TERMS OF REFERENCE for FINANCE OFFICER

TERMS OF REFERENCE

for

FINANCE OFFICER 

1. BACKGROUND

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE), of which Mongolia is a partner, has adopted a new strategic plan for the period 2021-2025, entitled “GPE 2025.” In light of the education challenges that GPE partner countries face, particularly following the pandemic, this plan is an ambitious one and sets out the following goal: “to accelerate progress, learning outcomes and gender equality through equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century.” To implement the new plan, the GPE made the Education Sector Plan Implementation Grant (ESPIG) Multiplier Grant, dedicated to supporting the implementation of National Education Sector Plans accessible to certain countries to leverage additional external financing for education. 

The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) of Mongolia applied for the GPE Multiplier Grant, intending to complement three projects respectively funded and implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Save the Children (SC). These projects are strengthening school feeding as well as equity and inclusion within the education system in Mongolia. The Multiplier will also enable the MES and partners to address the need to recover from the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In April 2021, the GPE Secretariat approved Mongolia’s expression of interest to access the GPE Multiplier allocation for US$ 5 million. In July 2021, with the backing of all Local Education Group partners, the MES selected Save the Children (SC) as the Grant Agent for this funding and the GPE Secretariat endorsed the MES selection the following month.

The project has three main components, which are described below:

Component 1: Inclusive education 

The MES is strongly committed to ensuring that all children, especially children with special needs, have equal access to quality inclusive education. Within this component, it is aimed that access and quality of education for children with special needs are improved by strengthening the capacity of primary and secondary education teachers in public schools. 

The Inclusive Education component will complement the ongoing teacher professional development program by further integrating inclusive pedagogy in-service teacher training courses and building the capacities of teachers on inclusive education in primary and secondary schools. 

The funds from the GPE also will enable effective support for the implementation of related policies and regulations by allowing an increase in the scope of the current projects implemented by Save the Children and JICA and the involvement of more teachers from mainstream schools. 

Component 2: School lunch

The proposed program would help to implement the Government Action Plan (2020-2024), which aims to increase the budget for student meals and transform primary and secondary schools' "School Snack" program into a "School Lunch Program." The proposed initiative will make a substantial contribution to enhancing access to education by improving food production and services within schools. It will also result in good improvements in students' eating habits, health, and well-being. 

With the potential KOICA project aiming at primary and both lower and upper secondary, MES will be able to achieve its plan to provide students with safe, healthy, and nutritious food. Through this project target schools will have a renovated and fully equipped meal service area and a Training Center for Dietitians and Chefs will be established at the Mongolian State University of Science and Technology. Other expected outputs include guidelines for school meal service management, enhanced capacity of school cooks and nutrition staff, and improved awareness of stakeholders of the importance of healthy school meals. 

Component 3: Blended Learning

The component on ‘Blended Learning’ will support the MES to further mobilize the education partners to jointly design and implement a professional development program for education personnel and in-service teachers. The Teacher Professional Development program will improve teachers' classroom and online teaching methodologies, as well as their confidence in delivering blended learning. 

To accelerate the education recovery, the MES wishes to prioritize blended learning, which is a combination of online instruction and self-paced learning with classroom teaching. This component will design a blended learning model, that will be piloted in primary and secondary schools (number to be determined). The integration of the blended learning model in school will enable learners to reconnect to the school environment and engage in a variety of learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom. In case of further school disruption and closure, such a blended learning model could be pivoted to a distance learning program, which will enable learning continuity. 

The GPE Multiplier will act as a catalyst, and this component will build on and strengthen the ongoing distance education programs supported by education partners such as UNICEF and the World Bank.
 

2. SCOPE of WORK

The Finance officer is to support other project staff of PIU on the financial side to conduct the project activities, procurement in compliance with GPE requirements, grant manual, and relevant policies, and Mongolian government rules, procedures taking overall responsibilities for planning, organizing, executing and reporting on all financial transactions of the project and will act as key personnel to ensure safeguarding against ineligible expenditures. 
 

3. DETAILED TASKS 

Specifically, she/he will:

1. Manage project cash controls as well as maintain bookkeeping up-to-date;
2. Ensure maintenance of the general and subsidiary ledgers;
3. Track expenditure and maintain relevant cash reserves;
4. Ensure all expenses of the project are within the assigned project budget;
5. Oversee the preparation of all financial statements, invoices, proposals, etc., of the project as required;
6. Ensure account receivables and payables activities are performed accurately and timely;
7. Ensure that financial transactions of the project are properly updated and recorded;
8. Manage the preparation of balance sheets, income statements, expense reports, etc.;
9. Ensure data integrity in all financial reporting;
10. Update financial records of the project with recent transactions and changes;
11. Perform finance analysis, reporting, and management tasks of the project;
12. Identify and resolve invoicing issues, accounting discrepancies, and other financial-related issues;
13. Review financial paperwork and procedures and make appropriate changes;
14. Ensures the timely delivery of quality project products at the lowest possible cost;
15. Provide an implementation of the financial management system of MOF
16. Prepare for the annual audit
17. Calculate VAT-related reports for PIU staff and submit to the relevant Tax office
18. Prepare MOF-required financial statements
19. Perform other duties as required.

4. QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCES 
5. Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business/financial management, or a related discipline with a recognized accounting certification or is working towards an accounting certification. 
6. Minimum five (5) years of relevant work experience that demonstrates increasing levels of responsibility and includes at least two (2) years of experience in project accounting and financial management;
7. Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word software is required, and computerized accounting systems are desirable;
8. Familiarity with contract and financial procedures of the Government of Mongolia is preferred, and knowledge of Government of Mongolia administrative procedures is desirable;
9. Possess good organizational skills and able to work independently and cooperatively within a team;
10. A good knowledge of international funding agency procedures and reporting requirements.
11. Good interpersonal skills, proficiency in interacting with Government officials, with international organizations;
12. Preferable with the English language.
5. APPLICATION PROCESS  

Interested individuals are requested to send his or her resume and a cover letter explaining the reasons for applying for the position, and describing how the candidate’s qualifications, skills and work experiences meet the requirements of the job via email to coordinator.equalproject@gmail.com no later than Sep 08, 2023, 5 PM. We accept the application in PDF format. 

Only the short-listed candidates will be contacted and asked to (i) have a job interview with the selection committee; and (ii) provide proof of work experience and original copies of diplomas and certificates at the interview. 

ENABLING EQUITY TO ADVANCE LEARNING PROJECT