Ziad Abi Abdallah

• Developing Rehabilitation Assistance to Schools and Teachers Improvement (D-RASATI) Project is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded, $ 75 million, and 5 years project.
• Assumed the responsibilities of acting Chief of Party in the absence of the COP for the period from October 8, 2012 to March 11, 2013.
• Assists the COP in overseeing D-RASATI administrative, programmatic, and operational implementation in Lebanon;
• Supervises project implementation, and compliance with EDC, USAID, and host country requirements.
• Manages D-RASATI communications, reporting, and deliverables submissions;
• Collaborates with the Senior Financial Officer to make sure that necessary USAID and host country regulatory compliance directives are implemented and proper policies and procedures are enforced.;
• Coordinates work of activity leaders;
• Recommends policies and procedures to improve efficiency and quality;
• Supervises EDC staff; assigns roles and responsibilities; manages performance;
• Interfaces with the appropriate stakeholder officials and USAID;
• Fosters an atmosphere of teamwork, productivity, creativity, fairness, equity, and innovation;
• Facilitates external interactions with program participants and partners;
• Conveys organizational philosophy and values
• Demonstrates diplomacy and leadership to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, productivity, creativity, fairness, equity, and innovation, in support of EDC’s commitment to diversity
• Negotiates and mediates effectively
• Coordinates with the activities of subgrantees and partners in a way that creates synergy
• Fosters excellent communications among all parties, including with EDC home offices
• Lead the Extracurricular Activities component, the Leadership Development Component, and the School improvement Plan Component with close collaboration with the activity managers.
• Lead the EDC team during the Regional Inspector General’s audit of the program.

• Ensure sound fiscal management systems comply with donor rules and regulations.
• Responsible for all field office financial operations and administrative functions
• Ensure program compliance with USAID financial and administrative regulations and EDC policies
• Act as a liaison between the Chief of Party and the EDC home office project finance and accounting staff
• Member of the D-RASATI Senior Management Council and the EDC Senior Leadership Team.
• Support the field project team by establishing office management policies
• Develop and implement financial policies and procedures for project ensuring proper segregation of duties and other internal controls
• Train staff in USAID regulations and EDC processes applicable to their responsibilities
• Monitor project spending versus approved USAID budget and report regularly to COP.
• Oversee preparation and submission of accurate and complete monthly field office financial reports to the EDC Home Office on a timely basis.
• Oversee procurement policies, processes, and documentation to ensure compliance with USAID regulations and EDC policies
• Develop and implement a financial document filing system for the program to ensure that project is always “audit-ready”
• Oversee cash management process including forecasting, wire transfer requests, management of bank accounts.
• Supervise the accountants, the Grants Manager, Office Manager, translator/interpreter, administrative assistant/receptionist and drivers.
• As needed, assist with USAID or EDC internal financial audit preparation;
• Oversee audit findings and their resolutions;
• Act as the Security focal person for the D-RASATI office.
• Support subcontract negotiations and awards and pre-award due diligence;
Develop and implement a sub award financial monitoring plan

• Carry out an independent appraisal of the effectiveness of the policies, procedures and standards by which a program's financial, physical and information resources are managed.
• Analyze data obtained for evidence of deficiencies in controls, duplication of effort, extravagance, fraud, or lack of compliance with laws, government regulations, and management policies or procedures.

• Review all payment and receipt vouchers to ensure proper documentation is available.
• Develop policies and procedures for petty cash, cash donations, segregation of duties, approval limits,
• Worked closely with external auditor to develop the chart of Account as per the Lebanese regulations and requirements.
• Developed a business plan for a new project that supports Olive Oil Soap production.

• Provide finance leadership and support to the Chad change team in order to help the team accomplish the scope of work as set out in their Terms of Reference.
• Provide timely strategic financial input and analysis to facilitate sound decision making by the change team and the WV Chad Senior Leadership Team.
• Analyse the cost effectiveness of current programming and current program and operating models and structures whether they ensure stewardship use of WV resources and make suggestions for changes together with the program review team.
• Support the change team in the financial planning (budgeting) of a new operational and program model for WV Chad, and assist the team in forecasting scenarios if necessary Conduct a thorough analysis of the progress and applicability of the forensic audit and special Area Development Program Audit recommendations with a special focus on processes to improve procurement systems and eliminate fraud at all levels.
• Work closely with National Office Finance Director to come up with practical steps that need to be taken to strengthen the internal control system so as minimize and where possible eliminate fraud and strengthen our compliance and stewardship.
• Advise and support WV Chad (the Finance Director, the Operations Director and the National Director) to implement the suggested internal control mechanisms.
• Lead a detailed and full voucher by voucher finance and audit review and inventory control on all 5 bases of operation.
• Provided a detailed report with evidence on all issues that need to be fixed, all issued that need to be addressed through strengthening the internal controls and all issues that need to be further investigated due to the possibility of fraud.
• Design a new structure for the finance department that ensures more stewardship and accountability and strengthen the field support role of finance staff.
• Supported the Supply Chain team in the development of a new procurement policy that will strengthen our procurement systems.
• Developed a training needs assessment and a capacity building plan for finance staff.

