View Vacancy - IQE - Corporate Services Support Officer (AO)
The British Consulate General in Erbil has a vacancy for a Corporate Services Support Officer.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, flexible, committed, and resourceful individual who will support the Corporate Services Manager (CSM) in ensuring that finance and logistics services for the Consulate General are effectively delivered in line with a central policy and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) guidance. The ideal candidate will have the ability to deliver at a high standard, be a good team player, and demonstrate a positive, ‘can do’ attitude.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Finance
- Manage the Consulate’s official cash accounts (in USD and IQD), including preparation of monthly checks and replenishments to cash boxes.
- Ensure compliance with central financial guidance, policy, and accounting procedures.
- Maintain financial record keeping in accordance with central audit guidance.
- Close liaison with the Consulate’s local bank to resolve payment issues, statement reconciliations, and signatory and access control.
- Interface with customers and suppliers on all accounting/ financial/ procurement issues.
- Record services provided to Partners across the UK Government and produce monthly reports and invoices.
- Raise purchase requisition on an Oracle-based financial system for procured goods and services, and follow up on purchase orders, receipting, and reporting.
- Receive invoices from suppliers and ensure they are in line with actual spend before processing.
- Lead on local finance operations, including the implementation of global policy and guidance.
- Oversee the office account efficiently and in compliance with audit/ financial best practice requirements; promptly processing all receipts, preparing centrally required financial returns, reconciliations and annual checks and returns.
- Logistics
- Facilitate airport/ terminal passes and access, vehicle registration, and residency cards with Kurdistan Regional Government authorities.
- Packing and unpacking of small to medium size shipments and overseeing secure storage. Supply and allocate office equipment, materials, stationery and vehicles. This includes preparation of specifications, tenders; obtaining and negotiating prices; obtaining quotations; placing orders and processing invoices according to FCDO rules and guidance.
- Ensure that goods procured meet quality, quantity, and delivery specifications, and advice on suppliers who fail to meet specifications.
- Liaise for sending and receiving diplomatic shipments in line with central security standards and policy
- Maintain assets inventories.
- Process visas and residency cards for diplomatic staff of the Consulate General,
- Create Distribution Sets for routine payments and set up Purchase Orders as necessary.
- Estates: Support estate projects by registering suppliers on the relevant system and ensuring payment methods are set up accordingly.
- Any other tasks and duties as delegated by the Line Manager or Countersigning Manager.
The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK citizens.
Key behaviours required:
- Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
- Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
- Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
- Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive. Working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a proactive and constructive way.
- Changing and Improving - Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.
- Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others and contribute to the reputation of the organisation.
Eligibility:
Applicants are responsible for ensuring they already have the right to live and work in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Obtaining the correct permissions can be particularly complicated if employees and any dependants are not already resident in the country. Unfortunately, neither the Consulate nor the Embassy can arrange an Iraqi residency for this role.
Applicants must also be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of local and UK security clearance required for this role.
- Relevant work experience in either the public or private sector, ideally in the areas of finance and procurement.
- Excellent numerical skills. Experience overseeing budgets, managing accounts, and using spreadsheets.
- Demonstrates organisational skills and keen attention to detail. Able to effectively work under tight deadlines and in a fast-paced environment. Able to manage competing priorities and adapt to changing aims without compromising the quality of the work.
- Strong customer service skills. Demonstrates courtesy and consideration in dealing with all stakeholders. Able to show discretion in handling any sensitive matters, with the trust of all involved.
- Excellent communication skills in English and Kurdish, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
- Holds at least a bachelor’s degree.
- Strong IT skills and proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
- Familiarity with Oracle-based applications for finance and procurement.
- Holds a relevant finance/ accounting or business qualification, or is currently pursuing one.
- Familiarity with KRG and UK government/ public sector processes.
- Arabic language skills, both written and spoken.
The Consulate General aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role.
The role grade is at AO grade, with a base salary of US$ 1,750 per month. This base salary is paid 13 times a year. In addition, a monthly security allowance of US$ 200 is payable for this role. The allowance is subject to review and may be altered or withdrawn at any time.
No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.
This position is offered on a Full Time, Permanent contract basis. The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.
Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week. Normal working hours are from 08:00 to 16:00 from Sundays to Wednesdays and from 08:00 to 14:00 on Thursdays. There may be some flexibility for starting and leaving times as long as the conditioned hours are completed. This will be considered based on operational requirements and in agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Consulate policies.
The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours. The jobholder may also need to travel to Baghdad for exchanges with our Embassy Team there.
We are committed to ensuring that you are able to maintain a suitable work-life balance. Annual leave entitlement is 20 days (on a pro rata basis) plus 14 public holidays (UK/ Iraq holidays).
We encourage a culture of continuous learning. Relevant training will be provided to the successful candidate, and all staff have access to the Civil Service Learning platform, which gives access to training to improve job-specific skills. Country based staff are entitled to a minimum number of annual training days.
How to apply:
Interested candidates must include to their online application form
1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);
2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and
3) specific examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.
Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.
The closing date for applications is at 23:55 Iraq local time on 13 December 2023.
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks.
The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and in the UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.
The British Consulate General Erbil is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
