VACANCY CIRCULAR

Director - Finance and Operations

 

iDE (International Development Enterprises) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending poverty. With over 40 years of experience, iDE is a pioneer in market-based development. Our work within agriculture, sanitation, climate change resilience, and gender equality stands out because we don’t simply provide handouts. Instead, iDE believes in powering small-scale entrepreneurs and building robust market ecosystems that lay the groundwork for low-income and marginalized people to prosper on their terms. iDE has almost 1,300 global staff and offices in 10 countries across Africa, Asia, and Central America.

iDE established its first country program in Bangladesh in 1983. Today, it’s the longest-standing international NGO specializing in market systems in Bangladesh. Our diverse portfolio spans across agricultural markets, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); renewable energy; and climate-smart technologies.

iDE Bangladesh is currently seeking a qualified Director of Finance and Operations (DFO). This position is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Reporting to the iDE Bangladesh Country Director, the DFO is a critical member of the iDE Bangladesh Senior Leadership Team charged with overseeing all budget and fiscal functions, operations, policies, and procedures. The DFO is responsible for ensuring compliance with iDE financial policy, timely and accurate financial reporting for management and donors, and supervision of finance and operations staff.
The DFO will support the long-term strategy of the iDE Bangladesh portfolio to ensure alignment with iDE Global objectives at all levels. The DFO must prepare financial reporting that strictly complies with reporting requirements from various donors according to their requirements and formats. The DFO also ensures that financial audits are performed in accordance with iDE expectations. This includes annual financial statement audits and donor-stipulated audits. This position also reports indirectly to the iDE Vice President of Finance (VP)/ Regional Finance in a matrix reporting arrangement. The DFO is required to communicate and collaborate with the Regional Finance Leader regularly to ensure the achievement of goals. The DFO will be given performance feedback by the iDE VP of Finance/ Regional Finance leader and the iDE Bangladesh Country Director.

Title
Director of Finance and Operations
Number of Vacancies     01 (One)
Department Finance
Status Full-Time
Job Location     Dhaka, Bangladesh
Supervisor(s) iDE Bangladesh Country Director & iDE Vice President of Finance

Responsibilities:

The DFO is an integral part of the iDE Bangladesh leadership team and will be responsible for managing overall finance, budget, general financial administration, and Operations including Administration, Procurement, HR, and IT of the organization. S/he will provide leadership, supervision, capacity building, and mentoring for all staff involved in finance. S/he would be responsible for regular audits, contracts, and financial reporting to all donors and IDE Headquarters. S/he will ensure effective and efficient financial and grants functions and ensure protection, control & use of financial resources and costs. The key responsibilities of the Director of Finance and Operations will include but are not limited to the descriptions below:

General Responsibilities

  • Ensures, in close cooperation with the Country Director and VP of Finance, that iDE’s financial policies are communicated and enforced throughout iDE Bangladesh to ensure the highest possible integrity and compliance with policies. This should be demonstrated by the consistent achievement of high-quality audit reports.
  • Leads the annual budget development process, monitor expenditures and variances, and proactively updates income and expense projections;
  • Leads strategic analysis and planning for all business operations including scenario analysis, horizon scanning and assessment of opportunity and risk, including cash flow forecasting to meet cash flow needs and adherence to operational requirements;
  • Leads the design, development and finalization of all balance sheet reconciliations (bank accounts, investments, prepaids, deposits, accruals, depreciation, etc.) on regular fashion;
  • Leads treasury management system and process to select, set up, and manage fiscal and payroll systems to ensure timely and accurate use of fund, cash flow and related reporting;
  • Supervises and oversees the development of accurate monthly and ad hoc financial reports for the iDE Bangladesh Country Director, Senior Management team (SMT) and donors/ partners;
  • Support the Country Directors and senior technical staff in achieving success of country programs by developing forecasts of grant activity on a monthly basis to ensure that resources are properly deployed to optimally support active grants.
  • Leads annual audit process and serve as the primary liaison with audit firm;
  • Oversees tax preparation and liaise with tax advisory firms on the current tax regulations;
  • Oversees documentation of pro bono revenue/ contributions, consulting revenues, shared costs allocations, global due to settlements, invoices and other special revenue and invoicing needs;
  • Develops and implement systems including ERP, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with USG or other funding requirements;
  • Coordinates with Global Ops for contract management and subaward/ consulting award implementation;
  • Supports negotiations, preparation, and management of subcontractors and sub-grants, including training of sub-grantees in USG compliance;
  • Leads and manages people and systems to ensure adherence to restricted grant budgets, including periodic updates on budget variance and preparation of budget modification documents;
  • As needed, leads processes to secure NICRA for USG funding;
  • Ensure NGOAB compliance and registration for all projects and the organization;

