Finance and Administration Associate

Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Education: Bachelor’s; Master’s
Language Requirement: French; English
Length of Commitment: 2 years
Deadline: 17 January 2020
Start Date: as soon as possible

About TaRL Africa

TaRL Africa is a new initiative jointly led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the Indian Education NGO Pratham.

TaRL is an evidence-based approach that helps children develop basic reading and mathematics skills, opening doors to a brighter future. Pioneered by Pratham, TaRL is based on several key elements at the classroom level: Using a simple tool, children are assessed on their ability to read and do arithmetic. Children are then grouped for instruction by ability, rather than by grade. For a dedicated time each day, the focus is on building foundational skills through activities and materials appropriate for each group. As children progress, they move to the next learning group and continue to grow.

TaRL in Côte d’Ivoire

The Teaching at the Right Level approach (locally known as Programme d’Enseignement Ciblé (PEC) was piloted in 50 schools in the regions of Méagui and Gabiadji from November 2018 to May 2019. This was one of a number of pilots funded by the Jacob’s Foundation’s Transforming Education in Ivory Coast (TRECC) Program in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. This was the first time TaRL has been tried in French. The results were positive, with large shifts in learning outcomes.  

Job Description

The Finance and Administration Associate will administer and manage the financial, human and material resources for the Côte d’Ivoire team and will provide timely and quality budget and spending information to the different areas that make up the country office. The position, along with the Country Manager, is one of the main points of contact for financial, legal and administrative matters between TaRL Africa, MIT, and the Ivoirien Ministry of Education (MENET-FP).

Primary Responsibilities

Funds Management (25%)

  • Prepare project budgets and budget notes, working with the research/policy team.
  • Run monthly reports on spending against budget and provide reports to project managers.
  • Prepare donor financial reports as needed.

General Finance and Operations (75% time)

  • With the Country Manager, prepare annual, quarterly, and other budgets as needed.
  • Track overall spending compared to budget monthly and report quarterly for Country Manager and J-PAL Global review.
  • Allocate spending to appropriate income sources (Core, Project, etc.).
  • Control and monitor all accounting and management accounts of the country office, with regular reporting, management of documents including archiving, and overall organization of the finance function.
  • Ensure compliance with J-PAL and TaRL contracts and agreements related to projects and the organization.
  • Work with the Country Manager, J-PAL Global, and MENET-FP to create and improve procedures for the proper financial, accounting and legal functioning of the organization.
  • With the Country Manager prepare and manage contracts and agreements related to projects.
  • Manage contracts for the staff of the office and consultants of projects.
  • Inform and monitor payroll payment fees monthly.
  • Prepare and report payroll wages to J-PAL Global for processing.
  • Coordinate the repair and maintenance of the office, process and supervise changes in it.
  • Support to the Country Manager to define Human Resource policies and implement them.

Requirements

  • Financial Management: Experience preparing budgets and spending reports and working with procurement systems to make purchases and enter into contracts; experience with accounting systems required; strong organizational skills and proven ability to manage multiple projects; experience communicating with senior management on financial trends and results.
  • Education: At a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in business administration (BA)finance/ Accounting, Business law or a closely related field.
  • Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in finance and operations; experience in a university, NGO, or research setting a plus. The candidate must be able to communicate financial information clearly and advise senior staff on spending trends and financial concerns.
  • Note: This is a full-time position.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should fill in the application form: tarl.info/apply-faa by 17 January 2020. If you have any questions, please direct them to info@teachingattherightlevel.org (note: applications received by email will not be considered). Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.