Job opening: Financial and Operations Officer (Full-time position) at the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR)

Interested applicants need to submit their CV and relevant documentation along with a Letter of Interest at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 15 September 2023.

Background

The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR)is a unique multi-communal, non-for-profit, non-governmental organization established in Nicosia in 2003. The AHDR envisions a society where dialogue on issues of history, historiography and history teaching and learning is considered a means for the advancement of understanding and critical thinking and is welcomed as an integral part of democracy and a culture of peace. Towards this end, the AHDR provides access to learning opportunities for individuals of every ability and every ethnic, religious, cultural, and social background, based on the respect for diversity and the dialogue of ideas. Since its establishment, the AHDR has broadened its mission by promoting peace education in formal and non-formal settings and is currently bringing together school children, youth and teachers from all communities on the island; in this context, the AHDR has received acclaim from the UN Secretary General and international organizations for its role in promoting contact and cooperation between the future generations of Cyprus.

In the context of AHDR’s efforts to promote a dialogue, intercultural understanding and a Culture of Peace through education, at a local, national and international level, the organization is implementing a series of Peace and History Education projects and activities. These have showcased the impact of deconstructing stereotypes and increasing contact in creating a paradigm shift in education as a prerequisite for laying the foundations for sustainable peace. The implementation of AHDR’s projects derives from recognizing the necessity to respond to the educational needs of teachers, students and the society at large in relation to sustainable peace as well as to the urgency to highlight the importance of peace and non-violence and increased inter-communal contact for constructing sustainable futures for the generations to come. In this framework, our work on focuses on:

• Mono-communal and bi-communal trainings for students and teachers on issues related to a Culture of Peace, both in the buffer zone and in the two communities;
• Design of innovative activities and projects that guarantee the sustainability of current efforts to tackle racism and xenophobia both mono-communally and bi-communally;
• Organization of local and international conferences, seminars and public debates on education;
• Implementation of bi-communal youth camp and educational visits;
• Design and publication of educational materials on Peace/ Antiracist/ Human Rights Education and related fields;
• Networking with local and international stakeholders in the aforementioned fields;
• Campaigning and advocacy.

Position

To support its work, the AHDR requires the services of a full-time Financial and Operations Officer with demonstrated experience in the field of peacebuilding/ NGO work or relevant fields, to assist in the financial and operational component of the Association’s projects. They will be developing the overall Financial Plan and will ensure, in coordination with the Director, that AHDR’s projects and activities are designed and implemented according to the Association’s overarching priority for educational and financial sustainability. In general, they will also be working closely with the Director and will be responsible for the efficient overall organization and day-to-day payments/finances of the office. They will ensure the timely delivery of financial reporting, the development of templates for the management of the Association and the organization of all bookkeeping documents.

More specifically, the Financial and Operations Officer

• Has the overall responsibility of day-to-day operations of the Association;
• Assists in the development of the AHDR’s Operational Manual and templates and trains the staff in their use, thus improving the AHDR’s financial procedures;
• Works with Project Officers to collect, organize and archive project related documentation, paperwork and electronic information;
• Assists the Director in the preparation of the annual budget and preparation of quarterly financial reports;
• Provides guidance and capacity building to project officers for management of projects’ finances;
• Coordinates AHDR’s mobility projects;
• Coordinates the work of interns/volunteers;
• Executes payments and monitors budget and budget delivery of different projects;
• Conducts research on tools and mechanisms for ensuring financial sustainability and engages in the financial component of proposal writing.

Required Qualifications & Competencies for Financial and Operations Officer

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in relevant disciplines with minimum 2 years of relevant experience (preferably in the NGO sector) or;
• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in relevant disciplines with minimum 3 years of relevant experience (preferably in the NGO sector)

Competencies:

• Substantive and technical expertise and experience in the preparation of financial reporting and provision of administrative and logistical support to projects;
• Excellent accounting and bookkeeping skills;
• Knowledge of the Republic of Cyprus tax laws (i.e., VAT and payroll taxes);
• Excellent computer skills, especially a very good command of MS Office;
• Excellent knowledge of Powersoft or related accounting software;
• Multitasking ability;
• Ability to actively seek to improve or offer creative options to solve problems;
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work as part of a team;
• Demonstrated ability to adapt plans, prioritise and deliver tasks on time;
• Fluency is required in written and spoken Greek and English;
• Demonstrated ability to cross and work in both communities, across the divide;
• Knowledge of the political situation in Cyprus and related challenges to peacebuilding;
• Knowledge of Turkish will be considered a plus.

Evaluation & Selection of Applications

Applicants will be selected in accordance with their qualifications and demonstrated level of experience. An evaluation committee will review the expression of interests/ applications received and will shortlist the successful candidates who will be invited for an interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.