Senior Economist

The Spark Programs Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Arsen Tomsky, the founder and CEO of inDrive.
It implements non-profit, impact-oriented projects in Kazakhstan and around the world in the fields of education, sports, and the creative industries, following the mechanics, philosophy, and framework of inVision by inDrive projects.

Currently, the Foundation's portfolio includes:

• inVisionU University in Kazakhstan,
• support for the Almaty Air Initiative project aimed at tackling the city's smog problems, and
• the Star Team project, which helps children gain admission to top universities abroad.

Due to the expansion of its activities, the planned launch of new projects, and the growing geographical reach into Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, the Foundation is seeking an Economist.

Responsibilities:

Budgeting

• Collect and consolidate historical financial data for retrospective analysis
• Prepare new financial inputs for budgeting and variance analysis

Forecasting

• Allocate forecast data by Code of Costs and BMP-Corp structure
• Validate consolidated forecasts (BMP-WD level)

Closing

• Allocate actuals by Code of Costs and BMP-Corp structure
• Validate actuals with respective teams across business units

Reporting

• Prepare financial datasets for monthly and ad-hoc reports
• Maintain and continuously improve Central Budget Panel tools and dashboards

Control

• Monitor and adjust BMP-WD financial input for alignment and completeness
• Organize and conduct regular budgeting sessions and alignment meetings with project teams
• Prepare databases for detailed analysis and scenario planning

Projects and Analysis

• Participate in cross-functional projects aimed at expense optimization
• Execute deep-dive financial analyses for decision support

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or related field (mandatory)
• Professional certification (e.g., CFA, CIMA, ACCA) is a plus
• 2+ years of experience in financial planning and analysis, corporate finance, or related roles
• Proven track record in budgeting, forecasting, and reporting within a corporate environment
• Financial Modeling and Analysis: Creating and interpreting financial models to forecast financial performance, assess investment opportunities, and evaluate risks.
• Excel and Spreadsheet Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet software for data analysis, financial modeling, and reporting.
• Accounting Knowledge: Understanding accounting principles, financial statements, and the ability to analyze and interpret them.
• Data Analysis: Using statistical tools and techniques to analyze large datasets, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Financial Reporting: Preparing and interpreting financial reports.
• Valuation Techniques: Knowledge of valuation methods such as discounted cash flow (DCF), comparable company analysis, and precedent transactions.
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Developing and managing budgets, as well as forecasting future financial performance based on various scenarios.
• Use of Financial Software and Tools: Proficiency in financial software like Oracle, 1C and other specialized tools used in financial analysis and reporting.
• Quantitative Skills: Strong mathematical and statistical skills for analyzing financial data and building quantitative models.
• Economic Analysis: Understanding economic indicators and their impact on financial markets and business performance.

Conditions & Benefits:

• Stable salary, official employment
• Health insurance
• Hybrid work mode and flexile schedule
• Relocation package offered for candidates from other regions
• Access to professional counseling services including psychological, financial, and legal support
• Discount club membership
• Diverse internal training programs
• Partially or fully payed additional training courses
• All necessary work equipment