Project Finance Manager, WWF-Laos

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Project Finance Manager, WWF-Laos

Position title:  Project Finance Manager, WWF-Laos

Location:         Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

Project Finance Manager is responsible for financial management, planning, and reporting for donors’ projects and programmes ensuring approved policies, procedures and Network and Donors’ Standards are adhered to with the aim to increase operational efficiencies and effectiveness for all WWF-Laos projects to comply with the finance and accounting system, policies and procedures of WWF and donors, general accounting practices and legal requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management:

• Plans, directs, coordinates and monitor to ensure the effective functioning of the project Finance unit.
• Support Head of Finance on the medium to long-term strategy and vision for project Finance. Assist Head of Finance in the development of annual budget for Project/Programs.
• Ensures as a minimum a break-even budget for each financial year with sufficient detail to be able to monitor and control the financial performance throughout the year
• Monitor the use and flow of funds on project accounts according to budget constraints. Liaise with donors to get funds for project accounts and ensure that there is no deficit of cash.
• Ensures the implementation of WWF and Donor standards and best practices in regional and transboundary project financial management.
• Ensures a high-quality projects-based financial management report and analysis are submitted timely to management team and key project managers. Monthly, quarterly and year review of project financial reports.
• Provide effective support with clear solutions to conservation to enhance burn rate of all projects.
• Build relations with internal and external stakeholders through effective, proactive and regular communication. Ensure and maintain ongoing communications regarding the development of project finance operational policies and procedures with all relevant contacts.
• Lead and co-ordinate all project internal and external audits and ensuring that full compliance with donors and network requirements, and support and assist kick off and closing project audits and ensure audit recommendations are implemented.
• Coordinate project finance management training to all conservation and programme staff on needs basis. Provide capacity building trainings of project reporting to CSO and staffs.
• Lead the project finance team in overall finance and accounting data input, close account and generate and/or review financial report.
• Work closely with Project Managers to make sure the project expenditures are in line with approved budget.
• Review all transaction listings to ensure that the information is reasonable and correctly charged to the appropriate responsible projects.
• Followed up timely preparation and approval of timesheet of project staffs.
• Assist to ensure proper kick off and closure of each project.
• Provide inputs in GMS as Grants Manager role.
• Support the paperless initiative and to suggest finance project process improvements.
• Monitors compliance with organizational processes and standards and follows up on significant noncompliance with the relevant staff.
• Provide back-up for the Head of Finance when s/he is away.
• Performs other duties from time to time at the request of the Head of Finance.

Policies, Procedures, Manual and Financial Management:

• Develop and streamline effective & efficient internal working procedures and processes within general accounting unit.
• Support on development of policy and procedures, support training and capacity building initiatives.
• Monitor the implementation of the finance and accounting systems, policies and procedures to ensure that they are followed by project managers and staffs.
• Work closely with Head of Finance to ensure the proper use of accounting systems as documented under WWF International Field Operations Manual and correct implementation and adaptation for local conditions and structures at the WWF-Laos.
• Provide support to Head of Finance in developing the operation manual for projects in WWF-Laos when necessary.
• Review & endorse outgoing contract including sub-grant and consultancy to ensure compliance and risk mitigation
• In coordination with Project Finance Officer, participates in field visits to review the financial management of the projects, train field staff as required, follow up on implementation of recommendations by the field offices
• All other function or tasks assigned as may be necessary to achieve departmental goals especially during peak reporting season and meeting tight deadlines.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting, Business Management, Business Administration, or in relevant fields
• Thorough understanding of international and local finance and accounting standards, preferably Swiss GAAP accounting for international not-for-profit organization
• 5 years of practical experience in finance and accounting management
• Basic knowledge of environmental and conservation issues in Laos is preferred

Other qualifications required

• Proficiency in accounting software (Oracle) is preferred.
• Advance or excellent proficiency in excel functions.
• Proficient in the English language both reading, listening and oral and written communication.

• Experience in implementing and monitoring the compliance of Finance System, policies and procedures, preferably the context of an international organization.
• Experience of working in multi-cultural environment.
• Experience managing other staff members.
• Pro-active, creative and willing to change for improvements.
• Highly committed, willing to coach, and efficient/effective in responding correspondents.
• Working relationships both internal and external – Interact with donors, Government agencies at the central, provincial, district, and commune levels, as well as NGO partners, communities, and other stakeholders.