updated.
- Keep up to date records for staff program advances, to be reported to Sr. Finance officer to liquidate advances.
- Maintain Payment register for all payments received and payments returned, to make sure that there is no long outstanding payment as well as payments are not missed/lost in process.
- Focal person for All payments sent/received to/from Amman and to ensure that Amman process payments within given time. Custodian of Check books, (preparation) and Issuance of Checks.
- Printing checks and making sure accuracy of the checks details to minimize the voided checks.
- Following on staff advances to be cleared up before the month ends.
Education
Bachelor's degree - Finance
University of Jordan
06-2016
Skills
Financial planning and budgeting
Financial compliance with donor regulations
Budget preparation and monitoring
Advanced Microsoft Excel
ERP/Financial Management Systems (such as SUN System & Integra)
Excellent Communication & Team Collaboration
Languages
Arabic
Native or Bilingual
English
Full Professional
TRAINING COURSES
- Power BI data & visualization
- The power of excel- Advanced excel training
- Emotional Intelligence Workshop
Timeline
Sr. Finance Officer- Budget & Reporting (JO-CP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
08.2021 - Current
Acting Sr. Finance Officer (SYR-CP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
05.2021 - 07.2021
Budget & Reporting Officer (SYR-CP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
09.2018 - 04.2021
Finance Officer (SYR-CP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
02.2018 - 09.2018
Finance Assistant
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
08.2016 - 01.2018
Bachelor's degree - Finance
University of Jordan