Finance Director

World Concern is a Christian global relief and development agency that extends opportunity and hope to people facing the most profound human challenges of extreme poverty. We serve nearly 5 million people in 16 countries, focusing on food security, child protection, education, maternal and child health, microfinance, vocational training, clean water and sanitation and disaster response.

To apply: go to http://worldconcern.org/about/careers

Deadline: 30 Nov 2013

Position:        Regional Finance Director-Asia
Location:        Open – within the Asia Region
Reports To:        WC Finance Director (HQ)
Supervises:        Country Finance Managers have a dotted line report to RFDA
Contract Length:    1 year with annual review and optional renewal

Purpose:  Guided by World Concern’s global strategic plan, provide leadership and support to World Concern countries in Asia in the areas of accounting, finance, forecasting, budgeting, reporting and analysis. Provide oversight for all financial transactions and financial planning for the region ensuring adequate controls are in place.  Keep Country Directors, the Area Director and HQ apprised of all situations which have the potential for significant impact on internal controls or financial management performance. The Finance Director will report to the WC HQ Finance Director and will work closely with the Asia Area Director and Country Directors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

  • Serve on the Asia leadership team and participate in discussion concerning projects and administrative decisions.
  • Identify and propose improvements and modifications to the management and reporting systems.  Make recommendations for remediation of any identified problems and follow up to assess results. Assist in implementation of any agreed upon systems and/or improvements.
  • Provide recommendations to the Area Director and/or Country Directors regarding best practices and other changes based on financial evaluations and industry standards.

 

Finance & Accounting

  • Responsible for reviewing and submitting all financial reports to the Asia Area Director/Country Directors and WC headquarters office, meeting the required monthly deadlines.  
  • Oversee forecasting and budgeting operations for World Concern Asia Region by organizing and controlling the budgeting process for the World Concern Asia office.  Assist the Country Directors, Country Finance Managers and HQ staff in the preparation of the budgets for new project submission to institutional donors.
  • Monitor submission of all financial reports required by donors by working with Country Finance Managers to ensure they are accurate and timely.
  • Monitor & Ensure adequate controls and monitoring of cash, bank accounts, procurement & accounts payable to achieve program objectives and minimize the risk of fraud or misappropriation and mitigate the risks from corruption or insecurity.
  • Monitor exchange rate trends identifying potential risk and recommending strategies to mitigate the risk.
  • Review the reconciliations of all balance sheet accounts on a monthly basis and ensure timely completion.  Review is to include, but not limited to, ensuring proper revaluation was completed, following up inquiry on any items outstanding over 3 months, any negative amounts, and verifying reasonableness of listed transactions.
  • Manage the following revenue projection in an accurate, complete and timely manner for World Concern countries in Asia:
  • Long Term Pro-forma: design a tool that will project revenue and expenses for the various country programs.  Analyze date and present recommendations to leadership
  • Short Term Pro-forma: use the analysis from the projected revenue and expenses to recommend future budget planning.
  • Review and analyze monthly financial statements for all programs in the Asia Region and report the financial status of each country program to the Asia Director and the relevant Country Director on a monthly basis.
  • Review journal entries and propose any adjusting entries as necessary, including but not limited to, time and effort allocation entries as applicable. 
  • Oversee the monthly statement of field income and recognition of revenue.
  • Ensure the field based accounting systems are being properly updated and maintained, including closed out at month end/year end.
  • Provide technical oversight to the Country Finance Managers. 
  • Ensure systems related to logistics/procurement are well integrated into the accounting systems to capture all expense details on a monthly basis.
  • Review asset listings to ensure that assets are adequately recorded, uniquely identified, inventoried on a periodic basis, depreciated, insured and disposed of as per WC policy.
  • Design and direct training initiatives, building capacity, to ensure finance staff are equipped to perform their roles and responsibilities with accuracy & professionalism.  Make recommendations to the country leadership regarding the depth of the finance team.
  • Provide financial training to budget-managers, to assist them in enforcing financial controls & making decisions based on financial reports.
  • Provide support in trouble-shooting situations, regarding day to day financial operations and training as needed.

Compliance

  • Make sure all financial transactions are in compliance with the requirements for supporting documentation, following World Concern procedures as well as any applicable donor requirements.  Ensure all additional documents are obtained and procedures required by U.S. government grants are followed as applicable.
  • Monitor and help coordinate all auditing requirements for the Asia Office, Country and donor audits as required.  Provide requested documentation to the WC headquarters office for the organization’s annual audit, meeting deadlines as stipulated.
  • Identify and mitigate financial, legal and compliance risk by periodically conducting program/country risk assessments with relevant team members.
  • Review existing World Concern finance and accounting policies, procedures and systems in each area of operation to ensure compliance and smooth operations.  Identify, develop, implement and administer policies and procedures necessary for the effective financial operations throughout World Concern Asia.
  • Understand individual country regulations by keeping abreast of tax law, labor law, registration & visa requirements, etc; advise the Country Director on needed actions to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and laws.
  • Develop an internal audit program and schedule to include regular field visits in order to assess the compliance of financial/procurement/asset management systems, procedures and guidelines.  Submit audit reports to WC HQ Finance Director and Asia Area Director for review.  Report should include recommendations for improvement.  Assist in implementing agreed upon improvements and monitor follow up actions.

Required Education, Skills & Experience:

  • Commitment to World Concern’s values and mission.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
  • Ten years accounting experience in a business and/or non-profit organization, with at least five in a leadership role
  • Administration and management experience in a cross-cultural setting.
  • Excellent communications skills; demonstrated ability to read, write and speak English fluently.
  • Working knowledge of accounting software packages and Microsoft Office.
  • Must have problem solving capabilities; be able to work independently while staying aligned with the culture and strategic direction of the organization.
  • Work efficiently and professionally with a variety of personality types.
  • Available for at least a two year commitment.

Preferred Education, Skills & Experience:

  • Grant Compliance and Governance, including U.S. Government grants.
  • Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant.
  • Demonstrated ability to teach and train others in small group settings.
  • Ability to read, write and speak one or more WC operational country languages.

Working Conditions:

  • Requires frequent travel to WC operational areas in Asia; currently Bangladesh, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and likely travel to the US headquarters in Seattle, WA.
  • Urban living conditions.  Field locations are often in remote areas without basic infrastructure (roads, power, water, hospitals).  Must be able to endure hardships of heat, basic shelter and rough roads for periods of up to two weeks.
Job Details
Organisation Name: 
World Concern Development Organization in Vietnam (WCDO)
Location: 
Asia Region
Application Deadline: 
Sat, 2013-11-30