Lebanon: HES Finance Manager

Position:HES Finance Manager**Location:**Beirut, Lebanon**Application Deadline:**30 November 2016**Duration:**Full-time for 12 months with possibility for extension

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:

HES Finance Manager

SPARK’s Access to Higher Education for Syrian refugees programme is implemented in Iraq (Kurdistan), Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Turkey. It entails a large number of scholarships in the MENA region. For more information visit the SPARK website and http://spark-syria.eu/home/

As HES Finance Manager based in Beirut, you will be responsible for all financial aspects of the programme across the countries in which HES operates. You play a vital role in the smooth implementation of the HES programme.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

• You are accountable for the integrity of the financial and analytical accounting and reporting in the field, which includes the management of the HES programme’s accounting across the countries in which HES operates, the preparation of the annual budget/monthly forecast and risk reporting
• Monitoring and tracking of the projects financials situation – you are expected to act as advisor on all financial / economic affairs for the HES project teams (i.e. Efficiency of spend, cost-control and analysis of budget deviations, project controlling; Contingency measures needed to respond to critical changes in the operating context; Finance training & coaching of department coordinators & management team members)
• In collaboration with the Project Controller in Amsterdam, you will develop institutional guidelines and policies to the local context, and ensure / control strict implementation / adherence of the same, with the purpose to assure compliance with ethical standards, and mitigation of financial risk
• As the internal focal point for finance-related compliance matters in the field, you are expected to steer the implementation / alignment of all activities related to Spark’s Compliance program in the country
• Make sure that the financial management of SPARK’s HES offices are in compliance with the rules and regulations of the donors.
• Follow up the financial implementation of projects, check cost statements;
• Ensure comprehensive and sound management of financial relations with partner organisations and beneficiaries
• Prepare payments ensuring that they are financially and procedurally correct, that is, in conformity with the contract and the regulations;
• Assist in preparing and monitoring the financial aspects of Calls for Proposals and Calls for Tender;
• Audit support and follow-up: Provide assistance for "on the spot" control and audit missions; follow up audited contracts; assist in the collection of the necessary information for audit and control;
• Prepare budgets and financial reporting to the programme and country managers, the head office and the donors as requested
• Perform any other duties that deemed necessary.

Requirements and Skills:

• Educational background or relevant experience in Accounting, Financial Management, Project management and/or Education Sector
• Capable of running a team with natural leadership qualities and interest in diversity management
• Proactive attitude and very good teamwork;
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in financial management in complex projects
• Proven working experience in the MENA region in a similar field of work
• Good communication and social skills and the ability to work in a multicultural setting.
• Accurate, structured and precise;
• Ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision and manage his/her responsibilities within tight deadlines.
• Fluent command of Arabic and English is a prerequisite for selection
• Working permit in Lebanon

SPARK Offers:

• Remuneration according to relevant work experience;
• International and dynamic working environment;
• Full-time contract for 12 months with possibility for extension

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

If you are interested, please send your letter of motivation and your CV before (in English) to vacancy@spark-online.org with Reference: HES Finance Manager

For questions about the vacancy, please contact Kaan Ozdurak: +31 20 753 0311