Project Description
USAID is a development partner to the Government of Sindh and is currently supporting the Department of Education and Literacy with implementation of the Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP) in Districts Sukkur, Khairpur, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Dadu and selected towns of Karachi city. The overarching goal of SBEP is “Increased and Sustained Student Enrollment in Primary, Middle and Secondary Schools in targeted geographical locations in Sindh.” The Sindh Reading Program (SRP) is a five-year initiative in the same geographic areas of the parent SBEP. SRP will support the SBEP goal based on lessons learned from USAID and the Government of Sindh’s legacy of early grade teaching and learning.
Over the life of project, SRP aims to:
- Improve teacher competencies for effective early grade reading instruction (Component1);
- Improve early grade reading assessment practice (Component 2);
- Improve student access to supplementary reading material (Component 3);
- Enhance participation of parents and caregivers in support of early grade literacy for out of school children (Component 4).
Position Objective
The Finance Associate’s primary role is to assist the finance team in review and documentation of the financial activities of SRP by ensuring that USAID’s policies and procedures are properly understood and followed as well as that Chemonics’ systems are being used most efficiently. The Finance Associate will also assist the Finance Manager in every day financial and administrative activities and will serve as acting Finance Manager when he is out of the office. The Finance Associate will also be required to support in critical analysis of subcontractor adherence to, and progress in implementing, all of the finance and accounting aspects of subcontracts signed under the project.
The Finance Associate will adhere to and act in accordance with the Chemonics professional code of ethics, ‘Living Our Values’, and will make the principles of the code a part of SRP’s culture and operating procedures.
Qualifications
- ACCA, CA Finalist, Bachelors in Accounting and Finance or related field is required; ACCA, CA Finalist will be preferred.
- 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in finance, compliance and audit; experience of working with a USAID funded project and/or audit firms is highly preferred.
- Experience and interest in internal and external communications, partnership and development.
- Successful experience working in a diverse, fast-paced environment.
- Ability to communicate effectively with team members and management in both written and verbal form
Specific Tasks
The Finance Associate’s tasks will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Primary Tasks (80% of time)
- Support the supervisor’s efforts, to effectively inspire, lead and manage finance staff, including ensuring that the day-to-day personal behavior and performance of all staff are fully compliant with the project’s policies
- Maintain systems and controls to ensure efficiency, integrity and transparency of the operations in accordance with guidelines provided by Chemonics, USAID and internationally accepted accounting standards.
- Perform all book keeping tasks in abacus including but not limited to:
- Examine invoices, bills, receipts, or other documents for accuracy and completeness and ensure documents are ready to process for payment.
- Review of local long term and short term employment agreement and processing of payroll
- Ensure that all financial vouchers have the relevant documents supporting the payment transactions and notify the Finance Manager about incomplete documentation.
- Labelling and indexing of all financial files as per established organizational policy
- Properly organize, operate, and maintain electronic and related paper-based finance and accounting systems, documents, and files.
- Maintain data on online portal of EOBI for contribution and registration of new employees
- Upload data, and maintain proper record of data, of withholding taxes on online portal of FBR. Provide tax certificates to employees, consultants and vendors as and when required.
- Prepare periodic details for withholding tax statements of employees and other than employees for submission to FBR.
- Prepare staff final payouts upon voluntary separation or termination and liaise with HR to arrange exit documents and settle final claims of staff members upon their departure.
- Support critical analysis of subcontractor adherence to, and progress in implementing, all of the finance and accounting aspects of subcontracts signed under the project.
- Assist in month end closing procedures and prepare necessary closing documents for submission to Home Office.
- Assist and support in periodic internal and external audits.
- Ensure full compliance with applicable local labor and taxation laws related to staff salary
- Perform any other work as assigned by Supervisor or Management for the successful implementation of the project and its activities.
Secondary Tasks (20% of time)
- Support annual project inventory to ensure that the value of all items booked in Abacus under inventory accounts matches with the total value indicated in the inventory report.
- Represent finance and participate in bid evaluations for procurement of goods and services.
- Prepare monthly bank reconciliations reports for the project bank accounts.
- Provide assistance during evaluation and audit assignment of existing and prospective Subcontractors.
- Provide training to new finance staff members and interns and orientate them finance and organizational policies and procedures
- Answers queries of other teams of the project related to finance
Application Instructions:
Please email a CV, letter of interest, and three references with contact information to [email protected] no later than July 30th, 2016. Please write “Finance Associate 2016” in the subject line.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.