Grade: III
Vacancy issued: 29 May 2020
Deadline for Application: 17 June 2020
No. of Posts 1
Roma Education Fund (REF) is seeking a Finance Officer to join the project team in the implementation of the “Education, Employment, Partnerships and Gender Equality: A Winning Formula for Roma in VET”, project funded by Austrian Development Agency and implemented by REF.
Background
The Roma Education Fund’s (REF) mission and goal is to close the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma. To achieve this goal, the organization supports policies and programs which ensure access to quality education for Roma through scholarships, grant making, research and advocacy activities. The objectives of REF include:
- Expanding Romani children’s access to quality early childhood education and care;
- Improving primary education outcomes for Romani children aged six to fourteen;
- Boosting academic performance and graduation rates from secondary education for Romani pupils;
- Supporting access to tertiary education, improving graduation levels and strengthening identity of Romani university students;
- Expanding employment opportunities for young Romani adults
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to social inclusion and poverty reduction of Roma[*] in Albania and Kosovo through support of the vocational education and training, facilitation to labor market and empowering stakeholders to take measures to support transition of Roma to employment.
The activities and outputs are clustered into two main areas, reflecting the two specific outcomes:
- Education – increased access to vocational education for Roma youth and young adults, through scholarships, mentoring and tutoring and improving access to education and employment for Roma girls and women;
- Employability – improved employability for Roma youth and young adults, through job placements, professional development and partnerships of civil society, public and private sector institutions for Roma workforce inclusion aimed at influencing policy changes.
The project will focus on strengthening professional skills of REF scholars and other beneficiaries – vocational training, internships, professional skills development, cooperation and partnerships with employers. Wide range of vocational training (VET within the education institutions, such as high schools) and obtaining recognized certificates, paid professional internships in the public or private sector, additional education (conducted by accredited institutes, such as vocational courses), which includes scholarship and mentoring support will be provided.
Outline of the Position
This is a position open for the duration of the Project (until December 2022). The selected candidate will sign a fixed-term contract, until the end of the Project for 50% of working time. The incumbent will be based in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Finance Officer oversees and tracks financial activities, prepares financial reports, cash flow tables and ensures that project funds are utilized in accordance with donor and REF requirements. The Finance Officer works as part of the Project team in close cooperation with the Project Manager and Project Assistant.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the incumbent is responsible for the following tasks:
General financial management
- Preparation and management of bank transfers;
- Preparation of documents for bookkeeping and accounting;
- Maintaining contact with accountants, service providers;
- Assistance in the development and maintenance of the internal financial and controlling systems;
- Preparing contracts for REF suppliers and other project partners;
- Assistance in the preparation of periodic management reports;
- Assistance in the preparation of financial reports prepared to donors, including reporting on projects, expenditures, budget vs spending;
- Keeping contact on financial management and related matters with REF country facilitators and project partners in Albania and Kosovo.
- Projects/Grants Financial Management
- Preparation and review of project budgets;
- Contracting approved grants and releasing disbursements;
- Keeping track and review of financial documents to be received from project partners in Albania and Kosovo;
- Financial monitoring to check the proper use of REF funds; performing periodic progress, budget reviews; conducting financial reviews and assessing the financial health of project partners in Albania and Kosovo;
- Providing capacity building and advice for project partners in Albania and Kosovo related to financial management.
Requirements:
Education/Experience:
- BA or MA degree in Finance, Accounting or similar fields;
- Demonstrated experience with implementation of donor-funded projects;
- Minimum of three years of experience working in any of these or related fields;
- Fluent written and spoken English.
Skills Required:
- Good analytical skills and attention to details;
- Ability to work in a multinational team, under pressure, large number of tasks and meeting tight deadlines;
- Ability to build and manage relationships within and outside the organization;
- Project management skills;
- Solution and action orientation;
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office programs;
- Ability to read and analyze financial statements;
- Knowledge and experience in capacity building with external clients.
Core competencies:
- Initiative: Actively seeks to improve programs or services; Seeks challenging experiences and approaches them with passion, enthusiasm and professionalism;
- Planning and Organization: Develops clear goals and achieves results that are consistent with agreed strategies; Adapts and reacts in a flexible manner when necessary;
- Communication: Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
- Teamwork: Works independently and collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals; Shares knowledge and insight with others;
- Ownership: Accepts personal responsibility (including shortcomings) and ownership of actions (including for work unit, where applicable) for achieving results; Understands organizational vision, mission and values, and leverages this knowledge when making decisions; Makes tough decisions when necessary;
- Development: Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally and to contribute to the growth of the organization; Seeks feedback to learn and improve the organization;
In order to develop and deliver our education programs that provide quality, inclusive education for Roma children and youth, we believe in five core values that join us together and that mirror the work, actions and ideals of our organization and its culture:
- Tenacity; Integrity; Justice; Accountability; Inquisitiveness
How to apply
Qualified candidates are invited to send their Cover Letters and CV (both in English) by 17 June 2020 via email to recruitment@romaeducationfund.org with the subject line: Finance Officer. Incomplete applications, applications that are not submitted in English and those received after the application deadline will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Selection process is based on a written test and competency-based interview.
Individuals identifying themselves as Roma and fulfilling the above-mentioned profile and requirements are particularly encouraged to apply. Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Roma Education Fund is an equal opportunities employer.
[*] As it is most commonly used in European policy documents and discussions, the term “Roma” refers to a variety of groups who describe themselves not only as Roma but also as Gypsies, Travellers, Manouches, Ashkali, Egyptians, Sinti and other titles. This document will use this term as a convenient shorthand while recognizing the rich diversity of the people and cultures that it includes.
By applying to this position you agree that we collect and save your personal data solely for the purpose of the recruitment process, and no longer than one year from the date of closing the call for the advertised position. Your personal data won’t be disclosed or transferred to any third parties.
