Cash Assistants

Job Summary

The Cash Assistant is responsible for supporting the effective implementation of WFP-funded cash assistance activities, including beneficiary registration, verification, cash disbursement coordination, reconciliation, and on-site documentation. The role ensures that cash distribution processes are conducted efficiently, transparently, and in compliance with donor regulations, safeguarding standards, and organizational accountability frameworks. The Cash Assistant works closely with the Field Coordinator, Cash Officers, Finance, CFRO, Security Personnel, Financial Service Providers (FSPs), and WFP focal persons to ensure smooth and compliant cash operations at field level.

Scope of Role

Key Responsibilities

Beneficiary Registration & Verification

• Support digital biographic and biometric registration of beneficiaries.
• Verify beneficiary documentation against approved lists.
• Ensure accurate data entry and proper filing of registration records.
• Assist in QR code issuance and beneficiary identification processes.
• Immediately flag discrepancies, duplication, or suspected fraud.

Cash Distribution Support

• Assist in organizing and implementing cash distribution activities in coordination with FSPs.
• Cross-check beneficiary lists before disbursement.
• Support reconciliation of distributed cash against approved beneficiary lists.
• Ensure proper documentation of payment records and beneficiary acknowledgements.
• Support post-distribution monitoring activities when required.

Financial Documentation & Reconciliation

• Maintain accurate cash distribution records and supporting documentation.
• Support daily reconciliation of distribution reports.
• Ensure documentation complies with donor and SCI audit requirements.
• Assist in preparing activity reports and distribution summaries.

Accountability & Community Engagement

• Support complaint and feedback response mechanisms (CFM/CFRO).
• Ensure beneficiaries are informed about entitlement amounts and distribution processes.
• Promote transparency and fairness during cash distribution.
• Maintain confidentiality of beneficiary data at all times.

Safeguarding & Protection

• Ensure all cash activities uphold dignity, inclusion, and non-discrimination principles.
• Prioritize vulnerable groups including elderly persons, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and child-headed households.
• Immediately report safeguarding concerns in line with SCI safeguarding policies.
• Maintain zero tolerance for harassment, abuse, or exploitation.

Coordination & Reporting

• Work closely with Field Coordinator, Finance, Security, CFRO, and WFP representatives.
• Provide daily operational updates and incident reports.
• Escalate security, compliance, or operational risks promptly.
• Support documentation of major incidents and lessons learned.

Risk & Compliance

• Strictly adhere to SCI and donor compliance standards.
• Prevent and report fraud, duplication, or misuse of funds.
• Ensure transparency in beneficiary targeting and cash disbursement.
• Support mitigation of financial and operational risks at field level.

Context

Emergency cash assistance for IDPs, returnees, and vulnerable communities.

Behaviours (Values in Practice)

• Accountability: Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values. Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
• Ambition: Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same. Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others. Future oriented, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
• Collaboration: Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, members, and external partners and supporters. Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength. Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
• Creativity: Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions. Willing to take disciplined risks.
• Integrity: Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.

Experience and Skills

• Minimum 2–4 years of relevant experience in cash programming, finance, accounting, humanitarian assistance, or NGO operations.
• Experience in cash transfer programming (CTP) or WFP-funded projects is highly desirable.
• Strong documentation, reconciliation, and reporting skills.
• Experience working with Financial Service Providers (FSPs) preferred.
• Strong organizational and multitasking ability under pressure.
• High level of integrity and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills in English and Amharic; Somali is mandatory (additional local languages are an asset).
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and field-based environments.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism and confidentiality.
• Computer literacy (MS Office, digital data collection tools, registration platforms).

Additional Job Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience. The program manager is expected to cover emerging assignments in the humanitarian program operations.

Skills Required:

• Accounting / Finance
• Economics / Statistics
• Sales / Marketing / Business / Management
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development