ย
ย Description
Are you a very passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.
Who We Areย GPE is a shared commitment to end the worldโs learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world. We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to transform education systems so thatย every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency.ย
What We Doย GPE helps low- and lower-middle-income countries to build stronger education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We currently support nearly 90 countries whereย the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by extreme poverty or conflict. Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. GPE is also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning can safely continue.ย
How We Workย Now, GPE is working to help governments transform their education systems to get the most vulnerable children in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. Between 2020-2025, GPE will support transformative change in up to 90 countries and territories, which are home to 1 billion children. Transforming education is about creating lasting changes and achieving impact at scale. GPE setsย out to deliver this transformative change by convening partners, mobilizing funds and catalyzingย reforms to help partner countries accelerate access, learning outcomes and gender equality.ย
Raise Your Handย In July 2021, the Global Education Summit put GPE firmly on the path to be fully-funded by 2025, by raising a record US $4 billion from donors for GPEโs Raise Your Hand campaign. At the Summit, Heads of State and Government from partner countries made historic commitments to education financing and GPE also mobilized an unprecedented number of pledges from businesses, private foundations and development banks.A fully funded GPE would support transformed education systems in up to 90 countries and territories, enable up to 175 million children to learn and help get 88 million more girls and boys in school by 2025. In the longer term, this investment could add $164 billion to economies in GPE partner countries, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect 2 million girls from early marriage.
Governance And Organizational Arrangementsย The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnershipโs breadth. The Board Chair is HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Dr Susan Liautaud. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions.
The GPE Secretariat, with 160 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariatโs headquarters are in the World Bankโs offices in Washington, D.C. and the European office is in Paris with a satellite office in Brussels and a support office in Chennai.
ABOUT THE TEAMThe Finance & Grant Operations (FGO) team focuses on fiduciary matters, grant processing, monitoring and administration, risk, innovative financing, and trustee finance. It is led by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
ABOUT THE JOBThis position will be based in Washington, D.C.
DescriptionGiven the growth in GPEโs overall grant portfolio, introduction of currency hedging pilot, diversification of grant agents and funding mechanisms, a new upcoming funding cycle and a new IT system, the Secretariat is seeking a Senior Financial Officer to lead the GPE Trustee Finance team. The position reports to the Deputy Chief Financial Officer. The Trustee Finance team is a sub-team within Finance and Grant Operations (FGO), led by GPEโs CFO.
Duties And AccountabilitiesThe position has the following responsibilities:
โข Supervise the Trustee finance team including two financial analysts, ensuring oversight of all deliverables and processes, including:
โข Oversee the management of GPEโs grant financial information, including oversight of reconciling Grant Agent financial reports with information maintained by the Trustee of the Global Partnership for Education.
โข Oversee financial analysis of the grant portfolio to support the financial forecast, portfolio reviews, consolidated financial report, quarterly financial reports, web reports, cash flow analysis for investment purposes, financial policy development, currency hedging, and any other corporate deliverable as required.ย
โข Lead the engagement with Donors on signing contribution agreements and sending payment requests.
โข Oversee responses to routine requests for financial information from internal and external stakeholders. This includes monthly donor reporting and replenishment tracking and the corresponding website updates.
โข Lead engagement on Trustee Finance related issues with internal Secretariat staff throughout the organization, and with external stakeholders, including representatives of Governance bodies, Donors, Trustee, and Grant Agents.
โข Support the onboarding of new grant agents, including training in GPE financial reporting policies and the Financial Procedures Agreement.
โข Support the development of the Trustee Finance related elements of the new IT system.ย
โข Other tasks as may be assigned.
Selection Criteria
EducationMaster's degree in a finance related discipline with at least 8 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelorโs degree in a finance related discipline with at least 10 years of relevant experience.
Experienceโข Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the financial aspects of GPE's or other global partnershipโs or development agencyโs operating modelย
โข Strong financial analytical skills
โข Excellent MS Excel and MS Word skills
โข Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ability to navigate SAP an advantage)
โข Excellent communication skills in English, especially presentation of financial information, and the ability to write clearly, concisely and quickly
โขAbility to work effectively under pressure, prioritize and juggle multiple tasks under tight deadlines, and deliver accurate, high-quality analytical work
Competencies
Accountability & Results Focus -ย Engages in productive consultation without losing sight of responsibility for own, and team, decisions, deliverables and deadlines. Doesnโt let the pursuit of perfection prevent forward progress, in self or on teams. Seeks clarity from colleagues or leadership team when needed; Helps junior staff get needed clarity to move work forward; works within and across teams to remove obstacles and resolve issues. Takes ownership of own mistakes, failures or oversights, and seeks to correct them; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team mistakes. Manages differences of opinion to productive resolution so as not to impede progress. Ensures group efforts produce clear actions and decisions and tasks conclude.
Adaptability -ย Models flexibility - responds to changing circumstances by innovating and altering behavior to better fit different situations. Learns new skills, performs work in different ways and coaches team members to do the same. Exerts a calming influence on colleagues and staff in stressful situations. Professionally deals with personal discomfort in a changing work environment and helps others do so.
Collaboration & Teamwork -ย Views the whole of the Secretariat as greater than sum of the parts and works collaboratively with colleagues with shared goals in mind. Acts as a teammate; steps in to supports teammates and colleagues across teams as needed, regardless of organizational boundaries. Recognizes, values and reinforces the role of each team in delivering on GPEโs mission. Approaches challenges and obstacles as shared challenges to be overcome and leads groups to this outcome. Fosters productive group dynamics and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when decisions donโt reflect own position.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills -ย Has extensive experience & success working in multicultural environments. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, adapting language, tone, style and message to diverse, multicultural audiences, internally and externally. Skilled at communicating complex information in succinct and digestible ways; coaches others to develop this skill. Shares information and keeps people informed; Operates with transparency, in a way that builds trust in a culturally diverse environment; Within and across teams, addresses behaviors that undermine transparency and trust. Maintains productive working relationships with colleagues and holds team members responsible for doing the same. Engages in active listening and two-way conversation. Asks questions for clarification and responds to others appropriately.ย Learns from othersโ ideas and expertise.
Planning & Organizing -ย Works well independently and in teams. Develops clear goals aligned to agreed strategies and direction. Plans and prioritizes work effectively, for self and assigned teams Works under pressure and against tight timelines, and still delivers high-quality work. Manages own and team time efficiently, and delegates appropriately. Foresees risks and identifies mitigation strategies and contingencies.
BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITIONย
Term appointments include, but are not limited to, medical benefits, including dental and vision, Staff Retirement Plan, financial assistance program, life & disability insurance, comprehensive leave policy (minimum 26 days/annum) and parental leave policy (50-100 days).ย ย
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, creed, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.
GPE has a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in line with its PSEAH policy.