1. business and industrial
2. business operations
3. management
4. project management

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
FINANCIAL AND PROCUREMENT OFFICER
Vacancy Code: FPO-IPA-NAT2000-2
Location: Albania
Duration: 37 months
Type of contract: Service Agreement with duration 12 months, renewable.
Deadline for applications: 7th May 2015
Preferred starting date: 15th May 2015
1. BACKGROUND
The Project "Strengthening capacity in National Nature Protection - preparation for Natura
2000 network", hereinafter called the Project, aims to halt the loss of biodiversity in Albania
through improved Management of Protected Areas of the Country. To this aim, it has the dual
purpose of: i) implement at least five Management Plans of the many existing protected areas
and ii) prepare a preliminary list of Natura 2000 sites, in view of their future submission to
the European Commission by the competent Albanian authorities, contributing to the
alignment process of the country local regulatory framework with the EU environmental
acquis.
The project is funded by the European Commission, relying on the Instrument for Preaccession Assistance program (IPA 2013). The initiative, assigned to the Directorate General
for the Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI/DGDC) on
the basis of an agreement concluded between the Italian Embassy in Tirana and the European
Union Delegation in Albania, will have a duration of 40 months.
Technical partners of the initiative are the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) and Italian Botanical Society (Società Botanica Italiana - SBI). The National
counterpart and beneficiary is the Albanian Ministry of Environment.
The project, with national coverage, requires close coordination, to central and peripheral
levels, with the Albanian authorities involved in various ways, and in synergy with the current
actions of the Italian Development Cooperation (IDC) in Albania as well as with other
international and national organization and institution involved in environmental actions and
present in the Country.
The Project will have a central coordination unit based in Tirana composed by the Project
Coordinator, the Project Team Leader (TL), a Deputy Team Leader (DTL) a Secretary, a
Financial Procurement Officer and a Driver/Logistician. The Financial Procurement Officer
is the object of the present announcement.
GENERAL TASKS
Under the close supervision of the Project Team Leader, the Financial Procurement Officer will
be responsible for the local procurement accounting and financial management of the Project.
He/She will be based in Tirana at the premises of the IPA 2013 – NATURA 2000 office and will
be expected to travel within Albania according to the project needs.
1. ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Accountancy:
 Supervise accountancy procedures: filing of documents, allocation of expenses,
vouchers registration, balance checking, etc.;
 Verify and compile monthly accounts from each project partner (IUCN, SBI,
MAECI/DGDC);
 Communicate accounts on a monthly basis to the Team Leader, respecting Project
deadlines, Italian Embassy and EU procedures ;
 Manage the presentation, circulation, filing and archiving of accounting and financial
documents in conformity with Italian Embassy and EU procedures.
- Treasury:
 Oversee the management of bank accounts: follow transfers, check balances, check
authorised visas as by Italian Embassy procedures;
 Supervise the management of safes and cash: available amount, balance checks,
security instructions;
 Assess monthly cash-flow needs for project and communicate cash requests to the
Team Leader;
 Manage through the Finance offices at the Italian Embassy in Tirana, the money
transfers, bases cash-supply and amounts in circulation, whilst defining payment
procedures (bank transfer, cheque, cash etc.).
- Commitment of expenditure and Procurement rules:
 Set up and formalise procedures for procurement conforming to EU guidelines
(specifically PRAG document);
 Set up and formalise procedures for commitment of expenditure: set-up commitment
ceiling in local currencies, define methods and timescales for payment of project
partners according to the Internal agreement of partnership;
 Ensure that procedures are adhered to in terms of contracts and payments;
 Ensure that proofs of purchase are valid (contracts, orders, bills, invoices, delivery
receipts etc);
- Internal Procedures:
 Oversee and undertake appraisals of project partners, ensuring that project financial
guidelines are attained through development of relevant management procedures;
2. BUDGET MANAGEMENT
- Ensure budget follow-up:
 Develop tables necessary for financial monitoring and for budget follow up within the
project and conforming to Italian Embassy and EU procedures;
 Analyse gaps between planned budgets and actual expenses;
 Anticipate financial risks;
 Calculate and supervise the monthly cost of each project vehicle (fuel consumption,
repairs) in coordination with the Secretary/Logistician and the Driver;
 Calculate monthly communication costs of local office in Tirana (phone, e-mail,
Internet), in coordination with the Secretary/Logistician;
 Draft financial reports (mid-term and final) respecting project deadlines as by EU and
MAECI/DGDC procedures.
4. KEY QUALIFICATIONS
 University Degree in accountancy, economics or business accounting.
 Required minimum 5 (five) years relevant experiences in the field of finance
administration;
 Excellent financial and analytical skills;
 Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting on programme
financial performance;
 Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
 Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental
requirements
 Previous experiences in the field of finance and procurement in EU funded project is an
asset;
 Albanian mother tongue; Fluency in spoken and written English is required;
 Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management software.
5. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
 Preferred at least a second level (or equivalent) Master degree in Finance or related
area;
 Previous experiences in the field of finance and procurement in EU funded project is an
asset;
 Ability to write and communicate in Italian language is an asset;
6. CONDITIONS:
 Salary defined by the IPA 2013 - NATURA 2000 salary grid on a monthly maximum rate
of Euro 1000,00 gross salary;
 Additional per diem living allowance in case of transfer out of Tirana
 Local transportation costs covered to reach Project operation sites
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV in EU format (Europass), to [email protected]
with the job offer reference as object of your e-mail. Only applicants with Albanian nationality
will be considered for the vacancy.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.