View Vacancy - Finance and Project Officer, Conflict Stability & Security Fund (CSSF)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)
CSSF (Conflict, Stability and Security Fund), Syria Office

The UK Office for Syria in the British Embassy Beirut has a vacancy for a Finance and Project Officer, Conflict Stability & Security Fund (CSSF), job grade Administrative Officer (AO) for a fixed term contract of 12 months, with a possibility of renewal.

About CSSF

The Conflict Stability & Security Fund (CSSF) provides development and security support to countries at risk of conflict or instability. At a global level, it delivers security, defence, peacekeeping, peace building, and stabilisation activity in over 70 countries using both Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA funding.

The CSSF is a high-value, fully cross-government fund that attracts substantial political interest, supporting the implementation of HMG country and regional strategies, including the National Security Council (NSC) Syria Strategy. It complements our political and humanitarian approaches across the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and provides practical support to hold the Syrian regime and its allies to account; and a longer-term investment in a more secure and stable future for Syria.

About the job

The jobholder will work as a Finance and Project Officer in the UK’s Office for Syria (UKOS), helping to deliver over £8m per year of support to help stabilise and address the causes and consequences of conflict in Syria.

The jobholder will be responsible for financial management and project support across UK-funded conflict and stabilisation projects operating in Syria, including support to Syrian civil society; international accountability; Syrian women’s empowerment; community resilience; and civilian protection efforts.

The jobholder will join a small Programme Team, which includes a Head, Deputy Head, a Senior Programme Manager, and two Project Managers. The Programme Team works closely with policy officers in the UKOS and FCDO in London to ensure that all programming informs and effectively delivers against UK Syria policy.

Duties and responsibilities:

The jobholder will manage the finances of the CSSF Syria Programmes. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Supporting the effective delivery of UK stabilisation and security programme funded projects in Syria through sound financial management of the significant UK investment in addressing the instability generated by the Syrian crisis. This will include rigorous budgeting, forecasting, and results monitoring by:
  • Managing the overall programme budget and meet spending allocations and deadlines; review any over/underspend, ensure it is compliant, and is managed in a timely manner.
  • Reporting on finances to London on a regular basis and flag any risks; meet different reporting requirements on internal systems and forms; updating the Head of Programmes and Country Board on spend on a regular basis.
  • Working with programme managers to ensure that UK-funded projects deliver results and value for money. This will include working with programme managers to scrutinise financial reports and spend; conduct spot checks of receipts; work with programme managers and implementing partners to manage forecasts; and support the team to carry out reporting and compliance tasks, including audits, annual reviews, project completion reports, and other transparency requirements.
  • Managing the finances and procurement processes of the UK’s Syria programme work. It will be necessary to build up in-depth knowledge of each project’s forecast and actual spending pattern, working closely with programme managers and implementing partners to produce accurate forecasts to inform future budget allocations.
  • Ensuring invoices to implementing partners are logged and paid in good time; request approvals for payment modalities, and creation of purchase orders and other similar tasks.
  • Supporting the Programme Team in delivering and managing small-scale interventions and initiatives, and project management support.

Key behaviours required:

  • 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: Effectiveness in this area is about being organised to 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.
  • Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

  • Fluent communication skills in English, both spoken and written. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely. Demonstrated experience in report writing.
  • Minimum of three (3) years of experience working on project and budget management and meeting deadlines.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide robust scrutiny of budgets in the design and delivery phases, with sound judgement to ensure value for money.
  • Experience working with national and international NGOs in the field of finance, project, and programme budget management.
  • Ability to synthesize information, identify key issues and propose next steps and solutions to problems.
  • Proven interpersonal skills and ability to build strong relationships with partner organisations. Demonstrates courtesy and consideration in dealing with internal and external stakeholders. Able to show discretion in handling any sensitive matters, with the trust of all involved.
  • Excellent organisational skills. Ability to organise and prioritise workload, organise records, and meet deadlines whilst maintaining close attention to detail and without compromising the quality of the work.
  • Very good level of IT skills and proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams. Excellent numeric skills and MS Excel skills to deal with the budget numbers.

In addition, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

  • Integrity
  • Honesty
  • Objectivity
  • Impartiality
  • University degree in International Relations, International Development, or related field.
  • Formal accounting qualification or relevant degree-level education in accounting/ finance or a related field.
  • Familiarity with UK government accounting processes, systems, and policies.
  • Basic knowledge and understanding of Syrian conflict and context.
  • Previous experience in an administrative role.
  • Arabic language skills, both written and spoken.
Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
18 December 2022
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
40
Middle East & North Africa
Lebanon
Beirut
British Embassy
1
USD
1,958
1 February 2023

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as you:

  • Receive the appropriate level of security clearance;
  • Have (or be willing to obtain) the right to live and work in Lebanon. Candidate's residence permit and work permit, and the expense to obtain them, will be their own responsibility.

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including a non-negotiable salary of $1,958 per month. However, for third country nationals and UKB staff spouses/ partners employed by the Embassy, as you are not liable to pay Lebanese income tax, your salary will be abated by an amount equivalent to the Lebanese tax that would otherwise be payable (if appropriate).

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This position is for a full-time employment, on a fixed-term contract basis for twelve (12) months, with a possibility of renewal.

Conditioned working hours are 40 hours gross per week. Normal working hours are Monday to Thursday 08:00-16:00 and Friday 08:00-14:00. Some flexibility in working hours may be permitted based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies. The jobholder may be required to attend set weekly meetings and some internal and external events, possibly after working hours.

The Embassy is committed to ensuring that you are able to maintain a suitable work-life balance. Annual leave entitlement is 20 days plus 14 public holidays (on a pro rata basis).

We offer a competitive package in line with local labour law, including transport, family, educational allowances, and medical insurance coverage, performance-related bonus, and opportunities for job related training and development, etc.

The jobholder will be expected to attend relevant CSSF programme and finance training courses. They will also have access to formal training opportunities in the region, in the UK, and more widely; focused on particular aspects of financial management of programmes.

In addition to formal training requirements, the British Embassy Beirut and the UK’s Office for Syria attach great importance to personal development of all staff. This job offers ample opportunity to develop a wide range of professional skills and gain experience of a broad range of programme activity. The role in particular offers opportunities to strengthen the jobholder’s skills in managing projects as part of a high-achieving team working to make a difference in a conflict environment.

The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period. The appointment is also subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances.

Application process:

Interested candidates must include in their online application form:

1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) maximum 2 pages;

2) a covering letter/ motivation essay which outlines how your skills and experience match the responsibilities and essential criteria outlined above (one page maximum); and

3) specific examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the 4 key behaviours: Working Together; Managing a Quality Service; Delivering at Pace; Communicating and Influencing. Further information on the behaviours can be found here

Applications that do not include this information or provided in the stated format will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted before 23:55 Beirut local time on 18 December 2022.

Applications submitted 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.

The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed 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 British Embassy Beirut is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Lebanon employment law.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.