Finance and Operations Director

Practice/Department:

Business Development (anticipated USAID Vietnam Innovation Ecosystem (VIE) project)

Location:

Hanoi, Vietnam

Job Title:

Finance and Operations Director

Reports to:

Chief of Party (COP)

Level/Grade:

N/A   

“Insert Here”

Remote Eligibility:

Remote (United States)

Remote (Global)

X On Site (Vietnam)

Type of position:

  X Full-time

  Part-time

  Contractor

  Intern

Notes:

Supervisory Responsibility:

X Yes – Operations & Finance Team, # TBD.

No

Role

X New Role

Back Fill

Hours:

40 hours (based on prime contract)

WHO WE ARE

Come grow with us! If you are a passionate change agent who thrives in a collaborative, entrepreneurial and inclusive, culture committed to operational excellence, we would like to meet you.  

At Resonance, you get involved in the work, in the field, not just in the deck.  Our teams are autonomous and self-sufficient.  You get to weigh in with founders and leaders on how to drive change and grow the movement while growing the company.  

Resonance is an award-winning, Certified B Corporation consultancy that delivers market-based solutions to address the world's toughest challenges. We enable a variety of donor, commercial, and investor clients around the world to catalyze lasting impact. Resonance seeks to catalyze large-scale social, environmental, and economic change by fostering new and dynamic forms of collaboration. We do this by fostering public-private partnerships, facilitating sustainable investment, and providing deep analytical insights in frontier markets. 

POSITION MANDATE

Resonance seeks a Finance and Operations Director to support the anticipated USAID-funded Vietnam Innovation Ecosystem (VIE) project. The project aims to support the Government of Vietnam (GVN)’s efforts to strengthen the innovation ecosystem. The project will focus on promoting the commercialization of innovations created by Vietnamese innovative businesses and individuals in line with the National Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution to 2030.  Key technical areas of focus include 1) promoting the commercialization of innovations targeting market opportunities pursued by innovators, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs; 2) linking Innovation Ecosystem Actors (IEAs) (e.g., national, regional and higher education institution (HEI) innovation centers (ICs), Vietnamese owned/operated enterprises, chambers of commerce, business associations, HEIs, think tanks) to improve the innovation ecosystem business enabling environment; and 3) working with and through key IEAs (KIEAs) (e.g., national, regional and HEI ICs, accelerators, incubators, Vietnamese and FDI owned/operated enterprises, HEIs, nonbank financial institutions (i.e., venture capital and private equity firms) (NBFI), and banks) to develop the business acumen and startup skills of innovators, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.    

The Finance and Operations Director will be responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the office and project, ensuring compliance with USAID regulations and Resonance policies. They will also manage all general operations within the office, including administration, logistics, procurement, and human resources. This position requires close collaboration with the Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, and other key staff to ensure financial and operational support for program activities.

 This is a full-time position based in Hanoi, Vietnam. 

• Registration and Compliance
• Work closely with the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party to register the project in Vietnam, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Liaise with local authorities, legal advisors, and the USAID mission, in coordination with the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party, to facilitate timely registration and start-up activities.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure the project’s adherence to USAID rules and regulations, Resonance policy and procedures, and Vietnamese legal requirements.
• Office Set-Up
• Identify and establish a project office, including negotiating lease agreements, setting up utilities, and acquiring necessary permits.
• Oversee the procurement of office equipment, furniture, and IT systems.
• Develop and implement security protocols for the office and staff.
• Operational Systems
• Establish and manage project operational systems, including human resources, procurement, and logistics.
• Develop operational procedures, manuals, and guidelines aligned with USAID standards and local requirements.
• Enable and support organization in driving social, economic, and environmental impact
• Coordinate with the Chief of Party and technical leads to ensure that all operational needs are met during implementation.

• Budget Management
• Work closely with the Chief of Party on the project’s financial planning and budgeting processes, ensuring alignment with the approved project budget and work plan.
• Monitor and manage expenditures to ensure they are within budget and compliant with USAID, Resonance and Vietnamese regulations.
• Financial Systems
• Help set-up and manage local bank accounts, including bank reconciliations. 
• Establish and maintain robust financial systems, including accounting, reporting, and auditing processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to USAID and other stakeholders.
• Develop and implement financial controls to mitigate risks and ensure transparency.
• Audit and Compliance
• Prepare for and support audits conducted by USAID, Vietnamese authorities, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with USAID financial regulations and Vietnamese tax laws.

• Recruitment and Staffing
• Lead the recruitment of Project Staff, ensuring that hiring practices comply with local labor laws and Resonance USAID requirements.
• Develop job descriptions, employment contracts, and onboarding procedures.
• Training
• Provide training and development for finance and operations staff to ensure they understand and comply with USAID, Resonance and local financial regulations.
• Mentor and support the professional development of the finance and operations team.
• Payroll and Benefits
• Oversee the development and management of payroll systems, ensuring compliance with Vietnamese labor laws.
• Manage employee benefits and ensure timely disbursement of salaries and allowances.

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in finance and operations management in Vietnam
• Proven experience establishing/maintaining legal registration and operational frameworks in Vietnam.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management, including budgeting, reporting, and compliance.
• Computer literate with significant experience in Excel. Good familiarity with Microsoft Word. 
• Proficiency with QuickBooks accounting system or similar software.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Fluency in English and Vietnamese.

• Experience working on donor-funded programs strongly preferred.

The employee must be able to travel domestically.

This position operates in a professional office environment, and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

As a part of the responsibilities for this job, the employee is required to communicate, detect, converse with, discern, convey, express oneself, and exchange information orally and in writing with others. The employee must be able to remain in a stationary position, sitting at a desk for prolonged periods, move or traverse inside the office and facilities; operate, activate, use, prepare, inspect, place, detect, or position computers and other office equipment, such as a calculator, copy machine, furniture, and computer printer. The employee must be able to make substantial repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers.  The employee must be able to lift and move up to 15lbs at times.

Vietnamese work authorization required.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Policy of Resonance is to provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. Resonance hires and promotes individuals solely based on their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Resonance believes that employees should be provided with a working environment which enables each associate to be productive and to work to the best of his or her ability. We do not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

We expect and require the cooperation of all employees in maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free atmosphere.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls or emails please.