ANUNȚURI DE ANGAJARE

PROJECT TITLE: SKILL-UP MOLDOVA

POSITION: Finance & Procurement Officer

STARTING DATE: Tentatively August/September 2026 (this vacancy is announced in anticipation of signing of the Multi Partner Contribution Agreement)

CONTRACT PERIOD: 12 Months with the possibility of extension (max. 39 months)

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Full-time position

LOCATION: Chisinau, Moldova

The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is recruiting Finance & Procurement Officer (full time, f/m) for the project Skill-up Moldova.

1. Background and Introduction

Austria has a long-standing partnership with the Government of Moldova, which has been a priority partner country since 2004. ADA, Austria’s federal agency for development cooperation and humanitarian aid, supports its partner countries in implementing programmes and projects and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ADA’s focus in Moldova lies on projects with focus on equal opportunities in labor market inclusion.

ADA has been delegated by the European Union (EU) to implement a project with a volume of EUR 2.5 Mio. focusing on skills development (Skill-up Moldova). The overall objective of the action is to strengthen the Moldovan VET system as a driver of EU-aligned reforms, equipping the workforce with the skills needed.

Within this Action, the following Outcomes are foreseen:

Outcome 1: Enhanced design of upskilling and reskilling programmes in selected priority sectors, and strengthened recognition and Validation of Non-Formal and Informal Learning and prior acquired skills (VNIL/VNFIL/RVPL), contributing to better alignment between skills and labour market demand.

Outcome 2: The policy framework for VET teacher management and continuous professional development (CPD) is strengthened, and VET and LLL teachers/training providers are empowered to deliver industry-relevant upskilling and reskilling programmes in priority sectors, including gender-responsive approaches for increased participation of women and other underrepresented adult learners.

Outcome 3: Strengthened operational capacity of Centres of Excellence to function as sectoral innovation hubs, structured facilitators of employer-skills dialogue, and coordinated providers of pedagogical and technical support to affiliated VET institutions.

The project will be implemented over a period of 36 months. To support the ADA Office for Technical Cooperation in Chisinau in ensuring the successful implementation of this project, ADA is recruiting an experienced Finance & Procurement Officer for a maximum of 39 months (including closing period) starting tentatively in August/September 2026. The position will be based in Chisinau.

Further background information and documents regarding Austria’s engagement in Moldova are available on our homepage: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/.

2. Detailed Terms of Reference

Role Summary: Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader (TL) of the Project Management Team (PMT), the Finance & Procurement Officer will be responsible for accounting, financial monitoring and reporting, and accurate and solid procurement and contract management of the entire action. Duties include setting up required financial reporting processes/systems in line with ADA requirements, supporting the commission of external audits, and assisting TL in implementation of all required actions to operationalize the contract management and the procurement structures and processes and ensure compliance with the Project Implementation Directive (PID), contractual obligations and ADA rules. This position is based in Chisinau, with frequent trips to Moldovan provinces and occasionally abroad.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Management

• Ensure sound financial management and reporting of the overall project, in particular ensuring compliance of the project expenses with ADA and EU relevant budgetary and financial policies and procedures.
• In close collaboration with TL, ensure compliance of financial implementation according to the ADA and EU regulations.
• Set up required financial reporting processes/system in line with ADA requirements and by building among others on/or improving accounting systems and processes.
• Ensure that financial transactions are properly authorized, recorded, have adequate supporting documentation, filed, maintained and can be easily extracted for the purpose of preparing financial statements and financial audits.
• Ensure functioning of financial controls and statutory compliance of best practices of accountability.
• Support the TL in ex-ante and ex-post controls and approval of financial transactions.
• Ensure sound and effective financial management of EU and co-financing in compliance with ADA’s pillar assessed processes and standards PID.
• Manage and monitor the project bank account and realize currency exchanges as needed.
• Realize payments of invoices, contracts etc., in line with PID and as requested by TL.
• Set-up and maintain a system for budget monitoring to allow monitoring of budget execution and commitments/planned expenses.
• Check budget lines to ensure that all transactions are booked to the correct budget lines and assist the TL in preparation of budget reallocations.
• Prepare all required financial reports and submit to the TL for clearance.
• Ensure proper accounting, in particular verifying incoming invoices, requests for payment and financial reports for accuracy and compliance.
• Contribute to the preparation of regular interim and final progress reports (narrative/financial), and other reporting requirements, by elaborating all necessary administrative-financial documentation.
• Prepare monthly financial reports to ADA incl. BAKAWA (ADA accounting system).
• Manage petty cash account of the project office in compliance with PID.
• Liaise with ADA HQ Finance & Accounting Officer to ensure compatibility of the project financial BAKAWA books with BAKAWA processes and standards.
• Prepare financial forecasts of income and expenditure on a monthly and/or quarterly basis and as requested and submit to TL for clearance.
• Timely ensure and prepare adequate cashflow and funding requests to ADA HQ (as needed) and EU.
• Assist project management team in preparing budgets for project in accordance with EU and ADA requirements.
• Mentor project management team members through the development of budgets for project components or activities.
• Support contract and commission of external audits and evaluations.
• Contribute to a proper risk management and identification of financial management issues and, if needed, propose corrective action to TL in relation to the implementation of project activities.
• Monitor implementation and financial progress of the project; project administration; documentation and information of project implementation (e.g. lessons learned); coordinate project evaluations; this includes ensuring that environmental, social standards and gender safeguards are duly implemented. Identification of risks and development of risk mitigation measures.
• Ensure compliance with tax, customs and financial regulations, including relations with tax authorities.
• Support TL in the closure phase of the project (preparation of financial reports, final audit, handover of assets, closing accounts, etc.).

