Kyrgyzstan: Country Finance Manager - Kyrgyztan

I. Background on ACTED

ACTED is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1993, which supports vulnerable populations, affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. ACTED provides continued support to vulnerable communities by ensuring the sustainability of post-crisis interventions and engaging long-term challenges facing our target populations, in order to break the poverty cycle, foster development and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Our interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context. Our 4000 staff is committed in to responding to emergencies worldwide, to supporting recovery and rehabilitation, towards sustainable development.

Our teams in the field implement some 380 projects in 35 countries covering the following sectors emergency relief, food security, access to health, education and training, economic development, microfinance, advocacy, institutional support, and regional dialogue, cultural promotion.

Based on considerable experience addressing the needs and situations of vulnerable communities, ACTED contributes to the international agenda towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals, through a wide range of partnerships, innovative initiatives, and campaigns.

II. Country Profile

This position is based in Khujand, Tajikistan, with frequent travel to Kyrgyzstan.

Country Profile

Projects:28 (2012)

National staff:114 (2012)

International Staff:6 (2012)

Capital Office:Bishkek

Total number of direct beneficiaries:75,306 (2012)

Budget:2,4 M Euros (2012)

ACTED has been operating in Tajikistan since 1996, taking a multi-sector and multidisciplinary approach to social and economic development, and tailoring its responses to the needs of local populations. Over the past 17 years, ACTED in Tajikistan has implemented many projects funded by the Asian Development Bank, UN agencies (especially in collaboration with UNHCR, UNICEF and UNDP), the European Commission, the EBRD, USAID, DFID, the Swiss Development Cooperation and the World Bank. ACTED’s programmes in Tajikistan reflect the nexus between emergency relief and development which has seen the organization adopt a long term approach towards the development of the country. ACTED’s strategy is aimed at contributing to the eradication of poverty by facilitating equitable propoor economic growth and decentralized development management, whilst also promoting environmental sustainability.

ACTED’s 2012-2014 strategy in Tajikistan is focused on three interconnected pillars:

• Rural Economic Development
• Local Governance
• Disaster Risk Reduction.

Several themes crosscut ACTED’s interventions and are crucial elements in its country strategy:

• Building capacities and competencies at the local level through community-based and community-led initiatives;
• Promoting dialogue and platforms between all relevant stakeholders, including communities, governmental structures, and line ministries;
• Supporting sustainability of development through cost-effective and locally “owned” projects.

In line with ACTED strategy in Tajikistan, ACTED strongly believes that local governance initiatives, combined with a focus on effective water and natural resource management holds potential in terms of contributing most effectively towards long term development in Tajikistan.

III. Responsibilities:

1. Accounting and Financial Management

• Accountancy:

Supervise accountancy procedures: filing of documents, allocation of expenses, vouchers registration, balance checking, etc.;

Verify and compile monthly accounts from each base;

Communicate accounts on a monthly basis to HQ, respecting SAGA procedures and deadlines;

Manage the presentation, circulation, filing and archiving of accounting and financial documents in conformity with FLAT procedures;

• Treasury:

Open/close bank accounts on the authority of the General Delegate;

Oversee the management of bank accounts: follow transfers, check balances, check authorised visas;

Supervise the management of safes and cash: available amount, balance checks, security instructions;

Assess monthly cash-flow needs for projects and bases and communicate cash requests to the HQ;

Manage money transfers, bases cash-supply and amounts in circulation, whilst defining payment procedures (bank transfer, cheque, cash etc.);

• Commitment of expenditure:

Set up and formalise procedures for the commitment of expendiure, conform to ACTED procurement guidelines: collect visas of authorised staff members, set-up commitment ceiling in local currencies, define methods and timescales for payment according to local practices;

Ensure that procedures are adhered to in terms of contracts and payments;

Ensure that proofs of purchase are valid (contracts, orders, bills, inoices, delivery receipts etc);

2. Budget Management

• Ensure budget follow-up:

Develop tables necessary for financial monitoring and for budget follow up within the mission;

Analyse gaps between planned budgets and actual expenses;

Anticipate financial risks;

Calculate and supervise the monthly cost of each vehicle (fuel consumption, repairs) in coordination with Country Logistician;

Calcultate monthly communication costs of each base (phone, e-mail, Internet), in coordination with Country Logistician;

• Develop project budgets:

Develop budgets for project proposals according to project needs and Donor constraints;

Draft financial reports (mid-term and final) respecting contractual deadlines;

Guarantee the respect of Donor procedures for each financial contract.

3. Department Follow-up

• Team leadership:

Update the organigramme and ToRs of the finance department according to the mission development;

Oversee the team and undertake appraisals of directly supervised colleagues;

Ensure training and capacity building for finance team members in order to increase the level of technical ability and skills within the department;

• Internal Procedures and Information Flows;

Develop relevant management procedures within the team;

Improve information flows within the department and with other departments and projects;.

IV. Qualifications:

• Masters degree minimum in Finance or related area;

• 3+ years of solid experience in financial management and monitoring systems, preferably of large development programs, possibly complemented by academic expertise;

• Excellent financial and analytical skills;

• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting on programme financial performance;

• Ability to manage a financial/monitoring team and demonstrate leadership;

• Ability to monitor and evaluate financial and monitoring skills of communities through capacity-building efforts;

• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;

• Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements;

• Prior knowledge of the region an asset;

• Fluency in English required - ability to communicate in local languages an asset;

• Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management software

V. Conditions:

· Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus

· Additional monthly living allowance

· Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse

· Transportation in and out + luggage allowance

· Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org

Ref : CFM/ TAJ /SA

For more information, visit us at http://www.acted.org