Finance and Programme Assistant Job at UK Foreign – Nairobi

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.

We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.

We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

  • Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)
  • Job Subcategory: CSSF (Conflict, Stability and Security Fund)
  • Application deadline: 17 November 2023
  • Grade: Administrative Officer (AO)
  • Type of Position: Fixed Term
  • Working hours per week: 36.5 hours
  • Duration of Post: 36 months
  • Region: Africa
  • Country/Territory: Kenya
  • Location (City): Nairobi
  • Type of Post: British High Commission
  • Number of vacancies: 1
  • Salary: KES 176,881.35
  • Start Date: 15 January 2024

Main purpose of job:

The successful candidate will be part of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) East Africa portfolio team, covering Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda and Tanzania; providing support for finance, programme, compliance, administrative and procurement tasks. Overall, the jobholder will manage project-related resources and information, and support project implementation, management and delivery.

Roles and responsibilities

  •  Provide end-to-end support for procurement activities including setting up new suppliers, requisitioning, receiving, troubleshooting invoices on hold, and processing payments.
  •  Assist in managing and monitoring project expenditure, review implementing partners’ activity based budgets (ABB) and financial reports, and provide data from FCDO accounting system and implementing partners for monthly financial reporting requirements;
  •  Assist in coordination of monthly/routine finance and compliance meetings within the team and with implementing partners;
  •  Conduct compliance spot checks, field visits and activity observation as and when required.
  •  Support contract management by tracking implemeting partner deliverables and KPIs, management of implementing partner performance logs, and providing quality assurance of submitted non-financial reporting documents by Implementing Partners;
  •  Support Portfolio Monitoring Evaluation Reporting and Learning (MERL) including the design and implementation of MERL Frameworks;
  •  Support the tracking of indicator performance, collating and recording change stories and other qualitative evidence to assess progress and outcomes as guided by the programme Results Framework, and coordination of project learning sessions.
  •  Assist in the identification, assessment and management of risks associated with programme delivery in line with CSSF guidelines
  •  Assist in the development of risk mitigation strategies, supporting the monitoring and reporting on implementation of risk mitigation measures.
  •  Manage and coordinate logistics for project/programme related training activities, team meetings, events, visits and workshops.
  •  Maintain records and information on programmes activities and expenditures on Teams site.
  •  Perform other related duties, as assigned.

All CSSF funded roles must ensure compliance with the International Development Gender Equality Act (2014) by demonstrating consideration for gender equality and supporting CSSF ambitions to achieve the UK’s Women, Peace and Security objectives .

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.

Resources managed: CSSF East Africa has a £25m budget

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

  •  Relevant work experience in programme management, finance, accounting, administrative services or related areas .
  •  Degree in Business Administration, Social Sciences, International Relations, Program Management, Finance, or any other relevant degree.
  •  Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
  •  Experience of working with international delivery partners/ government institutions/ external stakeholders and international donors.
  •  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a strong customer focus.
  •  Flexible, resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure. Proven track record of delivering results to a high standard and to tight deadlines.
  •  Excellent organisational ability. Proven ability to manage, plan, and prioritise tasks and workload. Proactive approach to problem solving.
  •  Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

  •  Skills in Project management, Project monitoring and evaluation (M&E), Communication, Finance Management, Reporting,
  •  Experience working in a regional context.
  •  Experience providing logistics and procurement support to senior management teams

Required behaviours: Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together

Other benefits and conditions of employment 

Learning and development opportunities:

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Working for CSSF East Africa provides great opportunities to work on, and across, key HMG interventions, including; Peacebuilding, Community-Security, and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. The positions also offers an opportunity to work across UK government departments and with a range of partners/stakeholders in a catalytic and agile environment.

CSSF also offers the CSSF Programme Manager Course and Masterclasses to help the job holder build knowledge and develop core programme management skills, covering a wide range of topics from an introduction to CSSF, thematic programming areas to risk management and monitoring & Evaluating.

SAFE+ training will be a requirement

Travel around East Africa will be required from time to time

Additional information

  •  Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  •  Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  •  The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  •  Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Nairobi are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Kenya.
  •  It is essential that the applicants already have the right to live and work in Kenya without the need to apply for a work permit.
  •  Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
  •  Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  •  Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  •  Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

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