Country Finance Manager Kyrgyzstan

Department: Coordination
Position: Country Finance Manager Contract duration: 6 months, renewable Location: Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek Starting Date December 2012

I. Background on ACTED

ACTED is an independent international, private, non-partisan and non-profit organization that operates according to principles of strict neutrality, political and religious impartiality, and non discrimination.

ACTED was created in 1993 to support populations affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Based in Paris, France, ACTED now operates in 30 countries worldwide, with over 200 international and 4000 national staff. ACTED has a 100 million € budget for over 340 projects spanning 8 sectors of intervention; including emergency relief, food security, health promotion, economic development, education & training, microfinance, local governance & institutional support, and cultural promotion. For more information, please visit our website at www.acted.org

II. Program Information

Capital Office : Bishkek National Staff : 155 Areas : 3 On-going programmes : 20 Budget : 4.3 M

ACTED has been in Kyrgyzstan since 2000, and operates in the Jalalabat, Osh, Batken, and Naryn regions with a staff of over 150 people. ACTED in Kyrgyzstan contributes to poverty reduction by decreasing the impact of the world recession through adding value to labour migration, improving the food security of vulnerable people, supporting local initiatives for development, reducing the risks to natural disasters to decrease socio-economic damage and resolving cross border conflicts for stable socio-economic development. ACTED was one of the first NGOs to respond to the humanitarian crisis in 2010 in south Kyrgyzstan, and took on a leading role in addressing the consequences of the June emergency through the provision of mapping and coordination services, as well as the implementation of projects in the fields of shelter, education, water and sanitation, early recovery and livelihoods, non-food items, protection and food security. Meeting immediate humanitarian needs of crisis-affected populations remains one of ACTED’s focuses, as well as medium-term recovery of livelihoods in Osh and Jalalabad, particularly through support to youth and small and medium businesses. In parallel, ACTED and its partners are working on a long term strategy to support the peaceful development of vulnerable communities throughout rural areas in the south of Kyrgyzstan, with the aim of building confidence, promoting reconciliation and mitigating the risk of further conflicts. In addition, ACTED also aims at helping revitalize the economy of the Ferghana Valley and at enhancing inter-cultural dialogue and culture promotion in south Kyrgyzstan.

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

How to apply: 

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org Ref : CFM/KYR/SA

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