Accounts Associate

Vacancy Announcement

Position: Accounts Associate 

Number of Positions: 1 

Programme: Samartha: Enhancing Gender and Human Development Outcomes through Systems Strengthening

Location: Kathmandu

Type: Full-time

Reports to: Finance Manager

Start Date: 11 August 2025 (subject to funding approval from the donor)  

End Date: 31 March 2026

ORGANISATION PROFILE

Adam Smith International (ASI) is a global advisory firm that works with governments, international development partners, and the private sector to deliver long-term, transformative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Operating across more than 30 countries, ASI specialises in governance, economic reform, climate resilience and inclusive development - applying rigorous analysis, technical expertise, and locally led strategies to achieve sustainable impact. 

PROGRAMME BACKGROUND

Samartha: Enhancing Gender and Human Development Outcomes through Systems Strengthening is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded programme implemented by Adam Smith International. The programme works in close partnership with the Government of Nepal and aims to enhance the capacity of provincial and local governments to deliver social sector services.

This programme will focus on improving the systems and capacity of local government to deliver its social service mandates with a specific focus on improving access to quality health and education services, especially by women, girls and marginalised communities. This will be complemented with national policy support in the Health and Education sectors to ensure sector policies and resource allocations align to support Nepal in building responsive and resilient Health and Education service delivery systems. Through systems strengthening, Samartha aims to enable more equitable, accountable, and inclusive development outcomes.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Accounts Associate will provide financial and accounting support to the programme team and ensure effective coordination with provincial and cluster teams across all Samartha provinces. S/he will be responsible for supporting financial reporting, budgeting, compliance, audit preparation, and day-to-day financial operations.

The role requires strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple accounts and finance workstreams while ensuring timely delivery and compliance with internal procedures and donor requirements. S/he will work closely with the Finance Manager to support the financial integrity and accountability of the programme.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Financial Reporting and Documentation (30%)

• Assist in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports in line with donor and internal requirements.
• Maintain accurate financial records and documentation, including vouchers, receipts, and reconciliations.
• Support the preparation of financial statements and expenditure tracking for programme activities.

Compliance and Audit Support (20%)

• Ensure all financial processes and documentation comply with internal standards and donor requirements (e.g. FCDO).
• Support internal and external audits by preparing required documentation and responding to audit queries.
• Maintain audit-ready financial records and contribute to risk mitigation efforts.
• Support in monthly, quarterly and annual tax management and reporting.

Budgeting and Forecasting (15%)

• Assist in the preparation and revision of programme budgets and forecasts.
• Monitor budget utilisation, track variances and report to the Finance Manager.
• Support budget planning for workshops, events, and provincial activities.

Payments and Reconciliation (15%)

• Perform bank and cash reconciliations and maintain petty cash records.
• Track advances and ensure timely settlement and documentation.

Coordination with Provincial Teams (10%)

• Serve as the liaison for provincial and cluster offices, providing support on financial processes and reporting.
• Coordinate the collection and consolidation of financial data from provincial teams.

System and Data Management (10%)

• Maintain financial databases and ensure timely data entry and updates.
• Support the implementation of financial systems and tools for improved efficiency and reporting.
• Facilitate internal communication and coordination across the finance and programme teams.
• Draft internal financial updates and summaries as required for management reporting.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education and Professional Background

• A bachelor's degree in business administration / business studies (Specialisation in Finance)
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in finance and administration preferably in a donor-funded (e.g. FCDO) or development context.
• Demonstrated experience in managing budget planning, financial reporting, procurement, logistics and compliance functions in multi-stakeholder programme settings.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in financial software and accounting systems and strong command of MS Excel for financial analysis and reporting.
• Solid understanding of financial controls, procurement protocols and budget compliance frameworks, particularly those aligned with international donor (FCDO preferred) requirements.
• Familiarity with Nepal’s tax and labour laws, statutory reporting requirements and government compliance procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to prevent and detect fiduciary risk and to promote transparency and accountability in financial and operational systems.
• Strong knowledge of logistics coordination, office management and asset and inventory tracking systems.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills in English and Nepali.

TERM OF REFERENCE (ToR)

A detailed Terms of Reference outlining the scope of work, responsibilities and expected deliverables will be shared with shortlisted candidates during the recruitment process.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter to asi.nepal@adamsmithinternational.com by 31 July 2025. Please include “Application: Accounts Associate” in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps.

Note: Women, candidates from marginalised communities and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.