The British Embassy in Kyiv is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a CSSF Finance and Projects Officer. We are pleased to share an opportunity for a hard-working and pro-active individual to join our Programme Team at the British Embassy to undertake an exciting and challenging role. The UK currently spends around £14 million pounds through our Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to support Ukraine across a wide portfolio of peace-building, security and humanitarian projects. The new post-holder would play a vital role supporting the effective management of this budget, working to our Finance Manager. The role also requires close working with London, the Embassy’s Programme Managers, and our project implementers. The post-holder will have primary responsibility for drafting project contracts, assessing budgets, monitoring financial reporting and ensuring project payments are made on time. They will also support the Finance Manager with management of Programme level financial reporting to senior colleagues in the Embassy and London. In addition they will provide administrative and logistical support to the Programme Team and have opportunities to develop wider project management skills.

Extensive financial experience is not essential in this role, as we will be able to provide support. We are looking instead for a motivated, well-organised person who is enthusiastic about the importance of value for money, attention to detail and strong financial oversight to help deliver peace-building, security and humanitarian projects that have real impact for Ukraine. There are also opportunities in the Embassy for learning wider skills and taking part in our corporate activities.

Roles and responsibilities:

The CSSF Finance and Projects Officer will report to the Programme Team Finance manager and have primary responsibility for project level finances at all stages of the project cycle:

• In consultation with Programme Team colleagues they will assess project proposal budgets making appropriate recommendations to Board and thematic leads; draft contracts and track contract and amendment processes while ensuring project documentation is appropriately stored and recorded in line with FCO guidelines and best practice;
• In collaboration with project implementers and Embassy project managers the F&P officer will oversee finances of approved CSSF projects, reviewing project financial reporting to ensure delivery of project objectives, compliance with Embassy requirements and reliable forecasting. They will also be responsible for ensuring all project payments are processed on time;
• The F&P Officer will support and, as required, deputise for the C4 Finance Manager with monitoring programme level finance management and forecasts, financial reporting to London colleagues and briefing the Ambassador and Post Programme Board on financial performance;
• Besides core finance work the officer will assist with wider Programme Team and Embassy logistical and administrative duties as required, including assisting with inward visits by colleagues and VIPs, organising Post Programme Boards and contributing to Embassy events, and providing translation services for UK colleagues;
• In addition there will be opportunities to develop wider programme project management skills such as development of stakeholder management; monitoring and evaluation; conflict sensitivity, and risk management;

• Be an enthusiastic and proactive individual with the ability to identify where they are able to add-value to the team through their work; with an understanding of when they are able to take decisions or need to refer to senior managers;
• Be well-organised, able to balance a busy workload with a number of competing priorities and to manage and organise this workload effectively and systematically, whilst adhering to HMG processes and procedures;
• Have strong communication skills in English, Ukrainian and Russian; with an ability to communicate clearly and concisely with internal and external stakeholders and to understand how to present information to senior stakeholders in an appropriate format;