Human
Resources

  • Oversees payroll, benefits administration, recruiting, onboarding, off-boarding, employee check-ins and exit interviews, and other human resource activities as needed;
  • Develops and updates related policies in light with country laws, donor’s guidelines, and global requirements
  • Assures compliance with applicable HR, employment, and personnel laws and regulations;
  • Ensures that the HR system has updated personnel and operations policies and procedures and ensures compliance;
  • Ensures that the HR unit periodically trains and orients staff on personnel policies and procedures;
  • Plans and develops organizational performance management systems in partnership with the global team

 

Operations and IT

  • Oversees management and maintenance of all office systems and facilities including IT;
  • Develop and update related policies in light with country laws, donor’s guidelines, and global requirements
  • Overseas procurement policies and ensures all procurement processes follow the policy and standards.
  • Oversees organizational insurance policies and ensures the organization is adequately covered;
  • Ensures emergency and security policies and procedures are understood and followed, including cyber-security procedures;
  • Oversees compliance with government registration and reporting obligations, including NGOAB procedures, guidelines, and regulations.

Risk Management

  • Develops and oversees risk assessment and emergency planning policies and procedures;
  • Establishes and maintains risk management system and process (risk register and others);
  • Proactively identifies potential risks and develops mitigation strategies in conjunction with other SMT members;
  • Supervises, guides and trains internal control/compliance personnel

Business Development

  • Actively participate in new business development including leading financial and budgeting processes as well as project mobilization support.

Skills and Experience:

A successful Director of Finance and Operations will have the following skills and experience and will be comfortable with the following conditions:

Education
  1. Master's degree in Finance/Accounting or  Professional Qualification (CA, ICMA) equivalent experience preferred.

Work Experience

  • Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in financial and operational/strategic management (budgeting, accounting, auditing). Experience managing donor-funded projects is strongly preferred; International experience would be considered as added value.
  • Minimum of five years of management / supervisory experience, including direct supervision and mentoring of a team of staff capable of providing excellent financial support for a growing organization;
  • Demonstrated prior experience as financial leader for an international non-profit is strongly preferred including knowledge of one or more bi-lateral donors’ rules, regulations, and policies (USAID, DFID, SIDA, etc.) and experience developing and managing donor grant agreements and/or subcontracts that comply with strict technical requirements. If a candidate lacks this specific experience, must demonstrate a strong aptitude to quickly develop proficiency in these highly technical requirements as demonstrated by mastery of similar complexities in other sectors.
  • Ability to systematically break down complex problems, complete an assessment of options, and propose the optimal situation.
  • Proficient in collecting and analyzing financial data and producing coherent reports for donors and suppliers.
  • Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and set clear, reasonable objectives for staff to ensure a positive and highly productive work environment. This includes the ability to keep both the Country Director and VP of Finance apprised of any potential risks to established deadlines and priorities and to continuously seek solutions to independently mitigate those risks.
  • Experienced in balancing between being highly supportive while also needing to occasionally push back on unreasonable requests that may create risks to the organization or to clearly agreed priorities.
  • Strong analytical and organizational skills.
  • Competent at working with teams and staff/contacts that may be in different locations, e.g. headquarters staff, local office staff, and regionally based staff.
  • Proficient in accounting software. iDE uses Oracle NetSuite

Management and Programmatic Skills

  • Must be able to ensure high-quality financial analysis and budget design based on various donors and headquarters requirements.
  • Excellent understanding of accounting principles and financial delegation of authority and checks and balances. Must be of the highest integrity and ensure transparency and accountability.
  • Demonstrated leadership and staff management experience.
  • Extensive experience with proposal & program development particularly budgets and financial & grant management and reporting.
  • Able to develop and oversee human resource management, inventory systems, procurement, and other policies.
  • Must have outstanding knowledge of non-government financial policies, procedures, budgeting, accounting, grants management, and financial reporting
  • Must have adequate knowledge to deal with Govt. and donors in regard to financial and program issues;

Personal Skills

  • Leads a diversely skilled team and works to establish and nurture a working environment that is conducive to delivering results, fostering a spirit of collaboration, strong work ethic, and team cohesion;
  • Able to set priorities and multi-task while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines;
  • Excellent communication skills, including during tough negotiations and in light of staff adjustment to adhere to new policies and procedures;

Other Information and Conditions

  • The position would be the regular employment of iDE-Bangladesh;
  • The remuneration package, work days, and deliverables might be changed based on negotiation between iDE management and the contract
  • iDE reserves the right to terminate this agreement at any time with the consultation of the employee as per HR policy
  • Ensure Mandates and Code of Conduct. As a Director of Finance and Operations, it is the duty and accountability of the DFO to ensure the confidentiality of certain issues. The DFO must maintain full confidentiality for sharing information, documents, and other issues with others.

Application Process: Please submit your up-to-date CV (not more than four pages) with a cover letter (not more than two pages) describing your interest. To apply online via Workable, please visit:
https://apply.workable.com/ide-global/j/C95864BE1F/

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Application Deadline:  21 January, 2024

Women are actively encouraged to apply

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on grounds of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.