Financial Management Specialist

Introduction

Creative Associates International is a dynamic and fast-growing professional service firm that specializes in international development in the areas of education, democratic transitions, and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Washington, DC, the firm has a field presence in 30 plus countries worldwide with a strong and diverse portfolio that includes global contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other clients including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense. The firm has earned a solid reputation among its clients and missions worldwide and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Program Summary

The Technical Assistance Program (TAP), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is a five-year education and youth program that seeks to transform the organizational culture and improve the abilities within the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth to ensure officials can implement desired reforms. Creative and its partners will provide technical assistance in the development, roll-out, and tracking of policies and procedures to incorporate international best practices for public education and youth programming. Among the many activities in the Jordan Technical Assistance Program, it will support curriculum development, promote inclusive learning techniques, improve the skills of teachers and school managers, and other tangible activities that ultimately support changing the organizational culture within the two ministries and relevant agencies. The program will further support Jordan’s outreach and behavioral change communications initiatives that are aimed at creating a culture of reading, the inclusion of vulnerable children, and increased youth engagement.**

Position Summary:

The overall objective of this position is to work in tandem and coordination with TAP’s Public Financial Management Lead and Systems Strengthening and Policy Reform Team. The position will be for one-year term employment services. The Specialist will support activities that aim to strengthen the capacities of target ministries’ directorates, schools, and youth centers in the areas of financial management including accounting, budgeting, procurement, and inventory management. The Specialist will be assigned to several directorates, schools and and/or youth centers and will be responsible for delivering technical assistance through coaching, mentoring and on-the-job training to government staff in financial management including budgeting, accounting, and procurement.

The Public Financial Management Specialist will report directly to the Public Financial Management Lead.

Job Location:

The primary duty station is in Amman, Jordan and/or other governorates with an average of 75% of the time spent in various ministries’ directorates.

Position Responsibilities:

· Responsible for the on-the-ground implementation of the project’s activities, per the project’s workplan, to strengthen target ministry’s directorates’ capacity in financial management, including effective budgeting, financial management, procurement, and inventory management.

· Conduct regular field visits to partner ministries’ directorates, schools, and youth centers to provide support, capacity building and needs assessment in the areas of financial management including accounting, budgeting, procurement, and inventory management.

· Provide technical assistance in the implementation of the automated Government Financial and Procurement Management Systems and other accounting tools in each target field directorate, schools, and youth centers. Deliver technical assistance and training to directorate staff and schools’ principals related to improved budgeting processes.

· Support the implementation of result-oriented budgeting (ROB) at selected directorates. The technical assistance will be through capacity building, coaching, and mentoring in the budget formulation ensuing proper estimations, timeline, line items and execution.

· Support building the capacities of non-financials and field leaders to deal with finance, budget, and procurement. Assist with the preparation of workshops and training activities on public financial management to be provided to counterparts at MOE and MOY, central and field levels.

· Provide technical assistance and expertise insight on the activities related to enhancing financial management and procurement processes which will start with processes re-engineering. Support the implementation of the developed systems or standardized procedures, as applicable, for budget preparation at the directorate levels, schools, or youth centers.

· Coordinate with other project components, team members and technical specialists to ensure integration of USAID Jordan TAP’s interventions.

· Ensure that relevant technical elements of the work plans are being successfully implemented. Provide inputs for drafting of the project weekly and quarterly progress reports, as requested.

· Interact regularly and professionally with senior government, directorates, youth centers and schools’ counterparts on implementing and providing technical assistance issues.

· Routine project related tasks including attendance of staff meetings, submission of required reports, and success stories. Provide support to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Team.

· Contribute to team efforts by undertaking additional tasks and responsibilities as requested.

Required Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or any related field.

· Must have at least six (6) years of general work experience and four (4) years of specific experience related to the position is required.

· Experience facilitating capacity building activities to government officials supporting transformation modern financial management and participatory budgeting. Proven training and mentoring skills through on-the-job coaching and mentoring.

· Ability to effectively liaise with public sector entities, particularly at the local level.

· Knowledge of government-based budgeting, financial systems, procurement policies including planning and implementation. Experience with USAID-funded projects is highly preferred.

· Experience with conducting financial audits and reviews on internal controls and compliance with laws and regulations is highly preferred.

· Excellent analytical and forecasting skills. Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office package (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Word).

· Excellent communication, negotiation, and writing skills. Ability to work with all levels and functions within the program and also targeted directorates.

· Flexible team player, with the ability to also work independently. Accept responsibility and be extremely discrete with sensitive information.

· Fluency in English and Arabic (spoken and written)