Grants Finance Officer – IWEE Baghdad

Job Title:                                Grants Finance Officer – IWEE Baghdad

Duty station:                          Erbil – Iraq (KRG)

Duration of assignment:       12 month 

Contract type:                       Fixed-term contract (renewable)

Starting date:                        1 November 2024 or as soon as possible

Agency background

Expertise France (EF) is a public agency created on 1st January 2015, under the supervision of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the ministry of Economy and Finance. EF is a result of the 6 French public agencies merging and has a strong inter-ministerial vocation. EF offers programme engineering and technical assistance by developing and implementing international cooperation actions worldwide. EF operates in various fields of development and institutional cooperation including safety and security reform, post-crisis/ stability, public health, human rights, strengthening of institutions and NGOs and governance. Carrying out large-scale, multi-stakeholder programmes, EF can ensure the cooperation between individuals, teams and institutions with very different backgrounds, cultures and specialisations. Besides, EF has acquired a sound experience in administrative and financial management of large-scale international programmes. www.expertisefrance.fr

DESCRIPTION OF THE IWEE PROJECT :

The overall aim of the IWEE project, financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), is to contribute to the economic empowerment of Iraqi women and reduce gender inequalities by increasing their income. The objective will be pursued through three components: supporting the structuring of the female entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting the creation of micro-enterprises and the development of existing businesses created by Iraqi women.

Job Description / Assignment

Based in Baghdad, EF is recruiting a Grants Finance Officer – IWEE Baghdad to support EF stabilisation programme in Iraq and IWEE project. Working under the authority of the IWEE Project Manager. the Grants Finance Officer – IWEE Baghdad will be responsible for supporting finance and administrative matters for EF and its partners in Iraq.

Overall purpose of the role: The Grants Finance Officer – IWEE Baghdad will provide effective and efficient support to finance and program staff in steering financially the project(s), reviewing partners financial reports, expenditure plans and forecast, supply chain and procurement procedure etc. She/he will support the implementation of administrative procedures and systems, in compliance with EF and donor requirements.

• Performing procedures related to verification of partners expenditures and scrutinizing all the supporting documents and their eligibility.
• Reviewing partners financial reports and checking the compliance of the reports submitted with the donor’s regulations and guidelines
• Submitting reports in regards to any errors or adjustments to the supervisor.
• Maintain up-to-date soft and hard copy grant files. 
• Conduct audits of grant files to ensure accuracy.
• Work closely with the support team to ensure compliance with EF policies, program and grants management procedures, and donor regulations.
• Support the implementation of financial regulations, procedures and documentation requirements on EF program in Iraq.
• Ensure that vendors, contractors and partners of the project(s) are paid in due time and follow-up with cash requests
• Support the movement of cash, liquidity management, the bank transactions and transfers
• Monitor cash needs with budget holders and provide inputs to budget forecast development
• Check finance documentation from programs and partners (subgrantees)
• Support the drafting of documents and policies as when required.
• Classify and file financial documentation
• Make sure that coding of all expenses is done correctly in the accounting system.
• Support monthly closing
• Contribute to preparing external financial audits.
• Make sure that assistance related to finance is given to all EF program staff and partners (subgrantees) when needed, including during staff induction
• Perform any other finance related tasks requested by the PM.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager to draft and finalize partner contracts while ensuring alignment with donor regulations.
• Monitor and verify partner expenses, ensuring strict adherence to contractual obligations and regulatory compliance.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Education level

• Relevant University degree in Economics/Finances/Accounting or equivalent experience

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of previous finance experience in a similar position. Previous work experience for international agencies would be an asset.
• Good working knowledge of accounting and administration of both Kurdistan and Iraq.
• Computer literate with excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, ERP, internet.
• Desirable: knowledge of main donors’ procedures (EU, French MoFA/AFD, DFID, JICA, etc.).

Personal qualities

• Good communication and reporting skills.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with finance, administration and program staff
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
• Strong working knowledge of Kurdish, Arabic and English (spoken and written). French would be an asset.

Only applicants who apply as per the below details will be shortlisted.

• This position is only for applicants who can secure their own stay in Erbil.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage everyone to apply. We particularly encourage women to apply and contribute to our diverse and inclusive work environment

• Deadline of submission: 8 October 2024 23:59

• All applications must include the following (In English and in PDF format only) attached to the email:
  • Detailed CV
  • Cover Letter/motivation letter (explaining suitability for the position)

• Applications should be sent to [email protected] , using the following subject: “Grants Finance Officer – IWEE Baghdad“

• Expertise France reserves the right to close the announcement prior to the stated deadline as applications are screened on a rolling basis and only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.
• Incomplete applications and wrong title formats will not be considered