Procurement Management

• Ensure complete and correct preparation of procurements.
• Ensure full compliance with ADA’s pillar‑assessed processes and standards, and effective procurement management, including:
  • Contributing to technical specifications and Terms of Reference for procurement of goods, works, and services.
  • Preparing tendering documents, requests for proposals, and other documents in line with ADA procurement rules.
  • Supporting evaluation and selection processes (researching suppliers, comparing offers, assisting with shortlisting).
  • Preparing contracts for services, supplies, and works in conformity with ADA rules.
  • Liaising with the Tender Agent and ADA units on procurement processes and tender design.
• Store and maintain procurement and contract records in electronic and physical formats in compliance with PID.
• Provide information and implement contract strategies, including tendering, evaluation, contract management, legal considerations, payment conditions, sourcing, supplier selection, and quality management.
• Conduct EDES checks prior to procurement.
• Prepare and monitor procurement plans and propose corrective measures.
• Regularly monitor procurement and compliance risks and develop risk mitigation measures.

3. Requirements and Qualifications

Education and Professional Experience

• University degree in Accounting, Law, Business Administration/Management/finance or relevant field.
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience in the field of procurement and accounting / finance, administration preferably in an international environment.
• Experience in budgeting and controlling for donor/EU funded projects, in procurement methodologies/requirements of goods, works and service contracts
• Good knowledge of Moldovan accounting, tax, labour legislation requirements.
• Experience with funding received from large institutional donors (in particular from European Union).
• Knowledge and experience in financial project management, monitoring and reporting.
• Auditing experience would be an asset.
• Experience in the procurement of goods and service contracts, preferably under EU rules.

Skills and Competencies

• Good analytical writing, facilitation, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Flexibility to adjust working hours to actual workload as required.
• Capacity to work under pressure and availability to travel and availability to travel inside the country and abroad.
• Very good English and Romanian (both oral and written), Russian is an advantage.

Technical Proficiency

• Regular Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, SharePoint, Office 365, Project, Teams and “online documents” etc.), specific Computer skills: Accounting software experience, Bakawa, extensive knowledge of tabular software (Microsoft Excel, Google sheets, Libre Calc etc.).

4. How to apply

Please submit your application to chisinau.application@ada.gv.at by 28 August 2026 at 24:00 hrs. (12:00 p.m. Moldova time), indicating position name “Finance & Procurement Officer” in the subject, with the following attached documents:

• Letter of motivation in English, including salary expectations and highlight your relevant experience for the assignment.
• Curriculum vitae in English.
• Names, contact details and working relationship of three professional references (at least one referee should have been your direct supervisor).
• Copies of academic certificates and testimonials.

This project position is subject to the pending signature of the Contribution Agreement between the EU and ADA. ADA retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Women are especially encouraged to apply. ADA supports gender equality on all levels and attaches great value to a gender balance in senior positions. In case of equal qualification for the position and at the absence of other outweighing factors, preference will be given to the female candidate. We also welcome applications of persons with a migrant background and/or of persons with disabilities.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence and no application fees or information with respect to bank account details are required by ADA for our recruitment process. Please note that in the event of an invitation for an in-person interview, ADA is unable to reimburse costs incurred. Candidates must expect that references from previous employers will be requested by ADA. Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Note: These Terms of Reference are intended to provide an overview of the position and the key responsibilities. They may be subject to revisions and refinements based on project needs, ADA regulations, and EU guidelines.