Finance and Administration Manager

Finance and Administration Manager – Vietnam – YSEALI

Position system title and grade: Finance and Administration Manager– Grade 10
Position Location: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Project Name: Young Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative- Mekong Program (YSEALI-Mekong)
Anticipated Start Date: December 20, 2022

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations.  Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.  

EDC is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

We are looking for candidates who share EDC’s commitment and understand the importance of cultural responsiveness in today’s context.

Project Description

USAID’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative–Mekong Program will strengthen the leadership capacities and networks of youth leaders in Southeast Asia, empowering them to lead with confidence and to claim their right to a sustainable and just future.

The leadership development program will provide the knowledge, training, and exposure to empower Southeast Asian youth to act on environmental issues, help integrate them into the web of climate, biodiversity, and sustainability actors in the region in order to contribute to the sustainable development of the Mekong region.

The program will 

1. Build the leadership capabilities of youth in Southeast Asia with focus themes of climate change, environment, and biodiversity within the Mekong sub-region countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam,  
2. Strengthen ties among Mekong sub-region countries, other ASEAN countries (plus Timor-Leste), and the United States, and  
3. Nurture a community of leaders who work locally and across borders to address shared issues relating to the focus themes.  

Focus themes of the program are: 

• Climate change – advance equitable and ambitious actions to confront the climate crisis with dual climate change priorities of mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (improving resilience to climate impacts) 
• Environment - Ensure that the environment and the natural resources upon which human lives and livelihoods depend are managed in ways that sustain productivity growth, a healthy population, as well as the intrinsic spiritual and cultural value of the environment. 
• Biodiversity - Conserve biodiversity and manage natural resources in ways that maintain their long-term viability and preserve their potential to meet the needs of present and future generations. 

YSEALI-Mekong will be hosted by the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), and will partner with local, regional, and international relevant stakeholders.

Position Description

The Finance and Administration Manager is responsible for compliance with USAID and EDC policy and the overall financial administration of the project, including administration of project operations, forecasting and tracking field office expenditures, and overseeing daily financial management.  Additionally, the FAM will oversee administrative and procurement staff. S/he reports to the Chief of Party.

Essential functions include (but not limited to):

• Direct and support the Finance, Administration and Operations staff and activities to manage all financial and operational issues of the project, to improve procedures, increase efficiency and provide the means to accomplish project goals.
• Provide oversight for the day-to-day operations and logistics for the office.
• Work with home office staff to establish all financial procedures including providing support on the establishment of bank accounts, accounting software, documentation storage etc.
• Liaise with the home office Financial Analyst on a regular basis and provide verbal and written reports to the Chief of Party and Project Director as appropriate.
• Direct and support Grants Officer to ensure establishment and implementation of grant mechanism and ensure an appropriate, efficient and accurate grant-making process is conducted.
• Direct and support the Accountant in all tasks.
• Monitor project spending, including monthly and quarterly analysis to identify over or under spending, bring any issues to the attention of the Chief of Party and the Financial Analyst/ Project Director for action.
• Monitor advances to employees and ensure timely liquidation bringing any issues to the attention of the Chief of Party for action.
• Ensure any tax liabilities are paid timely.
• Responsible for ensuring that all employees and vendors are vetted according to EDC policies.
• Serves as a liaison with EDC Home Office Accounting to facilitate financial management processes including contributing to preparation of cost to complete projections, providing guidance and oversight on project financial management, and participating as appropriate, in resolution of financial issues.
• Model standards of accuracy, timeliness and adherence to policies and guidelines that enables others to perform with due diligence.
• Ensure compliance and adherence to donor regulations and procedures including maintenance of internal controls, accountability of EDC resources for all financial and operational issues.
• Manage with support from EDC’s Director of Corporate Compliance any external financial audits and ensures that management responses to internal financial reviews are implemented timely.
• Mentor local personnel to develop capacity of staff, including provision of regular feedback and training.
• Oversee work of project Accountant to ensure timely and accurate submission of monthly field transaction reporting to the home office.
• Ensure that finance and operations staff work smoothly with technical teams to accomplish project goals in a manner consistent with policies and procedures; models collaboration with technical leaders.
• Oversee logistical coordination of in-person events, including convenings of youth leaders enrolled in the program which will occur on a regular basis.
• Form a part of the senior management team along with the Chief of Party and Program Manager; and
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

The candidate for the position of Finance and Administration Manager shall have at a minimum the following qualifications: 

Education:

Master’s degree (or bachelor’s degree with professional certification) in business, accounting, finance, international development or other related field. 

Skills and Experience:

• At seven to eight years of experience with increasing responsibility in accounting and/or financial management, including the management and oversight of multimillion-dollar, USAID-funded project budgets and financial reporting. 
• Extensive knowledge of and financial management experience with USAID funded programs (experience with USAID contracts preferred). 
• Demonstrated and detailed understanding of financial management and accounting principles.  
• Proven ability to manage a team and corresponding workflow.  
• Ability to adapt to new systems quickly.
• Experience working with QuickBooks accounting system or similar product.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skill (advanced skills a plus).
• Ability to travel in the Mekong and ASEAN regions.

Language:

Fluency (speaking, writing, reading, listening) in English and Vietnamese is required.

Application Instructions:

Job closing date: December 20, 2022 – open until filled

To apply, Applicants are encouraged to visit the Careers Page at: https://go.edc.org/FAM-Vietnam-YSEALI

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please.

See https://www.edc.org/careers-edc for further details

EDC is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

This announcement is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this notice are the sole responsibility of Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.