Spark International Job Vacancy for National Finance Officer- Liberia

SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship, so that young ambitious people are empowered to lead their post-conflict society into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing not-for-profit development organization with 80 staff members that helps young entrepreneurs to start or grow their own businesses. SPARK helps displaced youth to access higher education in conflict areas. Moreover, SPARK assists post-secondary education institutions to reform their curricula to better meet the needs of the labour markets. Based in Amsterdam, SPARK has offices in among others Abidjan, Amman, Beirut, Belgrade, Bujumbura, Gaziantep, Erbil, Hargeisa, Juba, Kigali, Mitrovica, Monrovia, Ramallah, Sanaa and Tunis.

SPARK is currently looking to fill the position of:

NATIONAL FINANCE OFFICER

SPARK programs in Liberia have a broad range. The Business-in-a-Box Program is entering its second round and a large number of entrepreneurs are supported by Business Start-Up Centres (BSC’s) throughout the country. Located in Monrovia, with satellite offices in Buchanan, Harper, Gbarnga, and (soon-to-be) Sanniquellie, these BCS’s train and extend loans through various projects to support budding entrepreneurs. For more information visit the SPARK website at http://www.spark-online.org/region/liberia/

SPARK is looking a part-time (2 days per week) Finance Officer (m/f) to control all financial matters related to our SME development programs in Liberia. As Finance Officer based in Monrovia, you will be responsible for general office management, project management, networking, proposal writing support, and other tasks are requested to perform in collaboration with the Project Officer, Program Manager, and Country Manager.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Be the main contact for financial matters to all partners in the country and to the Finance department of SPARK in HQ in the Netherlands;

• Administer the funds paid to SPARK Liberia by donors according to agreement between SPARK Liberia and donors;

• Make payments for SPARK office and process all payments in the bookkeeping system;

• Administration of SPARK office, preparation of monthly financial reports of SPARK office;

• Administer SPARK’s car use and make bookings;

• General office management support;

• Train and coach local partner organizations in the improvement of their financial management, monthly/quarterly reporting (systems), drafting activity budgets and preparation of external financial audits;

• Perform a preliminary check on partner instalment requests;

• Monitor timeliness of partner instalment requests and reports;

• Check partner reports on receipts and spending per budget line and communicate results to HQ;

• Control and process financial reports of local partners;

• Maintain contact with local banks and micro-finance institutions;

• Support the Country Manager SPARK Liberia in proposal writing, especially budgets, or new projects;

• Any other financial related office tasks as designated by the Country Manager.

Requirements and Skills:

• Professional experience in training and coaching in Financial Management;

• Experience in Project Management, especially in drawing up activity budgets and reporting to donors;

• At least 3 years of relevant experience;

• Accurate, structured, flexible, responsible;

• Good oral and written language skills in English;

• Good team worker while able to work independently;

• Good communication and social skills and able to work in multicultural setting;

• Working experience in a prior comparable job is an advantage;

• Working permit in Liberia.

SPARK Offers:

• Remuneration according to relevant work experience;

• International and dynamic working environment;

• Part-time contract for 2 days per week until 31 December 2017 with possibility for extension.

We are looking for candidates who can start as soon as possible. Nationals of Liberia are encouraged to apply.