View Vacancy – Project and Finance Officer (UKR24.217)

The British Embassy in Kyiv is part of a world-wide network representing British political, economic and consular overseas. British Embassy Kyiv is recruiting a Project and Finance Officer to support a small team in the oversight of one of its Integrated Security Fund (ISF) Stabilisation programme, which includes several projects, including the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU). 

The PFRU is a multi-year, multi-donor programme managed by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The programme unites the Government of Ukraine with eight international partners – Canada, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA – to coordinate and align stabilisation efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience against Russia’s ongoing war of aggression. The UK is the lead donor for PFRU and contract holder. PFRU is implemented by a commercial development organisation.

The ISF Stabilisation programme focuses on support in frontline and newly liberated territories and implements relevant projects that are aimed at (1) ensuring that populations in occupied and frontline areas feel supported and connected to Ukraine, (2) sustaining trust and confidence in state institutions and elected bodies through immediate recovery efforts, and (3) supporting communities to be more united and prepared for a post-war transition. In practical terms, the programme delivers on a spectrum from early recovery activities (e.g. renewing access to schools, hospitals, administrative service centres, equipment, and training on demining), to memorisation, culture.

As a Project and Finance Officer you will be responsible for a range of project management, financial, and administrative tasks. You will work within a small immediate team including the PFRU Programme Manager and the Stabilisation Adviser, who is also the Team Leader. You will also be expected to work closely with colleagues across the wider Programmes Team to share lessons and support the application of best practice across the programme portfolio. 

Roles and responsibilities:

This role is a great opportunity to gain experience of working with the British Embassy and be part of the team that delivers UK programming in Ukraine.  

Working to the Programme Manager, the Projects and Finance Officer responsibilities will include:
•    Support the PFRU Programme Manager in overseeing PFRU’s implementing partner / fund manager and meeting commitments to PFRU stakeholders as outlined in co-donor contribution arrangements. This includes (but is not limited to) reviewing programme management arrangements, scrutinising budgets, ensuring the quality of financial and narrative reporting, and ensuring a smooth flow of information across stakeholders. 
•    Support monitoring of the delegated programme budget, maintaining accurate records on project allocations, monthly and forecasted spend. Ensure that all programme payments are processed according to the agreed payment schedules and in compliance with the FCDO requirements; draft financial provisions within the contracts and track contract/budget implementation.
•    Serve as a PFRU Political Committee Secretariat, including liaising with the private offices of six ambassadors and Government of Ukraine to facilitate meetings, if required producing meeting minutes.
•    Keep the PFRU programme profile visible within FCDO (Embassy and UK) by leading on internal communication of the programme’s activities and successes, ensuring that priority/relevant briefing notes are kept up to date, and timely sharing of the research and evidence with relevant colleagues.
•    Work with the external comms team to ensure that the UK is amplifying the work of PFRU in support of Ukraine, as appropriate and in line with the PFRU external comms strategy.
•    Support wider Programmes Team in implementer events or visits from London.  Providing translation as required for senior officials.
•    Assist team members in the development and design of future programmes.
•    The successful candidate will have opportunities to develop programme and contract management skills, incl. stakeholder management, monitoring and evaluation, conflict sensitivity analysis and risk management. You may also have the opportunity to manage some additional bilateral projects for which you would have more direct responsibility.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Ukrainian (C1 level or higher according to the *CEFR for languages).
• Minimum 1 year of experience in project and financial management.
• Enthusiastic and proactive individual with the ability to identify where they are able to add-value to the team through their work.
• Problem-solving skills and ability to lead on work strands independently and understanding when there is a need to refer to senior managers.
• Some experience in administrative work and event organisation.
• Ability to manage workload and deliver at pace whilst maintaining quality.
• Ability to communicate with different stakeholders.
• Strong Excel and wider IT skills.