Finance Officer

About NLRC:
The Netherland Red Cross is part of the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement and works in Vietnam in partnership with its sister organization, the Vietnam Red Cross. The support to Vietnam focuses on Community Based Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change Adaptation, Relief and Recovery after Disasters and Capacity Building of the Vietnam Red Cross. The NLRC has a small team in Vietnam (on average 6 people) that work together with the VNRC and other Red Cross organizations in Vietnam

Position information:
Position title: Finance Officer
Reporting to: Representative of NLRC in Vietnam
Contract:     1 year contract with high potential for extension
Base in:      Hanoi with travel to project sites as required

Summary of Job:
To ensure that all financial tasks deemed necessary to meet NLRC, Donors and Government of Vietnam reporting requirements are carried out appropriately by Vietnam Red Cross at national headquarter and provincial level. To ensure that all NLRC Vietnam staff and partners are aware of and comply with finance policies and procedures. To propose amendments and roll out changes to finance policies and procedures when these are required. 

Duties:
1. To ensure  that all reports meet its objectives & reporting requirements in a timely and professional manner:
- Ensure that appropriate accounting procedures are in place, are understood and are complied with by all Finance staff.
- Ensure that all proposal budgets, costed work-plans and budget amendments are accurate and complete prior to submission for approval.
- Review all donor reports for accuracy and compliance with reporting requirements prior to submission for approval.
- Develop a good relationship with VNRC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that information flow is timely and positive.
- Follow up outstanding obligations and ensuring properly funding utilization of VNRC HQ, and related provinces and communes if needed.
- Liaison with governmental bodies (Tax agency, Ministry of Finance) and donor agencies for matters related to tax/financial issues and project approval.
- Reviews and check project reports, to ensure that funds released to the projects are accurately reported.
- Monitors and follows up on VAT reimbursement by VNRC and provinces;
- Ensure that all donor and other financial reports are prepared on a timely basis
- Provide training to implementing partners in financial management and reporting requirements.
- Provides accounting and administrative support to ensure proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports.

2. Support the preparation and management of project and Country Office budgets:
- Prepare projects to donors, including estimation of project expenditure, funds allocation, MOU and advices on funds utilization, budget modifications.
- Maintain of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in WINPACCS; payrolls are duly prepared and processed; travel claims, and other entitlements are duly processed;

3. Ensure appropriate implementation of financial controls of all projects in Vietnam:
- Check the fund disbursements in accordance with the budget allocation and financial procedures for assigned projects. Assists POs in monitoring and controlling the expenditures and allocation of the programme funds;
- Review finance policies and procedures regularly to ensure they remain appropriate and in line with the organisation’s requirements, NLRC’s own policies, donor’s regulation and the laws and regulations of the Government of Vietnam
- Liaise with NLRC PO, PA and partners to ensure that they fully understand the procedures and are in compliance with them
- Implement appropriate internal audit and internal review procedures to monitor compliance with all relevant donor regulations and take appropriate action where necessary to ensure that non-compliance is rectified swiftly
- Work closely with external Auditors to ensure that all information is provided to them on a timely basis and to resolve any potential issues so as to minimise any negative findings
- Implement appropriate steps to address and correct the conditions that give rise to any negative findings;

4. Foresee risk factors and propose innovative and practical solutions:
- Work with Representative, Project Coordinators and Project Officers on monitoring of project finances and country office budget;
- Review reconciliations of all balance sheet accounts on a monthly basis and investigate any discrepancies
- Monitor all project and country office cash balances and bank balance

Other tasks:
Selection Criteria:
1. BA in Accounting, Finance or relevant education background
2. Minimum 4 years work experience in Finance
3. Experience working at a senior level in a multi-donor, multi-programme international NGO
4. Experience using IT-based general ledger systems (WINPACCS preferred)
5. Professional demeanour and ability to communicate with a wide range of colleagues
6. Strong people management and communication skills
7. Strong leadership skills
8. Fluent in written and spoken English and Vietnamese

Interested candidates should send a full CV (including references) in English and stating the position title to email: [email protected].

Closing date to apply for this position: 25 September 2010

The short-listed applicants will be contacted for interviews. Please no telephone contact after submitting of the application.