Compliance Officer

Location: UK (home-based), Lebanon or Jordan

Reporting to: Head of Corporate Services

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time

Salary: Salary and employment benefits will be set according to market compensation rates in your location and therefore it is not possible to include full details here. However, as an indication if this role was based in the UK, for example, the range would be £32,000 – £37,000 per annum (plus benefits) on a full time, remote employment contract.

Closing date: Wednesday 12th June 2024

About ARK

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity, and hope for the future.

We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change.

Learn more about our impact here: https://www.ark.international/impact

About the Role

We’re looking for a Compliance Officer to ensure that ARK’s operations and business transactions follow all relevant client and internal rules. You’ll be reviewing and pre-approving vendor and grantee payments on ARK’s payment request system, ensuring all invoices are processed accurately and in a timely manner.

Acting as a central check-function within ARK, you’ll ensure all expenses comply with company and client policies and procedures. It is important to note that the role is not limited to reviewing vendor invoices, but the full life cycle of documents from purchase request to receipt of goods and delivery of services, including delivery notes, certificates of completion, milestone certification, human resources files etc.

A central part of this role is to provide feedback to the submitters on errors and strive for a zero-error rate in submissions through regular feedback and training sessions. You’ll also contribute to drafting company-wide training material, internal audits, and recommendations for process/policy changes.

Reporting into the Head of Corporate Services, who oversees audit and compliance, you will also work closely with members of the Finance Team, Subject Matter Experts, and the Programs team. Feedback loops will involve communicating with a range of Corporate Services staff across ARK. Corporate Services staff consists of HR Officers, Procurement Officers, and Heads of Support Services Departments.

What you’ll be doing

• Review all ARK payment requests submitted by support services departments (HR, Subgrants and Procurement). This review goes beyond supplier invoice checks, and includes:

o Recruitment files for consultants.

o Procurement files for equipment purchases.

o Procurement files for services purchases.

o Payment files for subgrants.

o Travel documentation for air ticket and accommodation purchases.

o Staff payroll.

o Personnel travel reimbursements (ground transportation, communication expenses, subsistence claims etc.).

• Identify policy and procedural violations, missing information, missing documents, approvals etc.
• Reject incorrect payment requests and provide guidance on corrective action required.
• Provide constructive feedback on re-occurring errors in order to eliminate future errors.
• Provide regular reporting to Heads of Departments on volume and nature of errors.
• Provide recommendations for staff training and process improvements.
• Assist Head of Corporate Services with internal audits, including reviewing and organising large amounts of data, and drafting audit reports.
• Assist with checking data accuracy and flagging non-conformities ranging from timesheet checks to procurement file checks, and any other ad hoc support as required.

Important: This role does not involve any accounting responsibilities on ARK’s accounting system.

Requirements

Essential Experience, Skills, and Qualifications:

· Demonstrable experience in finance, compliance, or risk management.

· Excellent attention to detail.

· Excellent level of written English.

· Enjoy analytical tasks and identifying and rectifying issues.

· Extraordinary organisation and coordination skills.

· Good numeracy and auditing skills.

· Excellent Microsoft Office Excel skills*.*

· Strong analytical skills to identify discrepancies.

· Good communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively communicate with team members and management.

Desirable Skills and Qualifications:

· Experience working with international governmental donors,INGOs, or companies with public sector funding, familiar with donor/public sector compliance.

· Experience in carrying out or assisting with internal or external audits and providing relevant strategies pre and post audit.

Relevant professional compliance or finance certifications.

Benefits

Why join ARK?

• Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need.
• Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders.
• Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change.

Our People

Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organisations, journalism and the private sector.

An ARK Person Is:

Smart: We think deeply about things. We’re proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.

Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognise out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.

Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.

Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.

Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren’t afraid to share our opinions and we want to hear those of others too.

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the centre of its development and stabilisation work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.