Financial Controller

Terms of Reference

Position Title:

Location:

Hanoi based with regular travels to the Project areas in Son La and/or Lao Cai Province.

Period of Assignment:

1-year contract (plus possible extension)

Reporting To:

Senior Finance & Grants Officer

Background:

With more than 30 years of experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development. We have managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe for clients such as DFID, DFAT Australia, the World Bank and Global Affairs Canada. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, economic and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017 and 2018.

Cowater is recruiting a Financial Controller to support the Aus4Equality|Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Program. The GREAT Program is a flagship initiative of the Australian aid program in Vietnam – it commenced in November 2017 and will run for five years (2017 to 2021). The Program seeks to promote women’s economic empowerment (WEE) in the ethnically diverse north-west region of Vietnam. The primary beneficiaries are women living in the provinces of Son La and Lao Cai with a focus on economic inclusion for of women from ethnic minority communities.

Statement of Duty:

Reporting to the Senior Finance & Grants Officer, the Financial Controller will provide oversight and monitor the accounting and financial compliance of GREAT Program grants disbursed to business and non-business’s partners. This position requires demonstrated experience in the areas of finance and grants management, as well as a strong knowledge of partnership agreements, funding mechanisms, and requirements. In addition to an oversight and monitoring role, the incumbent will ensure that grant partners’ staff have increased capacity to adhere to regulations related to reporting, procurement, financial management, internal control and audit.

Providing these services in an effective and efficient manner will ensure that all finance processes and procedures are accurate and up to date, in accordance with the procedures and guidelines laid out in the Aus4Equality Program Standard Operational Manual.

Specific Duties:

Grants Implementation:

• Review partner monthly financial reports to ensure that they meet requirements. Liaise with other staff to review as needed;

• Review funding requests (advances and reimbursement), including preparing supporting documentation for payment and acquittal;

• Monitor grant compliance with partnership agreement terms and conditions, including reporting;

• Assist with the financial and administrative aspects of grantee projects, review budget changes and other supporting documents;

• Assist with processing grant agreements amendments, termination and closure;

• Assist tracking outstanding grant reporting and/or compliance items and prepare appropriate reports on status;

• Ensure complete documentation is on file for all partners within the portfolio and that files are audit-ready; and

• Produce grant reports on various aspects of the grant portfolio, as well as written and/or quantitative analysis, including overall status, financial status, reporting status, etc.

Internal Control

• Carry out internal control missions to assess adequacy of compliance with applicable regulations, policies and procedures.

• Report findings to Operations Manager including proposed follow-up with grant partners based on issues noted;

• Advice on GAAP and basic accounting records to be maintained by the partners:

• Perform on-going monitoring and assessment of partner capacity to accurately record and post all transactions

• Ensure adequate response and monitoring to implement recommendations of all financial audits and partner capacity assessments:

• Participate to joint-monitoring missions;

• Travel to project areas to support partners and/or capacity building activities;

• Support project close-out activities related to grant awards of general project support; and

• Carry out other relevant tasks as necessary.  

Reporting:

• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual partner finance reports as required by the Program.

Risk Management:

• Provide advice to maintain the risk management matrix (register);

• Issue a statement on internal control for each six month progress report; and

• Monitor the effectiveness of GREAT’s risk management system and provide recommendations for improvements.

Fraud:

• Review the adequacy, implementation and operation of GREAT’s anti-corruption, fraud and related policies and procedures and provide recommendations as necessary;

• Assess proposals for engaging external auditors and provide follow up as necessary;

• Investigate allegations of fraud of GREAT Partners and Sub-Partners;

Perform other tasks that may be required by the Senior Finance and Grants Officer.

Required Qualifications:

Skills / Abilities:

Required Qualifications:

• Professional qualification in accounting (ACCA, CPA or equivalent) preferred;

• Minimum 5 years relevant work experience in finance management and compliance in development organisations;

• Experience managing grants and/or other donor grant awards;

• Auditing experience is an advantage; and

• Demonstrated ability in building capacity and providing training and technical assistance, and experience working with NGO/government and business partners.

Skills / Abilities:

• Good command of spoken and written English;

• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel and other appropriate software);

• Self-guided, strong organisational and planning skills; Ability to work independently and under pressure. Excellent communication, coaching and facilitation skills; and

• Experience in using online MIS/accounting software will be an added advantage, or the ability to learn quickly.

Women, and people of minority groups, are encouraged to apply.