Finance Manager

Sungi Development Foundation; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Finance Manager to oversee financial management for a significant USAID-funded project in Pakistan. This role involves ensuring compliance with USAID regulations, managing financial reporting, and supervising the accounting cycle. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in a related field, with a Master's degree and professional qualifications like ACCA or CIMA being strongly preferred. You will play a crucial role in fostering an inclusive workplace while demonstrating integrity and commitment to excellence. Join a team dedicated to promoting economic growth and stability in the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred with ACCA/CIMA qualifications.
• 5+ years of relevant experience, preferably with USAID.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial management and compliance with USAID regulations.
• Supervise accounting cycle and ensure accuracy of financial reporting.
• Coordinate with tax advisors and manage local bank accounts.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Financial Management

Problem-Solving

Integrity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Master’s degree

ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

ABACUS system

Job description

II. Project Name and Scope. The USAID Pakistan Investment Promotion Activity, Contract Number 72039122C00001. IPA is funded by USAID to support investment in Pakistan to promote a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous Pakistan by increasing private sector-led, inclusive economic growth to improve the business enabling environment. The Activity has four principal objectives. These include addressing the business enabling regulatory environment for investment promotion, reforming institutional policies including the ease of compliance and doing business in the country and increasing transparency. IPA’s objectives also include improving U.S.-Pakistan bilateral trade and investment relations and mobilizing foreign direct investment into the country. We will use a problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) implementation approach to achieve these objectives by focusing on problem identification with selected institutions and firms to identify root causes, adapt using local solutions, apply iterative learning, and build capacity to solve problems. Implementation will be data-driven and identify partner institutional, reform, and capacity needs; monitor behavior change using institution, FDI, and trade metrics; and gather feedback from investors and business groups for adapting efforts through USAID’s collaborating, learning, and adapting approach.

III. Position Classification. Long-Term Local Professional Staff.

IV. Estimated Duration of Assignment and Location. Long-term. Duration of IPA contract, this position will be based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

V. Reporting Responsibilities. Ultimate day to day field supervision and authority for all project personnel and all aspects of project activities rests with the Chief of Party or his designee, and in the Chemonics home office, with the project management unit (PMU) Director. The individual holding this position shall take no managerial or technical direction from any individual who is not formally employed in the chain of command between the individual and the Chief of Party, the Chief of Party’s designee, or the PMU Director.

For all routine responsibilities and duties, either directly or indirectly related to this position description, the individual holding this position shall report directly to, and be supervised by, the Operations Director, or his/her designee.

This position directly oversees day-to-day responsibilities of the Finance Officer (support staff).

VI. Position Objective and Specific Tasks.

As directed by the Operations Director or his designee, the Finance Manager will be responsible for the overall financial management of the IPA project, ensuring strict adherence to Chemonics policies and procedures and USAID rules and regulations and shall perform the following functions:

• Supervise accounting cycle to include preparation and appropriate documentation of journal entries, payment requests, and general ledger reconciliations.
• Ensure that incurred costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with USAID cost principles and Chemonics policies and procedures.
• Review and approve accounting and supporting documents and transactions to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with Chemonics policies and procedures and USAID regulations.
• Complete timely financial reporting, including correct allocation of costs across IPA’s Contract Line-Item Numbers using ABACUS system; for example, monthly expenditures (“locals”) and accrual/projection spreadsheets (“wire transfer requests”).
• Prepare and/or review ad hoc analysis and reporting as needed.
• Monitor preparation and perform analysis of financial reports relative to budget and monthly forecasting.
• Oversee monthly wire transfer requests for submission to the HO and manage local bank accounts to ensure sufficient availability of funds for project needs.
• Review the internal financial control systems to ensure that appropriate mechanisms, procedures, and systems are in place.
• Ensure proper safeguards of funds and compliance with established USAID and Chemonics financial and accounting procedures.
• Review and ensure proper authorization and approval and timely processing of payment/reimbursement requests for employees/suppliers/vendors.
• Plan, perform and supervise internal audits of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, and petty cash.
• Oversee the monthly bank reconciliations and reconciliation of petty cash.
• Review submission of all tax withholdings (payroll income tax, deduction at source) to relevant parties.
• Review payroll and ensure allocation of payroll costs to appropriate general ledger accounts.
• Work closely with internal and external auditors during field program audits.
• Serve as a resource person for technical and finance staff on Chemonics and USAID policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Serve as the main point of contact for the project management unit (PMU) for all matters related to project finance.
• Liaise directly with the Chemonics headquarters Field Accounting Support Team (FAST) on ABACUS system set up and any ongoing issues or reporting.
• Supports Senior Grants Manager on strengthening sub-awardees financial capacity to ensure they follow USAID regulations, including review of financial statements, policies/procedures, and grantee pre-award risk assessment.
• Assists with budgetary and financial aspects of grant proposals and planning for implementation/procurement and cash disbursement needs for grants implementation.
• Provide support to technical, Operations, Procurement & HR departments for the matters related finance.
• Supervise and review the GST exemption requests and reports to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Coordinate with other projects to gather the withholding tax data, review and reconcile and onward submission to tax advisor.
• Liaison with tax advisor for submission of quarterly and annual withholding tax statements.
• Liaison with tax advisor for statutory obligations of SECP & FBR.
• Preparation and review of responses against tax notices received from the FBR/SECP.
• Coordination with BOI for statutory obligations and addition/deletion of projects.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned by Operations Director, the Chief of Party, or the PMU which are consistent with the qualifications, scope of work and general requirements of IPA.
• Conduct all business in a manner that respects local culture.
• Always maintain high ethical standards, avoiding any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Abide by all local laws, USAID regulations, and US Embassy/USAID project directive.

VII. Policy and Procedures. With respect to all policies and procedures related to this position, written guidance in the form of the Project’s Field Personnel and Operations Policy Manual will be issued and updated from time to time that will clarify, modify, and/or establish Project policies and procedures that govern either directly or indirectly the duties and responsibilities of this position. It is incumbent upon all Project employees to stay apprised of all policies and procedures in the Project’s Field Personnel and Operations Policy Manual, as updated. In addition, should at any time the individual holding this position shall be unclear as to the meaning of any policy and/or procedure presented in these files, or any verbal instructions given by the employee’s supervisor, the employee has the right to request written clarification from the Chief of Party or his/her designee. By signing below, the individual holding this position confirms that the individual has read and understands the Project’s Field Personnel and Operations Policy Manual, as updated.

VIII. Educational Requirements and Qualifications. The individual holding this position shall possess the following:

A. Qualifications.

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required, Master’s degree strongly preferred. Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or equivalent professional qualifications preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience; USAID experience desirable
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
• Strong commitment to Chemonics values including integrity
• Ability to foster and demonstrate a workplace inclusive of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, innovation, and exceeding expectations
• Advanced English and Fluent Urdu required

IX. Authorized Workday/week

The work week shall conform to the work week in Pakistan which starts on Monday and concludes at the end of the day, Friday.