FINANCE ASSOCIATE

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

POSITION SUMMARY

This position will be based in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and report directly to GGGI Lao PDR’s Operations Officer, who leads the OEU. The position holder will work closely with other colleagues of OEU, other in-country staff, and liaise with key Operations Enabling Division units in GGGI’s HQ.

The primary role and responsibility of the Finance Associate is to maintain and verify project and output level budget execution and controls in line with GGGI policies and biannual work plan and budget (WBP); execute GGGI Lao PDR’s in-country bank transfers for cash advance and petty cash purposes, and bank balance replenishment from HQ; prepare monthly bank/petty cash/cash advance reconciliations and in-country general ledger expense report for submission to HQ, prepare project donor financial reports as per donor requirements,  assist the Operations Officer in drafting professional country-level accounting-finance control guidance, conduct periodic asset counts, and  support in other OEU operational critical functions, such as but not limited to setting up procurement plans,  hiring and onboarding plans, contract management, raising requisitions for procurement of individual consultants and consulting firms and raising invoices for procured consultants.

PURPOSE

The role of the Finance Associate is to ensure process integrity in GGGI Lao PDR’s program operations, fully meeting established institutional policies, standards and donor requirements across budget execution, in-country banking operation, bank/petty cash/cash advance reconciliation, donor reporting, procurement & HR processes implementation and other operational functions.

In addition, the Finance Associate will:

• Monitor and report on project and workstream activities to ensure efficiency and consistency with established work plans to support programme management;
• Support the monitoring of project budget and track expenditures to ensure that programme resources are optimally allocated and utilized.

ENGAGEMENT

•  Support the manager to advise the team on the procedures, policies and tools of all operational transactions.
• Support the manager to identify issues from across projects and workstreams and to advise project staff on remedial measures in order to maintain integrity of delivery and improve operational processes to increase efficiency.
• Communicate programme needs to service providers/suppliers and ensure that services/products are delivered in line with established agreements.
• Collaborate with other country teams, units, and divisions of GGGI on identified joint activity opportunities to ensure integrated delivery as “One GGGI”.

DELIVERY

• Place initial screening and controls on country office spending, procurement requests and contract issuance.
• Verify data and ensure data entry and document consistency from spending and expenses of  specific project/output management.
• Manage the inventory of the assets of the Program including conducting periodic physical asset counts.
• Identify issues and risks that will affect consistent program and delivery and report to the manager.
• Maintain program filing system and safeguard standards of reporting/documentary quality to support reporting to donors and program stakeholders.
• Develop, monitor/manage detailed procurement plans, requisition procedures, budget execution plans and schedules in line with yearly work programs and budget lines.
• Consolidate financial documentation for projects and ensure accuracy of project financial reporting.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors degree or equivalent in business administration, economics, finance, accounting, statistics or other related field of study required.
• Possession of post graduate qualification and/or partially or fully completing advanced professional certifications in accounting and finance (i.e. Lao CPA, CPA Australia, ACCA, CFA, AICPA, or other comparable professional qualifications) will be an added advantage.
• At least 3 years of professional work experience in auditing, accounting, budgeting, reporting, risk management and financial management at Big 4 accountancy firms, international organizations, or multinational businesses.
• Strong competence in the use of standard software programs: Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Clear communication skills verbally and in writing in English required, with excellent Lao language skills.

FUNCTIONAL

• Team player, with result-oriented, creative, and entrepreneurial mindset to solve problems.
• Ability and willingness to work in a flexible and agile manner. Able to perform strategic and technical analysis in tandem and under time constraints.
• Ability to work independently while proactively seeking concurrence and instructions.
• Excellent multi-cultural literacy and interest in being a part of an international team working in an evolving and entrepreneurial environment.
• Excellent communications and facilitation skills.
• Highly organized and able to effectively and efficiently multi-task and prioritize.
• Comfortable working both in a team and independently

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision, and values.
• Promote the optimum use of public resources.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect, and partnership.
• Process and share information easily.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.
• Promote creativity and innovation among staff.
• Be able to lead where needed and provide solutions to project-level challenge.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Finance Associate is an X6 National Staff Level in GGGI salary scale. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate’s experience, academic background and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision. GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.

For more information on GGGI’s terms and conditions (allowances, health care, education etc) please familiarize yourself with GGGI’s Rules and Regulations that can be found here: https://gggi.org/policy-documents/.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The GGGI Lao PDR program has been expanding rapidly in the areas of climate change, green cities and green investment mobilization. Since 2018, GGGI has been implementing a range of Readiness and Preparatory Support Program projects focused on building national capacity and policy for green finance, capacity building, climate modelling, energy efficiency, electric mobility and climate policy. GGGI has also undertaken a range of activities and projects to support Lao PDR’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), including in cooperation with the NDC Partnership. In addition, GGGI Lao PDR is working with a range of other partners to engage and implement climate solutions in Lao PDR. The country office has workspaces in the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport at central level, as well as the Vientiane Capital and Champassak Province governments.

GGGI Lao PDR’s Operations Enabling Unit (OEU) provides programmatic support across the country portfolio, in key areas such as administration, event management, travel, procurement, human resource management, budgeting and finance, financial reporting, monitoring and evaluation and communications. As GGGI Lao PDR’s portfolio grows and complexifies, so do the functions and activities of the OEU team. GGGI is seeking an experienced Finance Associate to support OEU.