Partner Finance Specialist

About us: 

ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. ActionAid’s Regional Office for Eastern Europe was established in Kyiv in 2022 and is covering projects in Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Moldova and Georgia. ActionAid works through a wide range of local partner organisations in the nexus, prioritising young people’s leadership, civil society development, women’s rights and leadership, the protection of at-risk groups and minorities, as well as humanitarian assistance. 

 The Role:

In line with ActionAid Eastern Europe’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and sustainable impact, we seek a Partner Finance Coordinator to work closely with ActionAid’s Finance, Programme, and Partnerships teams, as well as local partner organisations, to enhance financial oversight, strengthen partners’ financial capacity, and ensure compliance with donor and organisational requirements. The role will support partners in budgeting, financial reporting, and risk mitigation, aligning with ActionAid’s commitment to locally led development and accountability.

The role is based in Kyiv and reports to the Head of Finance and Operations. The role manages one Sr. Finance Officer. The role works closely with the Finance Team in Ukraine and Spain, the Head of Programmes, the Project Development and Implementation Coordinaor, the Sr. Programme Support Officer, as well as other colleagues based in Moldova, Poland, Romania and Spain. 

 Tasks and Priorities

1. Financial Oversight & Compliance:
   1. Ensure partner financial management aligns with ActionAid’s policies and donor requirements, as well as Ukrainian legislation, and humanitarian sector good practices. 
   2. Supporting financial due diligence and risk assessments for new and existing partners, and identifying risks and risk mitigation strategies
   3. Monitor financial performance, providing early warnings on potential financial risks.
2. Coordination & Partnership Management:
   1. Serve as a key liaison between ActionAid’s finance team and local partners.
   2. Support the integration of financial capacity strengthening within partner relationships.
   3. Ensure that financial processes are aligned with ActionAid’s localisation and feminist funding principles.
   4. Support the development of MoUs for local partners. 
3. Budgeting & Financial Planning:
   1. Assist partners in developing realistic and accountable project budgets, with reference to optimising Value for Money (VfM), economies of scale, and sector practices. 
   2. Support budget modifications and alignments in response to programme changes.
   3. Ensure accurate budget tracking and forecasting.
4. Financial Reporting & Audit Support:
   1. Guide partners in preparing timely, accurate financial reports for ActionAid and donors.
   2. Support partners in preparing for external and internal audits.
   3. Ensure timely resolution of audit findings and recommendations.
   4. Investigate, under the guidance of the Head of Finance and Operations, concerns related to partners’ performance and compliance issues. 
5. Capacity Strengthening:
   1. Deliver tailored financial training and mentorship for partner organisations.
   2. Support partners in strengthening internal financial control mechanisms and policies.
   3. Develop and implement tools for effective financial planning and forecasting.
   4. Conduct Kick-Off Meetings (KOMs) as well as technical workshops on an ongoing basis.

(The responsibilities of this position are subject to change as required by the rapidly evolving context.)

 Who we're looking for: 

• A bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) in a relevant discipline such accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field
• A minimum of five years experience in financial management.
• At least two years of relevant experience working in financial management for international NGOs, UN, private donors).
• Proven experience working with local partners and understanding localisation principles.
• Experience in financial capacity strengthening and training initiatives.
• Proficiency in financial management systems and accounting software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent knowledge of budget development, financial forecasting, and risk assessment.
• A strong understanding of Ukrainian Accounting rules and regulations, and the ability to interpret financial regulations and ensure compliance.
• Proficiency in English and Ukrainian.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills: tact, patience, diplomacy, confidentiality, and appropriate assertiveness when communicating with donors and partners.
• Consultative and empowering working style and willingness to learn from others.
• In addition, we expect:
  • A strong commitment to AA’s vision, mission, and values, especially the rights-based approach and the principles of equal opportunity as outlined in ActionAid’s Code of Conduct.  
  • A strong commitment to embedding feminist leadership and ActionAid’s humanitarian signature. 
  • A strong commitment to adhering to and promoting ActionAid’s approach to Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse and other Safeguarding concerns (including child abuse and abuse of adults at-risk)  
  • A strong understanding of and commitment to women’s rights and cultural sensitivity.  
  • A commitment to the importance of downward accountability to rights-holders and transparency in humanitarian response. 

 What we offer:

ActionAid is committed to providing a welcoming, supportive workplace where we recognize a job well done, encourage close collaboration and sharing power, and where safeguarding standards and feminist leadership are exemplified everywhere. At ActionAid, you can look forward to a fair compensation package and a flexible working environment, including. 

• A workplace that embraces intersectional feminist principles 
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
• Flexible, family-friendly working arrangements.
• Salary and conditions according to ActionAid’s salary grid for national candidates.

 How to apply:

Please send your CV and cover letter as pdfs in English (no more than 2 pages each) to Відправити резюме   with the reference Ukraine – Partner Finance Specialist.

 _

This offer is contingent upon pending funding applications for the role.

ActionAid conducts thorough reference checks before making an offer. 

Due to high volumes of applications received, we can only correspond with short-listed applicants. Should you not have received feedback on your application within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application as unsuccessful. 

ActionAid will not consider unsolicited candidates from recruitment agencies. 

ActionAid reserves the right to modify, re-announce, or withdraw any of our vacancies at any time.

ActionAid is committed to recruiting candidates who promote ActionAid’s SHEA and Safeguarding policies and values and will only recruit candidates who are committed to SHEA and Safeguarding and ActionAid’s values, thereby helping to create safer working cultures.

ActionAid collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants as part of any recruitment process. 

ActionAid is committed to being transparent about how we collect and use that data and to meeting our data protection obligations. Please visit our website https://actionaid.org/privacy-and-cookies  or click the link Privacy notices to view our GDPR Privacy notice.