Finance officer Full Time NEW

Organizational Context

ECES is a not-for-profit private foundation headquartered in Brussels with a global remit. ECES promotes sustainable democratic development through the provision of advisory services, operational support and management of large projects in the electoral and democracy assistance field. ECES works with all electoral stakeholders, including electoral management bodies, civil society organisations involved in voter education and election observation, political parties, parliaments, media, security forces, religious groups, and legal institutions confronted with electoral dispute resolution. Since February 2012, ECES has signed over 70 contracts in support of transparent, credible, and cost-effective electoral processes and the strengthening of democratic institutions in more than 35 countries, mainly, but not only, in Africa and the Middle East. In addition, the founders and personnel of ECES have acquired extensive field experience, and, taken together, ECES can count on a specific knowledge and a well-established network in over 70 countries. The EU is by far the largest ECES donor; however, the organization has also signed contracts and partnered with many other organizations

Project’s context

Actions in support of democratization and respect for human rights, including the right to participate in the establishment of governments through free and fair elections, can make a major contribution to the peace, security, prosperity, and well-being of people. In that regard, the EURECS I project was implemented in Ethiopia from 2019 until March 2024, with funding from the EU in Ethiopia and Germany.
The EURECS was crafted as an innovative and alternative delivery mechanism to implement electoral and democracy assistance activities that are consistent with the EU’s values and policies, and targets to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the EU election observation mission (EOM) in Ethiopia that national authorities agree to strive towards. The action has a built-in election conflict prevention, mitigation, and management aim in nearly all activities prescribed by this approach.
Recognizing the high expectations of the 7th general elections of 2026 for the consolidation of a well-functioning democracy in the country, the EURECS II project seeks to contribute by strengthening the transparency, credibility, and public confidence in the election process and in the NEBE, as well as in the capacity of the civil society to be a major and credible actor in the electoral process. The project will support NEBE in fostering the inclusion of all segments of the electorate, including marginalised and vulnerable groups. In continuation of past efforts, the project will also strengthen the CECOE platform and other CSOs in electoral observation, civic and voter education, and awareness-raising targeted at disenfranchised groups, including youth and first-time voters.

Actions in support of democratization and respect for human rights, including the right to participate in the establishment of governments through free and fair elections, can make a major contribution to the peace, security, prosperity, and well-being of people. In that regard, the EURECS I project was implemented in Ethiopia from 2019 until March 2024, with funding from the EU in Ethiopia and Germany.
The EURECS was crafted as an innovative and alternative delivery mechanism to implement electoral and democracy assistance activities that are consistent with the EU’s values and policies, and targets to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the EU election observation mission (EOM) in Ethiopia that national authorities agree to strive towards. The action has a built-in election conflict prevention, mitigation, and management aim in nearly all activities prescribed by this approach.
Recognizing the high expectations of the 7th general elections of 2026 for the consolidation of a well-functioning democracy in the country, the EURECS II project seeks to contribute by strengthening the transparency, credibility, and public confidence in the election process and in the NEBE, as well as in the capacity of the civil society to be a major and credible actor in the electoral process. The project will support NEBE in fostering the inclusion of all segments of the electorate, including marginalised and vulnerable groups. In continuation of past efforts, the project will also strengthen the CECOE platform and other CSOs in electoral observation, civic and voter education, and awareness-raising targeted at disenfranchised groups, including youth and first-time voters.

The EURECS II project in Ethiopia is built around the three main specific objectives as follows:

• Empower NEBE to hold all levels of elections and implement lessons learned from 2021 for the 7th General Election in 2026;
• Strengthen CSOs in their election observation and support them in extending it to mid-cycle elections (municipal, referendum, and reruns) as well as voter and candidate registration.
• Support civic and voter information to vulnerable groups, including IDPs, PWDs, the illiterate, women candidates, youth, and first-time voters.

Election observation, both national and international, is widely recognized as a cornerstone of electoral integrity. It contributes to transparency, accountability and credibility across all phases of the electoral process, from voter registration to the announcement of results, and reinforces public trust in the conduct and outcomes of elections. Media monitoring and analytical reporting constitute essential complementary tools for assessing the quality of the electoral environment and identifying emerging risks.

