Project Background

The USAID Women’s Scholarship Endowment (WSE) Activity will assist Afghan women in obtaining a university education in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field of study, better enabling them to overcome barriers to gaining employment, raise their incomes, and help them achieve leadership roles in their families, communities and government in positions of influence in the public and private sectors, thereby ensuring a balance of voices and perspectives. WSE will build capacity of partner Afghan higher education institutions so that they may learn to manage the scholarship program, eventually taking over management of the scholarship program, thereby ensuring its sustainability. WSE will also collaborate with the existing USAID programs to more completely support beneficiaries from the beginning of their higher education to attain a professional position, and to preserve empowerment successes of these women by sustaining long-term educational assistance.

Position Description

Under the supervision of the Director of Finance and Operations, the Finance Specialist will provide day-to-day financial and administrative support to the team to ensure efficient operation of the office. He/She will assist the Director in processing invoices, tax clearances, maintaining financial records, and ensuring documents are filed in the required manner. The Finance Specialist will be responsible to make travel arrangements for office staff, preparing expense and clearance reports in compliance with TAMUS policies and Afghan laws. The person will support the WSE program team during the scholarship application process as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Director of Finance and Operations in regular day-to-day activities including financial transactions, tax clearance, maintaining files and records, and regular interaction with scholarship recipients and other stake holders as required.
• Assist in processing invoices and follow up with universities, students and partners as needed.
• Ensure proper documentation of invoices, payment vouchers and all other supporting documents is in place.
• Assist with the preparation of monthly financial reports and participate in annual internal and external audit.
• Maintain inventory of office supplies and place orders when needed.
• Carry out administrative duties such as filing, typing, copying, binding, scanning etc.
• Organize and schedule appointments, meetings and take detailed meeting notes.
• Organize and maintain files and databases in a confidential manner.
• Keep and maintain petty cash record and prepare petty cash requests when needed.
• Prepare procurement documents as and when required.
• Keep records of taxes paid to the Ministry of Finance and prepare annual tax return report documents for annual Tax Return report clearance with Medium Tax Office.
• Assist the Director of Finance and Operations in Producing weekly and monthly financial reports.
• Other duties as assigned.