Job Description: Finance Manager, Bangladesh 

LOCATION: DHAKA BANGLADESH 

FULL TIME: 40 HOURS PER WEEK  

REPORTS TO: BANGLADESH COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE 

START DATE: ASAP

About the Freedom Fund 

The Freedom Fund (www.freedomfund.org) is a global fund with the sole aim of helping end modern  slavery. 

We are a catalyst in the global effort to end modern slavery, working in the countries and sectors where it is  most prevalent. We invest in and partner with organisations and communities on the frontlines of ending  exploitation. 

By partnering with those at risk of modern slavery as well as visionary investors, governments, and anti slavery organisations, we bring together the knowledge, the capital and the will needed to dismantle the  systems that allow slavery to exist and thrive. 

Through our investments and support, we aim to shift power, so that frontline organisations and  communities can shape and drive the change required to bring modern slavery to an end. 

In its first eight years, the Freedom Fund has supported over 140 organisations in Bangladesh, Brazil,  Ethiopia, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand. 

About the position 

The Bangladesh program is currently in inception phase with an aim to end to commercial sexual  exploitation of children in Dhaka.  

This is a role for an ambitious finance professional to join us at a time when we are growing our programs  in scope and geography in Bangladesh, through multi-year projects with potential multiple donors. 

Based within in the office that will be set up in Dhaka and reporting to the Bangladesh Country  Representative (with a dotted line to the Head of Finance at our global headquarters in London), the  Finance Manager - Bangladesh will take the lead on compliance and financial management for the Dhaka office and Bangladesh programs.  

This will entail managing the Finance function of the programs in Bangladesh including monitoring grant  recipients and overseeing compliance of both the Freedom Fund office and our partners with statutory  regulations for charitable organisations in Bangladesh as well as donor terms and conditions.  

Tasks managed by this position include overseeing financial aspects of the grant portfolios, monitoring  spend and projections, keeping budgets under continuous review, producing compliant statutory accounts  for the Bangladesh operations and overseeing the audit, meeting all donor requirements, and providing  financial analysis internally and externally to donors. It will also be an essential responsibility for the  position holder to maintain relationship with the NGO Affairs Bureau and ensure that all reporting and  compliance requirements are fulfilled. The post holder will be the main interface between the Bangladesh Programs team (both at HQ and in-country) and the HQ Finance team. This is an exciting opportunity to  become part of a growing, highly regarded organisation doing incredible work around the world. 

It is envisaged that the role will include some travel within Bangladesh, mainly to conduct site visits with  partners around the country. Travel to Freedom Fund’s London office will also be requested as needed.  

Key responsibilities 

Bangladesh Office Financial Management 

  • Maintain the general ledger for the Bangladesh operation, including posting all income and expenditure  onto the accounting system (Microsoft Dynamics – Business Central); reconciling the balance sheet  (including bank and petty cash) monthly and maintaining files of supporting documentation for audit  purposes 
  • Manage allocations within the accounting system to restricted income sources 
  • Manage the month-end process in Bangladesh according to the timetable and ensure all postings  including direct support costs are made 
  • Reconcile staff advances and expenses on a timely basis, in accordance with agreed financial  procedures 
  • Oversee procurement and accounts payable in line with agreed financial procedures - ensuring  appropriate approval is obtained, liaise with local suppliers to receive and review invoices, check bank  information and ensure payments are made in time and answer financial queries from suppliers and  partners on behalf of the Bangladesh operation, process payments for local suppliers and partners 
  • Act as the principal signatory on local bank accounts and being the day-to-day contact point for the  purpose of relationships with the local and/or national banking institutions  
  • Liaise with local accountants and process payroll, pensions, benefits and taxes for Bangladesh staff  • Provide monthly submissions for the central Finance team in line with an agreed timetable to facilitate  production of consolidated management accounts by HQ Finance 
  • Liaise with HQ in relation to local cash flow requirements in accordance with agreed monthly timetable • Produce statutory accounts and other statutory financial returns for the Bangladesh operation in line with  IPSAS and other local regulations on a timely basis  
  • Track the Freedom Fund Bangladesh’s financial status and performance to identify areas of potential  improvement  
  • Provide insightful information and expectations to laws, regulations, and in country procedures. Oversee  the statutory audit process for the Bangladesh operation – liaise with local auditors in relation to the  annual statutory audit  
  • Ensure compliance with statutory regulations in Bangladesh – ensure that all statutory requirements and  relevant laws in relation to finance and tax are adhered to
  • Maintain a working relationship with officers in the NGO Affairs Bureau and understand the impact of all  current and proposed regulations 
  • Establish and maintain financial policies and procedures of the organisation and identify areas of  potential improvement 
  • Manage day-to-day office operations including rental, utilities, vendors and supplies
  • Review staff receipts and prepare monthly expense reports as needed 
  • Provide support to manage the logistics of events and travel as needed 

Financial reporting 

  • Support the Programs team with the preparation and review of annual hotspot budgets including  accurate recording of costs allocated to restricted funds 
  • Receive monthly management accounts for Bangladesh hotspot from HQ Finance team and liaise with  Program staff to monitor variances between budget and actual program expenditure and help to provide  commentary for HQ Finance team 
  • Work with the Programs and HQ Finance teams to update forecasts for program expenditure during the  year 

