Finance Officer

Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (PANI)

Request for Applications

DAI seeks a Finance Officer for the USAID-funded Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (PANI).The Finance Officer plays a pivotal role in assuring adherence to financial policies, project policies and procedures, regulations, controls, and reporting systems. The Finance Officer will provide accounting and financial analysis support to the project office and will ensure timely submission of financial reports based on internal deadlines. This position will ensure compliance of all accounting and financial reporting functions. Responsible for recording costs and day to day general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, risk management, managing partner relationships, assuring all backup documentation is audit ready, and troubleshooting accounting issues. The Finance Officer is also responsible for cash flow analyses.

Applicants must have Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent with relevant experience of 4+ years and progressive responsibility in finance and accounting, office administration, project operations at the mid-level of an organization. Experience in financial management of USAID funded projects is desirable.

Applicants should submit a CV and cover letter to PANI_recruitment@dai.com by August 04, 2017.  

Please mention the position in the subject line of the email.

Detail Scope of Work

PROPOSED PERSONNEL: TBD

POSITION: Finance Officer

LEVEL OF EFFORT: LTTA, 260 days per year

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year renewal contract

BASE OF OPERATIONS: Kathmandu, with travel to Field Office

Background

The Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (PANI) is a 5 year, $25 million USAID-funded Project in Nepal. Water is the single most important natural resource underpinning Nepal’s economy and livelihoods. The sustainable management of water resources in Nepal depends on addressing climate change and protecting healthy, biodiverse ecosystems. PANI aims to enhance Nepal’s ability to manage water resources for multiple uses and users through climate change adaptation and the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. PANI focuses at the watershed, basin, and national scales and the project has approximately $5 million in grants and activity procurements. This goal will be reached by meeting the following objectives: 

• Reduce threats to freshwater biodiversity in the Karnali, Mahakali, and Rapti river basins.
• Increase the ability of targeted human and ecological communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change through improved water management.

This will be accomplished through four intermediate results (IRs, each with several sub-IRs), and supporting activities, as defined in Section C, Statement of Work (SOW) of the PANI Contract, which provides the framework and overall guidance for all PANI team members.

Purpose

The Finance Officer is a key member of the finance team. He plays a pivotal role in assuring adherence to financial policies, project policies and procedures, regulations, controls, and reporting systems. The Finance Officer will provide accounting and financial analysis support to the project office and will ensure timely submission of financial reports based on internal deadlines. This position will ensure compliance of all accounting and financial reporting functions. Responsible for recording costs and day to day general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, risk management, managing partner relationships, assuring all backup documentation is audit ready, and troubleshooting accounting issues. The Finance Officer is also responsible for cash flow analyses.

Tasks

• Financial Reporting 
• Prepares vendor and remittance tax forms and ensure these are submitted in a timely manner
• Prepares and submits monthly reconciliation reports for review
• Monitors and submits advance, commitment, and grant reports
• Oversees the reporting of expenses by regional offices (if applicable)
• Monitors and reports on partner/vendor payment schedules and obligations
• Assists in preparing information for any contractual financial reporting requirements (if applicable)

Audit 

• Supports preparation of internal and external audits
• Supports responses and actions to internal audit comments 
• Conducts daily reviews of backup documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and full compliance with DAI’s regulations 
• Performs regular spot audits on project’s files. 
• Ensures backup documentation is uploaded to relevant system according to set deadlines

Policies & Procedures

• Ensures that accounting policies and practices are carried out in accordance with GAAP standards; project internal controls are established and implemented in accordance with DAI policies, USAID rules/regulations and the terms of the contract.

General Accounting/Financial Management

• Initiates wire requests for field project implementation
• Verifies vendor invoices for accuracy 
• Verifies accuracy of expenses, and project accounting codes
• Ensures accurate and timely processing of invoices, advances and reimbursements, checks, and wire transfer payments
• Ensures request for payments have appropriate approvals
• Ensures the timely deposit of cash receipts
• Responsible for recording and assigning costs based on approved budget in field accounting system (FAS) 
• Performs monthly bank reconciliations and routinely monitors bank account balances 
• Compiles backup documentation for all project related transactions, and ensures completeness and appropriate review and approvals are documented
• If applicable, ensures petty cash is maintained according to maximum petty cash policy, and that all petty cash procedures are followed
• Ensures the safeguard of bank checks, cash receipts, and petty cash
• Supports management of banking relationships 
• Prepares, reviews, and submits project cost data prior to sending to DAI Washington
• Responsible for maintaining file management systems for soft and hard copy documentation
• Maintains files on grant/procurement/subcontractor documents and modifications as applicable
• Supports Periodic Cash Counts
• Ensures non-billable expenses are thoroughly reviewed, approved, and kept to a minimum
• Ensures that foreign taxes paid, if any, are tracked, recorded, and reported to USAID in accordance with project guidelines.
• Analyzes and reconciles project inventory on a regular basis ensuring that the value/purchase price of projects assets reflected in the inventory register agrees with the total shown in the cumulative Non-Expendable account balance.

Travel Advances & Reimbursements

• Audits travel requests and  expense reports for accuracy and compliance
• Follows procedures to ensure accurate and timely payment and  reconciliation of travel advances, reimbursements for staff and partner travel
• Reviews and monitors outstanding advances report.  Alerts FAM to advances that have not been settled after 30 days of issuance.

Payroll

• Processes timely and accurate payroll payments for the office and ensures leave balances, and payroll taxes are accurate 
• Tracks and  monitors leave balances and liability payments
• Reviews employment agreement and modifications and updates salary calculations based on local and company requirements 
• Ensures staff compliance with timekeeping policy and procedures 

Financial Systems

• Uses field accounting system (FAS), cloud software for backup documentation, and DAI’s operations system (TAMIS), etc. regularly
• Communicates with home office system support teams on troubleshooting technical issues
• Scans and uploads voucher files to the electronic archival system per DAI policies 

Supervisory 

Supervise Finance Associate and ensure that Finance Associate is trained in the policies, procedure and the system related to financial management of DAI.

Level of Effort/Timeline:

The Finance Officer position is based in Kathmandu, and requires travel to field office Nepalgunj.  The level of effort is 260 days per year. 

Supervision:

The Finance Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Finance and Administration Manager and in close coordination with the project’s grants and procurement teams, as well as DAI’s Home Office staff. The Finance Officer will supervise Finance Associate.

Qualification:

• B.A. Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent. 
• Four + years of relevant experience and progressive responsibility in finance and accounting, office administration, project operations at the mid-level of an organization 
• Minimum 1  year experience managing USAID funded projects
• Experience in financial management of USAID projects, including a demonstrated understanding of applicable finance-related USG contracting regulations 
• Accuracy in working with large amounts of data
• Ability to respond effectively to the time sensitive inquiries 
• Experience with enterprise accounting software, and Microsoft office suite
• Demonstrated knowledge of internal controls and audit processes (e.g. procurement, local subcontract agreements, etc.)
• An energetic, forward-thinking and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus
• Fluency in English is required