Job Description
USAID Tayar Nepal Improved Disaster Risk Management Project
Request for Applications - Finance Officer
DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments. More information about DAI can be found on the DAI website (www.dai.com).
DAI seeks a Finance Officer for the USAID Tayar Nepal Improved Disaster Risk Management Project.
Detail Scope of Work:
Position: Finance Officer
Level of Effort: One Year Full-time, Fixed Term Contract, with possibility of extension until the close of the project
Period of Performance: on/about October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020
Base of Operations: Kathmandu, with travel to priority Tayar municipalities
Project Background:
USAID/Nepal’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project will strengthen the capacity of Nepal’s national and municipal institutions responsible for disaster preparedness and response. In a country prone to a myriad of natural disasters, at the national level Tayar Nepal will build the capacity of disaster risk management (DRM) institutions, including the newly created National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). Locally, Tayar will support eight urban municipalities to develop risk-sensitive land use plans and then support the prioritization and implementation of a set of technical assistance packages improve disaster resilience. In the event of a disaster over the life of the five-year project, USAID/Nepal may engage the program’s rapid emergency response mechanism. Tayar will work closely with the Government of Nepal and Nepali emergency responders to mobilize technical assistance, commodity support, small-scale infrastructure, and information management support. Tayar will apply lessons learned from disaster response efforts to improve national-level DRM systems and municipal-level risk-reduction activities.
Position Overview:
The Finance Officer is a key member of the finance team. She/he will assist the Finance and Administration Manager (FAM) with financial, accounting and budgeting support. She/he will maintain accurate financial, accounting, and payroll records in compliance with DAI policies and USAID rules and regulations, and assist with financial reporting, bank reconciliations, or other related duties.
Responsibilities:
Management
- Supervise Project Accounting/Finance staff
- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of project’s Field Operations Manual (FOM) and identify areas where policies, procedures and/or practices may not align with project practice and advise project management with recommendations
- Coordinate compliance with documentation requirements across all departments, i.e. procurement, grants, logistics, Human Resources, Inventory Management, Technical/Delivery and other areas
- Train staff on finance procedures and documentation requirements
Financial Reporting
- Develop and maintain reports of status of financial management activities (i.e. monthly and quarterly reporting)
- Ensure project assets/inventory report is balanced against the general ledger/FAS prior to submission to USAID
- Ensure that any/all contractual financial reporting requirements are identified and complied in a timely and accurate manner
- Ensure that tax reporting procedures are well documented to facilitate preparation and submission in a timely manner
- Review and submit monthly reconciliation reports
- Monitor and submit advance, commitment, and grant reports as applicable
- Develop and submit other project reports as necessary and based on registration requirements to local authorities
- Oversee the reporting of expenses by regional offices
- Monitor and report on partner/vendor payment schedules and obligations
- Provide annual budgets of expenditure as well as quarterly forecasts against budget statements (accruals, pipelines, etc.) as applicable
Audit
- Manage preparation of internal and external audits
- Support responses and actions to internal audit comments
- Conduct daily reviews of backup documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and full compliance with all regulations and the Field Operations Manual (FOM)
- Perform regular spot audits on project’s files
- Ensure all required backup documentation is uploaded to DAI file management system according to set deadlines
Policies & Procedures
- Ensure 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
- Review wire requests for field project implementation
- Conduct regular cash flow analyses to ensure availability of funds and the accurate maintaining of bank balances
- Responsible for accurate and timely processing of invoices, advances and reimbursements, checks, and wire transfer payments
- Ensure the timely deposit of cash receipts
- Ensure petty cash is maintained at a feasible level for operational activities and that petty cash procedures are followed
- Ensure the safeguard of bank checks, and cash receipts
- Ensure proper segregation of duties within the Finance/Accounting Department
- Manage banking relationships and coordinates periodic updates for checking account signers
- Review and approve bank reconciliations performed by the field accountant
- Prepare and review project cost data prior to submitting Oracle data reports to DAI Washington
- Maintain file management systems for soft and hard copy documentation as required
- Establish guidelines for maintaining sub-grant and other partnership files and activities as applicable in coordination with the FAM
- Maintain files on grant/procurement/subcontractor documents and modifications as applicable
- Oversee the schedule of financial activities to ensure the timely preparation of budget related reports
- Supervise periodic cash counts
- Ensure non-billable expenses are thoroughly reviewed and are kept to a minimum
- Ensure that foreign taxes paid, if any, are tracked, recorded, and reported to USAID in accordance with ADS guidelines
- Prepare income tax report for employee (PPH21) and any other taxes that may be applicable
Travel Advances & Reimbursements
- Follow and maintain procedures to ensure accurate and timely payment of travel advances, reimbursements for staff and partner travel
- Maintain procedures to ensure accurate and timely reconciliation of travel advances
- Review outstanding advances and aging reports for accuracy and follow up as needed
Payroll
- Ensure the timely and accurate processing and review of all payroll transactions, assuring compliance with established employment agreements and modifications
- Ensure staff compliance with timekeeping policy and recordkeeping
- Serve as backup for payroll processing when applicable
Financial Systems
- Oversee and Monitor use of field accounting system (FAS), cloud software for backup documentation, DAI’s project management system (TAMIS), etc.
- Coordinate with home office system support teams to troubleshoot technical issues related to systems or operations
- Train finance staff on DAI financial systems as needed
Qualifications:
- B.A. Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent. Advanced degree MBA, CPA or equivalent preferred.
- 10 years of relevant experience and progressive responsibility in finance and accounting, office administration, project operations at the mid-level of an organization
- Minimum 3 years’ experience managing USAID funded projects
- Experience leading and managing the financial aspects of USAID projects, including a demonstrated understanding of applicable finance-related USG contracting regulations
- Experience working with large amounts of data
- Experience supervising staff
- Ability to respond effectively and maintain discretion with most sensitive inquiries or complaints
- Experience with enterprise accounting software, and Microsoft office suite
- Demonstrated knowledge of internal controls and audit processes (e.g. procurement, local subcontract agreements, etc.)
- Demonstrated report writing skills in English is required.
- An articulate individual who possesses excellent communications and personnel management skills and who can relate to people at all levels of an organization
- 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
Level of Effort, Location, and Reporting:
The level of effort is 260 days per year. The employment contract will be on a yearly basis, with possible extensions until the close of the project. The Finance Officer reports to the Finance and Administration Manager (FAM). The position is based in Kathmandu, with travel to priority Tayar municipalities.
“Women and people from marginalized communities are highly encouraged to apply”
Apply Instructions
Application Instructions:
Applicants should apply via Formsite at this link by no later than August 31, 2019: https://fs9.formsite.com/daisuppliers/oiuh9cdwcn/index.html
Select the position in which you are interested in applying for, fill out the required information and upload CV. Only finalist candidates will be contacted. No phone calls or in-person applications will be accepted. Positions are for Nepal Nationals only.
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