Donor reporting 

  • Provide input by the Programs and Finance teams to draft budgets for new funding proposals, as  required 
  • Manage the administration of all financial aspects of donor funded projects, monitoring the  implementation of grants to be aligned with donor contractual requirements 
  • Oversee with the support of the HQ Compliance and Donor Reporting Accountant any in-country donor  audits in relation to program expenditure, as required 
  • Help the Compliance and Donor Reporting Accountant generate and review donor reports, as required Partner capacity building and monitoring 
  • Support the financial assessment of new grant proposals and budgets from partners
  • Lead on the due diligence assessments of partner organisations – develop improvement plans as  required and collate, monitor and report on partner financial risk 
  • Carry out the review of quarterly financial reports received from partners – identify, investigate and report  on budget variances and provide reports and analysis to both the Programs and HQ Finance teams as  required 
  • Carry out partner financial monitoring visits during the term of their grants to review supporting  documents underpinning financial reports and ensure that these comply with donor (e.g., US  Government) requirements 
  • Provide financial and donor compliance training and capacity building for partners as required
  • Provide day to day financial support for grantees as required 

Other

  • Provide support to complete the set-up of the Freedom Fund as a local entity in Bangladesh.
  • Manage other Finance and Operations staff as required 
  • Provide cover for other team members as required 
  • Any other duties commensurate with the post as requested by the Bangladesh Senior Program Manager or Head of Finance (London)

Qualifications and experience 

  • Significant experience of charity financial management within Bangladesh 
  • Experience managing the statutory reporting requirements for charitable organisations in Bangladesh
  • Experience of working with, and building the financial capacity of grassroots organisations in Bangladesh
  • Experience of working with multiple currencies  
  • Experience of managing the financial compliance requirements of the US Government
  • Experience working for a grant-making organisation 
  • Good knowledge of charity financial processes including allocation of project costs and apportionment of  cost recovery  
  • Excellent numerical skills  
  • Advanced excel skills and strong general IT skills 
  • High degree of fluency in Bengali and English 

Personal attributes 

Essential 

  • Thoroughness and attention to detail - producing work with a high degree of accuracy, first time
  • Strong time management skills – the ability to stick to deadlines and timetables
  • Initiative in being able to anticipate situations and problems, and find appropriate solutions
  • Strong communication skills – both in Bengali and English 
  • Team player committed to the Freedom Fund’s values 
  • Flexible, “can-do” attitude 
  • Strong organisational skills and efficient time management, ability to manage multiple tasks and  priorities 
  • Ability to build relationships with a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds

Compensation 

  • BDT 321,258 – BDT 329,713 per calendar month (dependant on experience)  
  • Festival bonus  
  • 15 days of annual leave and 10 days of casual leave  
  • Health Insurance 
  • Additional benefits on top of salary.  

Application procedure 

Applications should be submitted in English and include a CV, cover letter (maximum one page) and  contact details of two professional referees, one of which must be the applicant’s current / most recent line  manager or current / most recent Head of HR. If professional referees are not applicable, personal  references are welcomed, providing they are able to speak to the strengths listed in the above description.  

Please send applications by email in PDF format to jobs@freedomfund.org, including ‘Finance Manager,  Bangladesh’ in the subject line by Monday 17th July 2023 at 9.00am BST.  

Please note that only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. No phone calls  please. No agencies please.

The Freedom Fund is an equal opportunities employer. In line with our values of respect, agility, and  excellence, we value the strength of a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from people  with disabilities, Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic  backgrounds. Applicants must be eligible to work in Dhaka. The Freedom Fund will aim to meet  candidates’ access requirements throughout the recruitment process. If this is applicable, then please  notify us. 

The Freedom Fund is committed to the importance of meaningful survivor inclusion and  leadership. As such, particular consideration will be given to applicants with lived experience of  human trafficking and/or forced labour.  

The Freedom Fund offers any candidates with lived experience of human trafficking and/or forced labour  the opportunity to have an informal and confidential pre-application chat with a member of our team to  discuss suitability for the role as well as any reasonable adjustments that may be needed for the  recruitment process. This conversation is intended to provide support to the candidate and will not have  any negative impact on the recruitment process. Please get in touch at jobs@freedomfund.org 

Background checks

As part of our commitment to the protection of children and vulnerable people in our work, any offer of  employment with the Freedom Fund will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks to ensure we  recruit only those who are suitable to work with children and vulnerable persons. These checks include  Disclosure and Barring Service and/or International Criminal Records Checks, satisfactory references,  proof of eligibility to work in the national location of this role and checks against the Office of Foreign  Assets Control data list (OFAC] which highlights any connections to terrorism or trafficking.  

At the Freedom Fund, we are conscious that some candidates may have criminal records resulting from  their experience of human trafficking and/or forced labour. Applications from individuals with a criminal  record, or who have been formerly incarcerated are accepted. We welcome a confidential conversation on  this as part of the pre-application chat noted above or at the point of an offer being made.  

Any offer of employment or consultancy with The Freedom Fund will only be made following successful  background checks conducted on the applicant. Such checks may be updated periodically during the  period of employment or consultancy. Initial checks will only be undertaken at the point of a job offer being  made, and always with the prior permission of the candidate.