Maysam Anwar Saleh

Email:-Phone: - Maysam Anwar Saleh Professional Summary: Finance professional with 13+ years of regional portfolio management (>$90M) in humanitarian settings (Syria, Yemen, MENA). Expert in strategic financial planning, master budgeting, funding-gap analysis, and narrative–financial report alignment. Proven track record in USAID/ECHO/GAC proposal development, audit facilitation, ERP (Agresso/Unit4/SAGA/SAGE), and line-managing finance teams. Flexible to travel for compliance missions, training, and HQ/field coordination. Core Competencies: ▪ Strategic Financial Planning & Funding-Gap Analysis. ▪ Donor Compliance (USAID, ECHO, GAC) & Audit Facilitation ▪ Proposal & PCM Cycle Budgeting | Narrative–Financial Reporting. ▪ ERP & Financial Systems (Agresso, Unit4, SAGA/SAGE) ▪ Line Management & Capacity Building | HQ & SMT Coordination. ▪ Treasury, Liquidity, Internal Controls & Risk Mitigation Professional Experience: o Jan 2024 –Feb 2025 Regional Finance Technical Adviser at Norwegian Refugee Council Regional Office-Amman Jordan • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Provide strategic financial oversight for a portfolio exceeding $90M across Syria and Yemen, ensuring donor compliance (USAID, ECHO, GAC, SIDA, etc.) and risk mitigation in line with NRC and donor policies. Lead budgeting and forecasting for country programs; consolidate annual master budgets and staff allocation matrices to support strategic decision-making across multi-country operations. Conduct in-depth financial analysis and develop monthly Budget vs. Actual (BvA) reports to advise Country Directors and Regional SMT on financial risks, cost-efficiency, and burn rates. Supervise and mentor country finance teams; deliver tailored capacity-building plans, spot checks, and training for finance and non-finance staff on reporting, compliance, and internal controls. Coordinate external audits, support financial reporting packages, and ensure timely donor submissions aligned with contractual requirements and program implementation. Act as HQ liaison for complex financial queries, escalations, and policy implementation; represent finance in strategic meetings and rollouts of new ERP tools. Oversaw all core financial functions: accounting, treasury, liquidity management, year-end closure, and auditing, in accordance with the NRC Financial Handbook, Annual Budgeting Instructions, and donor guidelines. Achieved 100% internal audit compliance by enhancing financial processes across Syria and Yemen country offices. Developed and implemented internal financial controls and performed regular compliance checks, reducing audit findings by 40% and mitigating financial risks across both country offices. Delivered strategic financial guidance to CO finance teams, with a focus on currency risk, budget controls, and restricted fund management, enhancing reporting accuracy and donor satisfaction. Contributed to policy development, tools, and system improvements as part of global and regional finance initiatives, including automation of financial dashboards. Delivered tailored training and technical support on donor compliance (USAID, ECHO, GAC), strengthening partner accountability and reducing financial risk. Reviewed and updated MENA regional budgets, including the Master Budget, following Regional Management Team (RMT) decisions and SOPs, ensuring updates reflected strategic priorities. Supported grant management by ensuring accurate cost allocation, consolidated regional donor reports with zero late submissions, and maintained expense forecasting. Facilitated budget holder meetings, assessed project spending, and flagged financial risks to the Regional Head of Finance. Conducted periodic field visits to operational areas in high-risk contexts (Syria & Yemen), performing internal compliance checks, spot audits, and cash counts to ensure adherence to internal controls in insecure environments. o Feb 2017 – Dec.2023 Regional Finance Coordinator at Norwegian Refugee Council Regional Office-Amman Jordan • Oversaw financial operations and donor compliance for multi-country grants across the MENA region, including Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq,Yemen and Palestine. • • • • • • • • • • • • o o o o o Coordinated financial reporting cycles, proposal budgeting, and donor forecast submissions in collaboration with Grants and Programme teams. Conducted country support missions to resolve field finance issues and review accounting controls, SOP adherence, and budget utilization rates. Oversaw key financial functions for MENA regional operations, including accounting, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, treasury, and payroll, ensuring full compliance with NRC policies, donor requirements, and local laws. Managed and reviewed the E-BRS and Balance Reconciliation Sheets, ensuring transparency in accruals, operational advances, and overall financial integrity. Led treasury operations, including bank relationship management, risk assessments, and liquidity planning for the regional office. Produced and analyzed Budget vs Actual (BVA) reports across 20+ regional projects, holding monthly reviews with budget holders to improve budget utilization rates and variance resolution. Led budgeting, financial reporting, and performance monitoring; aligned donor reports with accounting system data to prevent discrepancies and enhance transparency. Delivered training and technical support to Country Office (CO) finance teams on financial systems, donor compliance, and regional budgeting processes, improving compliance rates in donor audits. Reviewed and updated MENA Master Budget in coordination with budget holders; managed year-end routines and external audits, ensuring timely submissions and addressing audit findings. Monitored cash utilization, partner expenditures, and financial agreement compliance, ensuring accurate documentation and adherence to financial obligations. Oversaw full sub-award financial cycle across Syria and Yemen, including partner budget review, capacity assessment, compliance monitoring, and development of Partner Support Plans (PSPs). Collaborated with external auditors, regulatory bodies, and local tax authorities; reviewed and cleared journal entries, travel expenses, and staff advances to ensure full compliance with donor, internal, and audit standards, contributing to a 50% reduction in repeat findings and strengthening risk mitigation. Feb 2016 – Jan 2017, Regional Technical Finance Officer at Norwegian Refugee Council Regional Office, Amman, Jordan. May 2015 – Feb.2016, Regional Finance Officer at Norwegian Refugee Council Regional Office, Amman, Jordan. Jan. 2015-April 2015, Finance Coordinator at Save the Children International, Amman Country Office April 2013-Dec.2014, Accountant at Save the Children International, Amman Country Office. Oct. 2011-April 2013, General accountant at Target Chemical Group. Qualifications: • • MBA in Finance – The University of Jordan, Amman -) Rating: Very Good. BSc in Accounting – The Hashemite University, Zarqa (2010) GPA: 3.51 / Excellent. Technical Skills • Financial Systems – Master budgeting, monthly/annual closure, forecasting. • Donor Budgeting & Reports – Proposal prep, cash-flow statements, PCM cycle. • ERP/SAGE Technical Skills – Agresso, Unit4, SAGA/SAGE, Ninox for PCM tracking. • Compliance & Audit – IFRS, tax law, internal/external audit coordination. • Treasury & Risk – Liquidity management, fund allocation, audit controls. • Team Leadership – Line management, RASCI, SMT coordination. • Training – Finance and non-finance staff; HQ/field, narrative–financial integration. Languages: Arabic & English Fluent speaking and writing. Licenses & Certifications • • • Financial Budgeting and Forecasting Online Master Class -Core Events- April 2024. Project Cycle Management- NRC- June 2022. Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT-NRC) Nov.2024.