EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. Established in 1958, EDC designs, delivers and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity. Our services include research, training, educational materials, and strategy, with activities ranging from seed projects to large-scale national and international initiatives.

Project Description
Opportunity 2.0, funded by USAID, will strengthen second-chance education programs for vulnerable out-of-school youth in the Philippines. Opportunity 2.0 will collaborate and work with national and local systems supporting youth in order to provide 180,000 youth with the skills and opportunities to improve their education, employment, and livelihood outcomes.  

Achieving this vision will require a multi-faceted, systems-strengthening approach that aligns the formal education system, markets, and youth “sub-systems” at the regional levels. This will be achieved by providing experienced project personnel embedded in government departments; further aligning the input of technical assistance; and maximizing opportunities to bring together the respective stakeholders to identify and refine synergies and transition pathways for youth, particularly between Department of Education (DepEd)’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) program and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). 

Position Description
The Finance Specialist will assist the Senior Finance Manager and the Deputy Chief of Party of Finance and Operations in successfully completing the financial duties required for the project. These duties will include budgeting, procurement oversight, and records management. The Finance Specialist will assist the Senior Finance Manager during planning, implementation, and appraisal of the field offices’ financial performance and strategies. This position will be responsible for preparing timely and accurate financial reporting and assist in the preparation of monthly financial spreadsheets, cash flow forecasts, data entry, corresponding with vendors as appropriate, and ensuring the Davao regional hub and Mindanao project sites follow EDC and USAID financial procedures.

Essential Functions
The Finance Specialist’s specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Assist the Senior Finance Manager in reviewing the accounting system’s effectiveness and, where necessary, recommend improvements.
- Assist the Senior Finance Manager in reviewing QuickBooks transaction entries before monthly closing cut-off to ensure accuracy and completeness of accounting data.
- The semi-monthly payroll preparation and uploading, including 13th month pay (until this task is outsourced to an external service provider)
- Assist in preparing year end reports for the home office (calculating accrual estimates for severance and 13th month)
- Monitor alignment to budgeted activities
- In close coordination with Finance Officer(s), consolidate, review, and send supporting documentation to the EDC Home Office 
- Monitor cash balance in bank account and prepare cash forecasts as needed for review of Senior Finance Manager.

Budget and financial accounting
- Responsible for the processing of financial transactions and the application of proper accounting principles and standards, internal controls, and financial file management; maintenance of QuickBooks; generation of monthly financial reports and general support to project activities.
- Assist the Senior Finance Manager in ensuring compliance with the requirements of USAID award.
- Support the Senior Finance Manager in conducting day-to-day finance operations, including implementation of EDC and USAID policies, procedures, and systems.

Record-keeping and reporting
- Review the supporting documentation, ensuring consistent application of accounting principles and standards, observing internal controls, compliance with USAID, government regulatory requirements and EDC policies and procedures.
- Assist the Senior Finance Manager to produce and disseminate monthly financial performance reports against budget for use and guidance of Opportunity 2.0 management team and other concerned employees, in a timely and accurate manner.
- In close coordination with administrative team, reconcile fixed assets per books against the commodity list prepared by authorized administrative staff.

Knowledge Generation and Sharing
- Raises and discusses finance concerns with the Senior Finance Manager for timely resolution.
- Reviews the P&P manual as necessary and recommends changes/revisions on financial processes and systems.
- Reports any internal control deficiencies to management for timely appropriate action.

Education
- B.A. in Accounting or related field required, a Certified Public Accountant preferred

Skills and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree and at least and 6 years of progressively responsible and directly relevant experience required; advanced degree preferred
- Familiarity with USAID regulations
- Knowledge of QuickBooks accounting software required
- Demonstrated personal and professional integrity
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word and Excel, PowerPoint)
- Demonstrated capacity to work effectively with teams
- Excellent people skills at all levels, cultural sensitivity, ability to work well under pressure, negotiate diplomatically, and the ability to work well in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary work environment
- Ability to prepare presentations and reports
- Willingness to work and travel in all project areas

Language
Fluency in Filipino and English. 

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please. Open to Filipino Nationals only. 

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring a highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits.