Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) Finance Manager at USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities in Ukraine (AGRO) Activity

USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities in Ukraine (AGRO) Activity is a seven-year cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chemonics International, Inc.  

USAID AGRO Activity began on November 15, 2019. 

The AGRO Activity aims to accelerate the economic development of rural Ukrainian communities with the greatest need through a better governed agricultural sector that encourages more productive, modern, and profitable micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises (MSMEs) that are successfully integrated into competitive markets both in Ukraine and internationally. 

The Activity objectives are aligned with the three elements of the market systems conceptual framework: the core value chain, supporting functions, and rules and regulations. 

To effectively address the food crisis that emerges in Ukraine and internationally caused by Russia’s unprovoked and brutal full-scale war against Ukraine, AGRO works for the restoration of the agricultural sector, in particular its modernization, efficiency improvement, and diversification, which contributes to the long-term economic recovery of Ukraine and the improvement of global food security. 

Chemonics-implemented AGRO is one of the executors of the USAID Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI-Ukraine), aimed to  strengthening Ukraine’s agricultural resilience and ensuring food security. 

AGRO operates utilizing the market system development conceptual approach.

In 2023, the estimated cost of the Activity was extended to $205 million, and its implementation period was extended through November 13, 2026. AGRO employs nearly 80 long-term CCN employees. 

Position Description: 

To contribute to achieving AGRO’s overall goals, the SIF Finance Manager manages administrative and financial aspects of implementing SIF subawards, contracts and procurement of goods and services in full compliance with Chemonics policies and procedures and adherence to USAID rules, regulations, and standards.  The SIF Finance Manager is responsible for initiating and managing administrative and financial SIF activities to ensure smooth project start-up and to provide a strong basis for future program implementation. 

All work will be conducted in conjunction with the Activity leadership, SIF team, technical and CLA teams, F&A team and the home office project management unit. SIF Finance Manager will also coordinate with the administrative staff of other Chemonics projects in Ukraine to ensure company and USAID policies are implemented consistently across projects, to the maximum extent possible. 

Principal Duties and Obligations (Essential Functions): 

As Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) Finance Manager, the Employee is responsible for the following principle duties and obligations: 

• Administrative Management; 

• Liaise with subrecipients/contractors regarding financial documentation required to initiate subaward and activities; 

• Serve as a resource to subrecipients/contractors for questions regarding monthly financial reports, expenditures, cost share, allowability issues, etc. 

• Review financial reports and ensure timely payments to the subrecipients and contractors; 

• Prepare and regularly update the SIF tracker to forecast and track all SIF planned and actual activities and funds disbursements;  

• Create an Excel spreadsheets and/or other tool to systemically collect and track subrecipient and contractor expenses;  

• Review any initial subrecipient/contractor budgets, financial records, subaward and contract agreements;  

• Monitor subrecipient/contractor expenses; 

• Provide financial capacity building and training as needed by subrecipients/contractors 

• Liaise with other AGRO staff and supervise subrecipients and contractors so they are provided with suitable advice and assistance on management, including finance and administration, as well as on all relevant technical components.  

• Ensure that all files are maintained in conformance with the Chemonics filing system and are up to date and audit-ready at all times. 

• Use Microsoft Teams as needed to carry out tasks and collaborate with other activity staff. 

• Participate as directed in collection and analysis of Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) data.  

• Prepare sections of reports, plans, success stories and similar documents as requested.  

• Participate in regular activity Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA) discussions.  

• Comply with Chemonics’ standards of business conduct.  

• Perform other appropriate tasks as requested. 

Terms of work, SOW Timing and Reporting Relations: 

One-year fixed term employment agreement with possible extension each work year up to the end of the AGRO implementation (November 14, 2026), subject to availability of respective tasks in the successive AGRO Annual Work Plans. 

The SIF Finance Manager will work under direct supervision of, and report to Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) Team Lead. 

Office location: Kyiv or remote. 

Periodic travel to other parts of Ukraine, will be n possible. 

Required Skills and Qualifications: 

To perform this job successfully, the Employee must be able to perform each essential duty, obligation and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties. 

• Higher education in a relevant field at least to the bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. Master’s preferred. 

• Minimum five years of experience in administration and financial management of USAID grants and/or subcontracts required; experience managing subawards and contracts under cooperative agreements is a plus; 
• Experienced user of MS Office 365 applications;
• Knowledge of the USAID grant, contract and procurement lifecycles, applicable rules and regulations required;
• Knowledge of Chemonics policies and procedures related to financial management of grants and subcontracts; graduation from Chemonics Grants Practicum is a plus; 
• Strong leadership capabilities including organizational and problem-solving skills; supervisory experience; 
• Strong knowledge and skills in budgeting, forecasting, forecasting and monitoring expenses; 
• Ability to work quickly and creatively without sacrificing compliance or quality to operationalize SIF activities; 
• Advanced MS Excel user. 
• Native speaker of Ukrainian.   
• English sufficient for professional purposes and to understand written communications related to the work of the Activity such as emails.  
• Experienced user of MS Office 365 applications. 
• Demonstrated success working in a multinational, multilingual team under pressure and tight deadlines. 

Application Instructions 

Send electronic submissions by October 31, 2024. Early applications are encouraged. Please submit your CV in English and cover letter. No telephone inquiries, please. Only finalists will be contacted. 

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors. 

2024-10-16T16:09:25.000 2024-10-31T23:59:59.000 Full time TELECOMMUTE Україна Кімонікс Інтернешнл Інк. Програма USAID з аграрного і сільського розвитку (АГРО)