• Provided support for the Middle East strategy development.
• Design and maintain financial systems in order to provide appropriate levels of security and internal controls over the organization’s resources (funds and property) and operations in compliance with the policies and standards of the World Vision Field Financial Manual.
• Assist in the development of financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance to generally accepted Accounting Principles, WVI finance policies, and government and other donor regulations.
• Implement financial policies in the areas of budgets, cash management and forecasting, funding by donor, recordings and documentation, project auditing and financial reporting.
• Finalize the registration of WV Jordan in the Social Security, Income tax, and Sales tax departments.
• Provide strategic financial input to decisions to be made covering all areas of World Vision services and activities and provide technical problem solving on grants.
• Generate the consolidated Balance Sheet and Income Statement monthly and post them to Financial reports database.
• Generate the Monthly Consolidated Project Summary Report and Quarterly Financial Report to Support Offices.
• Ensure and review monthly the timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of all Field Financial Reports.
• Design the Project/Log frame Financial Report properly into sun system/vision based on the required Project/donor format.
• Monitor expenditures against the budget approved and report to management any variances and concerns.
• Ensure compliance to regulations and finance manual in the area of procurement.
• Oversee and lead the annual budgeting process and lead the process of final year end closing for the Jordan office.
• Liaise with Support Offices and other stakeholders to ensure all commitments on PBAS are both timely and accurate.
• Work closely with Operations in preparing budgets for project proposals and upload the budgets into sun system.
• Develop and implement a Funding Analysis Matrix, and review at least monthly.
• Facilitate training sessions on topics such as grants management, general accounting, internal controls and administrative systems and assist project staff in interpreting regulations to ensure compliance.
• Provide capacity building and mentoring support to the local finance staff.

Provided support for the Middle East strategy development.
Assist in the development of financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance to generally accepted Accounting Principles, WVI finance policies, and government and other donor regulations.
Implement financial policies in the areas of budgets, cash management and forecasting, funding by donor, recordings and documentation, project auditing and financial reporting.
Finalize the registration of WV Jordan in the Social Security, Income tax, and Sales tax departments.
Provide strategic financial input to decisions to be made covering all areas of World Vision services and activities and provide technical problem solving on grants.
Generate the consolidated Balance Sheet and Income Statement monthly and post them to Financial reports database.
Generate the Monthly Consolidated Project Summary Report and Quarterly Financial Report to Support Offices.
Ensure and review monthly the timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of all Field Financial Reports.
Monitor expenditures against the budget approved and report to management any variances and concerns.
Ensure compliance to regulations and finance manual in the area of procurement.
Oversee and lead the annual budgeting process and lead the process of final year end closing for the Jordan office.
Work closely with Operations in preparing budgets for project proposals and upload the budgets into sun system.
Develop and implement a Funding Analysis Matrix, and review at least monthly.
Facilitate training sessions on topics such as grants management, general accounting, internal controls and administrative systems and assist project staff in interpreting regulations to ensure compliance.
Provide capacity building and mentoring support to the local finance staff.

• Member in the World Vision Lebanon Senior Management Team.
• Manage the Rekindling Hope Project, the Empowering Churches and Faith Based Organisations Project (a project that builds the capacity of partners in development and distributes grants to them for implementation in the various area of Lebanon), the Youth Bible Curriculum Project, and the Humanitarian Emergency Affairs for Lebanon (CC HEAL) project.
• Formulate 3 year strategies and annual operational plans for the projects. This was done for the period FY07-09
• Developed the WVL’s CC portfolio to 4 projects and over USD 718, 000 of budget.
• Develop guidelines for partners related to grant application, monitoring, and reporting.
• Conduct field visits to monitor partners implementation and build capacities of partner agencies.
• Develop and implement programmes for staff formation and capacity building.
• Participate with HR and senior management in establishing staff recruitment standards; assist in their orientation; and perform annual performance appraisals.
• Develop and implement targeted strategies to engage churches, Christian agencies, and FBOs in our shared ministry with the poor.
• Implement Church Leader’s conferences and capacity building workshops to strengthen churches’ understanding and practice of holistic development.
• Work with management at ADP and national levels to develop and evaluate annual church partnership strategies and operating plans.
• Co-ordinate spiritual life development retreats and the annual World Vision Day of Prayer.
• Organize children camps and leaders trainings.
• Submit quarterly and annual reports to National Director, Regional Coordinator, and support offices.
• Chair and supervise a team of 1 full timer, 6 part timers and 3 volunteers.

o Provide financial supervision for three grants funded by USAID, OFDA, and CIDA.
o Implement grant financial policies in such areas but not limited to: budget, cash management and forecasting, recordings and documentations, projects auditing and financial reporting. To ensure conformity with World Vision policies as they relate to financial matters and reporting requirements, and the stringent compliance standards established by each donor, government, or regulatory agency.
o Coordinate the development of the annual grants budget, including consolidated budget.
o Monitor the impact of operation plans upon existing grants, analyze, advise senior management concerning appropriate actions to be taken.
o Meet with grant managers on a monthly basis to address budget/grant status, revisions, project revisions, new grant agreements, close out of old grants, etc.
o Prepare monthly Labor Distribution Reports for US Government Grants.
o Review Evouchers before they are entered into Sunsystem.
o Insure proper division of shared expenses on cost centers and the proper charging of IPC and DOS costs on projects.
o Review Quarterly project financial reports and recommend them for approval by the Finance Manager.
o Conduct field visits to support field accountants with financial issues.
o Represent the finance department on the proposal writing committees.