Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The proposal for the upcoming, five-year, $10 million - $24.99 million, Liberia Youth Activity is to support market-driven, locally relevant educational and training opportunities to prepare young people to earn a livelihood and become productive members of society. The overall goal of the Activity will be to increase the economic self-reliance and resilience of targeted Liberian youth, with livelihoods development leading to increased incomes. Activities will focus on developing the basic education and foundational skills of youth, strengthening employment skills for improved livelihoods, and supporting the creation of an enabling environment for improved youth productivity. This program will focus on developing the basic education and foundational skills of youth, strengthening employment skills for improved livelihoods and supporting the creation of an enabling environment for improved youth productivity.

Position Description

The Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of financial management, procurement, and operations, including systems implementation, budgeting, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting. The Director of Finance and Administration will also be responsible for ensuring the project’s compliance with both EDC and USAID policies, procedures, rules and regulations. The Director of Finance and Administration will lead budget development and monitoring, award monitoring and compliance, procurement, and logistics for EDC in the field. S/he will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks. 

Responsibilities for the DFA include, but are not limited to:

• Lead all project finance and operations, including general administrative processes, financial management, procurement, accounting, and logistics;
• Establish and maintain sound and transparent accounting and fiscal control procedures; be able to detect and swiftly deal with any issues of fraud and/or corruption;
• Ensure compliance of financial and operations systems with EDC policies and procedures, USAID rules and regulations, and local laws;
• Develop, analyze and monitor program budgets in collaboration with leadership team and EDC HQ staff;
• Monitor and track wire transfer requests and expenditures against budgets and support budget realignments as needed;
• Manage project procurement processes in accordance with EDC policies and applicable regulations;
• Liaise between EDC headquarters and the field office on financial and procurement matters;
• Regularly analyze and forecast project expenses;
• Work on and monitor sub-award implementation and management for the full cycle of sub-awards, in coordination with other staff in the field and HQ;
• Advise senior leadership on financial and operations-related matters;
• Support preparation of annual and quarterly financial and accrual reports for donors;
• Contribute to the development of high-quality work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by USAID;
• Liaise with internal and external auditors in the review of project financial management;
• Supervise and train other project-based administrative, finance, and procurement, staff;
• Support finance/operations-based capacity development of local partners/government agencies as needed by the program; and
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming and ensure all staff understand and adhere to EDC staff safety and security policies and plans.

The candidate for the position of Director of Finance and Administration shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required.

Skills and Experience:

• At least ten (10) years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, including overseeing the finance and operations of projects in complex operating environments;
• Experience working in Africa required; experience working in Liberia strongly preferred; West Africa work experience desired;
• Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations on financial management and procurement required and knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), budgeting and fiscal control principles;
• Ability to maintain and apply strong internal controls for finance and procurements;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing budgets and managing/implementing /monitoring sub-awards;
• Relevant skills in automated accounting software systems and database spreadsheets; and
• Experience training and mentoring finance and operations staff.

Language:

Professional level of oral and written fluency in English.

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.