Finance Officer (NOC) Damascus VA016-2026

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

24 June 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 Eastern European Time (Damascus)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

WFP Syria operates in a highly dynamic and risk-informed humanitarian environment, characterized by the protracted impacts of conflict, acute economic contraction and market volatility, recurrent climate shocks, and continuing access and movement constraints that vary by location and over time. At the same time, pockets of stabilization and market adaptation are creating opportunities to strengthen early recovery and resilience outcomes alongside life-saving assistance. The Country Office delivers large-scale assistance through a mix of in-kind and cash-based modalities and a wide network of cooperating partners and service providers, requiring strong coordination with UN agencies, NGOs, financial institutions and relevant authorities. In this operating context, disruptions to supply chains, banking and liquidity, and rapid shifts in needs and priorities demand agile planning, robust internal controls, and continuous risk management to safeguard accountability to affected populations and ensure that resources are used efficiently, transparently and in line with donor and corporate requirements.

JOB PURPOSE

Based in Damascus, the Finance Officer provides senior oversight for financial and resource management across the Country Office and Area/Field Offices, ensuring sound stewardship through effective budgeting, accounting, reporting, financial closures, and cash and bank management in line with IPSAS, WFP controls and donor requirements. The role delivers financial planning, analysis and risk management to support timely operational decisions and compliant implementation, including for cooperating partner and service provider arrangements. Working closely with senior management and field structures, the job holder sets priorities for the finance function, strengthens assurance and audit readiness, and drives continuous improvement to sustain operational continuity and donor confidence.

CONTRACT DETAILS
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Duration: 12 months
Duty Station: Damascus
Number of required employees: 1

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive):

• Support the Country Office's financial and resource management strategies by contributing to policy and procedure development, participating in key program initiatives, and promoting value for money through advice on financial assessment, reporting, and accounting.

• Lead the implementation of finance, budgeting, and resource management operations to ensure the timely and effective delivery of food assistance while adhering to WFP standards and processes.

• Carry out regular visits to Area/Field Offices as appropriate, assist in clarifying and improving proper application of policies and procedures, and prepare comprehensive reports on findings with improvement action plans.

• Lead the delivery of accurate financial reporting and analyses according to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), ensuring precision, timeliness, and compliance with accounting procedures and corporate governance standards.

• Provide financial assessments of partners, service providers, and other entities as needed, and provide recommendations to inform decisions that minimize financial risk to the organization.

• Design, implement, monitor, and analyze budgets for new and ongoing projects according to the established corporate procedures and requirements.

• Consolidate and analyze financial data, identifying potential trends and issues, presenting clear recommendations, and influencing management to tackle complex problems.

• Ensure that bank reconciliations, disbursements, receivable clearance, overall cash management, and monthly financial closures are performed regularly and in accordance with corporate requirements.

• Monitor and analyze financial and accounting data, identifying and forecasting trends, anomalies, and issues, and proposing solutions to management regarding budget status, fund availability, program effectiveness, and financial viability.

• Identify and develop enhancements to policies, systems, and procedures to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, reduce risk, and ensure services align with business objectives.

• Coordinate and provide financial controls and insights into WFP performance by conducting regular risk and internal control assessments to identify areas that may pose potential audit, compliance, or financial risks.

• Lead the CO finance team by setting priorities and work plans, tracking progress, and offering coaching, training, and guidance to support development and foster high performance.

• Represent the unit/CO at internal meetings, external meetings, and events with other UN agencies, banks, financial institutions, or other partners and entities as needed.

• Contribute to preparedness activities, including early warning, risk assessment, and contingency planning, and provide recommendations. Regularly monitor risk management efforts and report on any actions taken.

• Act as a technical focal point for financial negotiations and coordination with government entities and the Central Bank, ensuring WFP’s operational liquidity and compliance with both local regulatory frameworks and international humanitarian principles.

• Other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education

Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or related fields, or First University Degree plus membership in an international recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ICPA) or equivalent.

Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, accounting, or related fields is required with a master’s degree; or seven (7) years of relevant experience with a first university degree.

• Has experience in specialized finance area in a country office.

• Has developed financial policies and procedures.

• Proven experience in liaising with government financial institutions or central banks, specifically in managing complex currency exchange mechanisms, regulatory reporting, or high-level financial diplomacy within a sanctioned or volatile economic environment

 

Language

Fluency in both oral and written English and Arabic languages.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

 

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

 

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

 

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

 

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.