Civil society organisations are entitled to engage in electoral processes through non-partisan election observation, in accordance with international norms and standards. Such engagement contributes to enhanced transparency and accountability and plays an important role in building public trust in the credibility and legitimacy of elections. Civil society organisations may also support electoral processes through complementary activities, including civic and voter education, promotion of codes of conduct for electoral stakeholders, auditing of voters’ lists, media monitoring, facilitation of public debates, and formulation of technical recommendations for electoral reforms.
The Declaration of Global Principles for Non-Partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations recognises the right of non-partisan citizen election observation organisations to cooperate with other organisations, both domestic and international, and to receive technical and financial support for the purpose of conducting professional and independent election observation and monitoring activities. Access to such support constitutes a key condition for ensuring the effectiveness, professionalism and sustainability of domestic election observation efforts, in line with applicable legal frameworks.

IV.Functions / Key Results Expected

Under the guidance of the ECES Representative in Ethiopia, the Finance officer will be entrusted with the following specific responsibilities along with the corresponding deliverables:

Key Responsibilities

The Finance Officer supports the Finance and Administration Manager in the day-to-day financial operations, accounting, and administrative support of the mission, ensuring accurate financial records, compliance, and timely processing of transactions.

1-Financial Transactions and Bookkeeping

• Process financial transactions including payments, advances, and reimbursements.
• Maintain accurate bookkeeping records using accounting software.
• Ensure all financial documents are properly recorded and archived.

2-Cash and Advance Management

• Manage petty cash and ensure proper documentation of all expenditures.
• Process and monitor staff advances and ensure timely liquidation
• Support cash flow tracking and expense monitoring.

3-Budget Support and Expense Tracking

• Assist in tracking project expenditures against approved budgets
• Support preparation of financial summaries and budget reports.
• Ensure expenditures comply with financial policies and donor requirements.

4-Tax and Statutory Compliance

• Prepare and process tax declarations, including:

1-Income tax
2-Withholding tax
3-Pension contributions

• Ensure compliance with Ethiopian financial regulations.

5-Procurement and Financial Compliance

• Verify financial documents and contracts for accuracy and compliance.
• Ensure procurement processes follow internal procedures.
• Maintain proper documentation for audit purposes.

6-Logistics and Operational Financial Support

• Support financial and logistical arrangements for:

1-Observer trainings
2-Deployment of LTOs and STOs
3-Workshops, meetings, and conferences

• Coordinate with operations teams to ensure timely disbursement of funds.

7-Data Management and Reporting

• Maintain financial databases and digital filing systems.
• Support preparation of financial reports and reconciliations.
• Ensure completeness and accuracy of financial data.

8-Administrative Support

• Support office administration, including inventory and asset management.
• Assist in preparation of financial and administrative reports.
• Ensure proper filing and documentation systems are maintained.

Deliverables

• Updated financial records and bookkeeping systems
• Petty cash and advance tracking reports
• Monthly financial summaries and supporting documentation
• Tax declarations and compliance records
• Procurement and financial documentation files
• Contribution to final financial report

Duration

• The assignment covers the full electoral cycle*, including:
• Pre-election phase
• Election day
• Immediate post-election period
• The full electoral cycle included the 7th General election (possibility of staggered elections over several months/years), possible bi-elections, referendum and local elections.

C.VALUES

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of ECES.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling ECES’ values and ethical standards.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• Experience/competencies:

Professional Experience

• At least 3–5 years of relevant experience in:
• Accounting and financial operations
• NGO or project-based financial management
• Administrative and logistical support
• Minimum 2 years working experience for CECOE for the department of Finance and Administration would be an asset

  1-Technical Skills

• Proficiency in:

1.Accounting software (Peachtree, IFMIS)
2.Microsoft Office (Excel, Word)

• Experience with:
• 1.Financial data management systems
  2.Digital archiving and reporting tools

2-Organizational Skills

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple financial tasks under tight deadlines
• Good organizational and record-keeping skills

3-Other skills

• Experience with election observation missions or governance programs
• Familiarity with donor-funded project requirements
• Knowledge of procurement procedures and compliance systems
• Ability to work in fast-paced and high-pressure environment

Language Requirements:

• Excellent working-level proficiency in Amharic and English, both written and spoken.