THE ASIA FOUNDATION, BANGLADESH

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Senior Grants Officer, PERI

UNIT: The Asia Foundation, Bangladesh office

REPORTS TO: Director- Finance, Grants & Administration

SUPERVISES: N/A

JOB LOCATION: The Asia Foundation’s office in Dhaka (with limited travel)

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Asia Foundation seeks an experienced Senior Grants Officer for a five-year Promoting Effective, Responsive, and Inclusive Governance in Bangladesh (PERI) Programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) under its Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics (BCAPP) Programme. The programme will focus on more inclusive, peaceful politics and greater accountability of the state in Bangladesh.

In close collaboration with the Director – Finance, Grants & Administration, and unit members, the Senior Grants Officer is responsible for overall grants and financial management of the PERI programme. Responsible for conducting the due diligence/pre-award assessment of shortlisted new partners, independent consultants, preparing sub-award agreements, checking all partners’ financial reports, initiate to disburse grants installments, arranging project audits, including partners audits, ensuring compliance with the sub-grant agreement terms and the rules and regulations of the Foundation and the Donors. Ensures that the expenditure incurred by the partner organizations are within the budgets provided and that they are reasonable and relevant to the funded grant. Responsible for providing guidelines, and other technical assistance to partners’ understanding of the financial accounting, reporting and supporting documents, and filing responsibilities.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PARTNER ONBOARDING

• Conduct due diligence/pre-award assessment of the shortlisted partners and ensure that all partners meet adequate pre-award requirements before agreements are signed.
  
• Prepare sub-award/ sub-contract documents for the partners and amendment of the agreements as per requirement.

PARTNER MANAGEMENT

• Maintain the agreed reporting schedule and remind the partner focal person if the partner report is overdue.
  
• Review/conduct sample audit of partner financial report on completeness, accuracy, and compliance, send the review result, follow up, and resolve the issue with partner staff (finance & program).
  
• Advise partner’s fund transfer based on the financial report submission after considering the grantee’s bank balance and their needs and consulting with Team Lead and Finance Director.
  
• Conduct periodic field visits to the grantee's office/program field. Build grantee capacity and resolve the issue that appears in the field. Provide field visit reports to the supervisor and discuss any issues during the visit. Conduct a close-out process for each partner and ensure they are ready for audit.
  
• Giving input and providing training for partner capacity building process, and guideline preparation process, based on the audit report/findings.
  
• Maintain a sound partner grant file – financial related.
  
• Notify the Team Lead if over/underspending occurs and may require an amendment.
  
• Prepare the audit TOR and coordinate with the procurement unit for the procurement process.
• Organize the entrance and exit meeting, provide the necessary documents, explanation/information related to partner audit, draft audit response, and draft audit reports in giving explanations and supporting information and negotiating towards minimizing audit findings.

TAF GRANTS RELATED TASKS

• Prepare periodical financial reports for the donor to review and finalize by the Finance Director.
  
• Initiate periodical team meetings on spending and projection.
  
• Regularly update TAF sub-award management system.
  
• Maintain and track project inventory register.
  
• The Director Finance may assign other duties and responsibilities from time to time.

Person specification:

Education and Experience:

• Masters Degree in Accounting or Finance from a recognized University. Professional degree will added advantage.
  
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in sub-grants management, accounting and audits in a reputed development organization/INGO.

Skills:

• Good articulation, drafting, presentation, and oral communication skills (Bangla and English).
  
• Knowledge of governance and internal control, due diligence assessment, budgeting, and financial reporting etc.

Personal Competencies:

• Acquire excellent managing qualities; supportive attitudes and should be able to draw confidence and support from others.
  
• Must be a person who is self-motivated with good interpersonal skills.
• Practice personal integrity, flexible attitude, sense of transparency, proactive stance and respect for gender, safeguarding, diversity, and organizational culture.
  
• Competent in making effective decisions, upholding organizational values, and promoting integrity.
  
• Able to plan, prioritize and organize self and others.
  
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

How to Apply:

Please submit a CV of a maximum of four pages along with a cover letter of not more than one page detailing your experience and suitability for the role. Please send your application to country.bangladesh.jobs@asiafoundation.org with the subject line “Application for the position of Senior Grants Officer, BCAPP PERI”. Applications that do not meet application guidelines and clearly address the candidate's suitability for this position will not be reviewed. We thank all applicants. However, only those making the shortlist will be contacted.

The Asia Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, or any other protected class.

Application Deadline: July 09, 2023.

About The Asia Foundation:

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region is focused on good governance, women’s empowerment and gender equality, inclusive economic growth, environment and climate action, and regional and international relations.

Headquartered in San Francisco, with an office in Washington, DC, The Asia Foundation works through its network of 18 country offices across Asia and the Pacific. Working with public and private partners, the Foundation receives funding from a diverse group of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.