Senior Finance Officer – Erbil / IRAQ – National Post - IQ Talent Marketplace

Position: Senior Finance Officer – Erbil / IRAQ

Location: Erbil, Iraq

Application Deadline: 15 Feb 2023

Duration: 12 months with a possibility for extension

Start Date: ASAP

SPARK is looking for a Senior Finance Officer (SFO) who has excellent knowledge of Financial Accounting, Project Accounting, and Management Reporting. The SFO is expected to be service-oriented, calm under pressure, an independent planner with good communication skills, and a good team player. He should have experience and knowledge to build the capacity of the finance team.

Under direct supervision of the Regional Finance Manager (RFM)and in close coordination with the Regional Programme Manager (RPM), Country Manager(CM) and the local team. The Senior Finance Officer is responsible for effective and accurate financial and accounting of SPARKs EU funded higher education programme in Iraq. Furthermore the Senior Finance Officer will ensure compliance, managing financial risks, auditing and timely financial reporting to donors under the Programme. This also includes the budget follow-ups, cash management, implementation of SPARK’s operational and financial management strategies and procedures.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

The responsibilities and tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the financial management of SPARK’s EU funded higher education programme in Iraq under the supervision of the Regional Finance Manager (RFM);
• Ensure financial compliance with the SPARK and donor regulations and procedures;
• Prepares and submits the projects’ financial reports to RFM and HQ within the deadlines donor requirements;
• Prepares budget versus spending and Reviews actual expenditure against budgets regularly and inform to PLs/budget holders;
• Prepare and conduct all project payments including partner instalments and student stipends on a monthly basis;
• Contributes to budget reallocations and if needed no-cost extension requests;
• Collects, reviews and controls compliance of all invoices with the related contract, grants etc., submits originals/copies of such invoices and payment requests for further processing, while keeping a copy of invoices;
• Prepares / reviews bank and cash reconciliation on monthly basis.
• Prepares balance sheet reconciliation on Monthly basis.
• Provides technical support and/or trainings to local partners in budget preparation, forecast and revision process, reporting on these budgets, consistency and compliance, and preparation for external audits when needed.
• Reviews financial reports and supporting documents of our implementing partners on monthly basis and do a balance confirmation with implementing partners on quarterly basis.
• Assists RFM with annual budgets and monthly cash flow projections and ensures financial resources availability in the country offices, in coordination with RFM;
• Suggests and develops tools, formats and templates for an effective, transparent and consistent financial management as well as decision-making and strategic planning purposes;
• Work closely with certified public accountant to ensure compliance with local law, such as preparing and submitting Spark’s annual financial reports to the DNGO in KRI and Baghdad.
• Assist in preparation for the SPARK audit, including preparing assigned audit scheduled and gathering other information as needed.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary

Requirements and Skills

• BA and/or MA in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy;
• Minimum 3-5 years relevant experience in financial management and operational systems in projects’ administration, project management, financial management and audit management within the private sector or International NGOs;
• Proven experience in handling large scale- multi-donor funding, reporting systems;
• Knowledge of audit track, accounting and budgetary procedures and techniques, procurement of goods and services, stocks and assets control;
• Prior experience with EU grants is desirable;
• Prior experience working in higher education or livelihoods programmes is an advantage;
• Full professional proficiency in English and Kurdish.
• Arabic is desirable

SPARK Offers

• A challenging and interesting position in an international environment;
• Full time position 40h per week;
• Remuneration according to relevant work and working hours between 2000-2200 USD gross
• Dynamic team to work with.

How to apply?

If you are interested, please apply with motivation letter including salary expectations and CV (both in English) on:

https://vacancy.spark-online.org/Tab1/LoadProfileFromVacancy/498 until 15.02.2023 with reference: Senior Finance Officer – Erbil.

If you have any questions regarding SPARK or the position, please contract [email protected] (applications submitted to this email address will not be considered)

All applications will be assessed on rolling basis; interviews can therefore take place before the application deadline. However, due to the large volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to every applicant individually. There may be a delay between the deadline and the moment we contact selected applicants.

If you have not received a reply we regret to inform that we have continued with other candidates.

About SPARK

SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship to empower young, ambitious people to lead their fragile and conflict-affected societies into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing, international not-for-profit development organisation with 80+ staff members, in more than 14 offices around the world. SPARK supports refugees in the Middle-East by providing them with scholarships in universities and higher education institutions in the region. SPARK also supports young entrepreneurs in fragile states, to start or grow their own businesses.