Job Description

The Senior Officer is responsible for providing primarily financial support services to Advice for Small Business (ASB) in London in relation to donor-funded programmes, as well as changes to financial policy and practice across multiple countries. The Senior Officer will interact extensively with other regional ASB offices on financial matters, especially Finance Officers engaged under each country programme for the respective region within the Senior Officer's remit.

ASB helps small and medium-sized businesses to grow and become genuine catalysts for their local economies by providing access to local and international experts. Some clients will benefit from investment, but ASB also strives to create healthier, more innovative and successful businesses. Through its work to improve the quality and availability of local consultancy services, ASB aims to leave behind a network of trained, experienced local consultants, and a thriving community of small and medium-sized businesses willing to pay for advice.

Each ASB project is funded by donors, including around 20 countries, the European Union and the EBRD itself. ASB clients also make a contribution to the cost, ensuring their full commitment. ASB rigorously monitors and evaluates the impact of its work. Active projects with clients are monitored at regular intervals, and one year after every project, ASB returns to the client to measure impact.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Monitor use of local ASB bank accounts to ensure that finances are used in accordance with relevant agreements, rules and procedures
  
• Prepare supporting documentation and standard funding requests in line with individual donor agreements, in order to support the delivery of projects by SBS operational teams.
  
• Coordinate the orderly closure of financial allocations and contracts when a donor-funded programme comes to an end, so that funds are either disbursed or returned in line with the donor agreement.
  
• Ensure that offices located in satellite locations have sufficient (not excessive) financial resources for operating expenditures.
  
• Request replenishments of local bank accounts from ASB London so that sufficient (not excessive) financial resources are available to meet project-related payment needs.
  
• Help to ensure ASB in London receives accurate and timely Monthly Financial Reports (MFRs),
  
• Keep adequate and well-organised documentation in support of all local payments, in line with EBRD's duties for prudent management of donor funds.
  
• Take an active role in supporting the London-based team in relation changes to ASB financial policy and practice in the respective region to ensure that ASB continues to adhere to Value-For-Money principles
  
• Conduct other ad hoc financial and administrative tasks as defined by management to ensure team's objectives are met.
  

• Relevant degree or higher diploma
  
• Relevant experience in an administrative capacity, preferably gained from a large commercial organisation, financial institution or donor organisation.
  
• Relevant experience in terms of basic finance or accounting.
  
• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the EBRD mandate.
  

• Demonstrable skills related to quantitative and numerical record-keeping and basic analysis.
  
• Experience with the SAP accounting system preferable, as well as the ability to learn new systems quickly.
  
• Ability to operate sensitively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relations with internal and external stakeholders clients and colleagues, especially ASB colleagues in 26 countries and other EBRD departments.
  
• Ability to work well within a team.
  
• Ability to work to and meet tight deadlines.
  
• Business / financial analytical skills, with the ability to interpret accounts, understanding of local accounting principles and practice of company financial analysis.
  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Russian.