Finance Director

At RECOFTC, we believe in a future where people live equitably and sustainably in and beside healthy, resilient forests. We take a long-term, landscape-based and inclusive approach to supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods and foster gender equity. We are the only non-profit organization of our kind in Asia and the Pacific. We have more than 35 years of experience working with people and forests, and have built trusting relationships with partners at all levels. Our influence and partnerships extend from multilateral institutions to governments, private sector and local communities. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Working to advance its mission through the use of financial data, information and knowledge management to advance its business operating systems. RECOFTC is inviting candidates to apply for the position of Finance Director. The contract is for 24 months subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance. The position is limited to Thai nationals due to the nature of the finance team and auditors working for RECOFTC.

Specific tasks and duties

The Finance Director is responsible for the development and management of all aspects of RECOFTC’s finances, grants, and administration.

The Finance Director works closely with the Finance and Human Resource Managers to meet the fiscal responsibility for RECOFTC and its multitude of donors and grantees. Finance Director plays a key role in maintaining and upgrading RECOFTC’s financial systems in line with the organization’s Information Technology transformation strategy, especially an enterprise resource planning (ERP) transition to cloud-based services. The Finance Director must be familiar with local finance operations and Thai laws to setup and maintain the overall financial aspects of the institution, especially as the institution evaluates risks affiliated with setting up local entities in other countries. The Finance Director reports to RECOFTC Executive Director and shares overall financial status with a grant management summary and cash flow forecasts to RECOFTC’s Board of Trustees.

Specific tasks and duties include:

• Lead Corporate Services Unit of RECOFTC to deliver effective operations and change management initiatives. Convene, as necessary, team meetings to review reviewing main tasks and responsibilities of Finance team
• Provide regular updates on the financial and administrative system of RECOFTC to the Executive Director, ensuring that all financial, treasury and accounting activities and the timing of such activities are in accordance with fiscal responsibility and transparency
• Develop and implement RECOFTC’s operational policies and best practices, provide input to existing policies and design corporate services strategy and standard of procedures
• Oversee financial outcomes including the annual core and project budget and its planning process, monthly and annual reports, forecasts and budget reviews for proposals. Provide oversight and advice to budget-owners who are responsible for their budget
• Engage in strategic organization and corporate issues, both in the main office and seven country offices of RECOFTC, some of which have local entities in the name and spirit of RECOFTC
• Guide country offices to ensure the accuracy of budget submitted, likely opportunity and steps to increase funding to maintain country offices’ financial sustainability
• Oversee management of external contracts with partners and suppliers particularly for the effective development, management and monitoring of grants received from various donors
• With the support of other Units of RECOFTC, maintain the security of buildings, staff, assets, cybersecurity and privacy
• Ensure organization compliance with local related laws and legislation, including operational and financial compliance in a number of national contexts.
• Responsible for producing insightful management reports, both for regional and global needs periodically
• Advice the Executive Committee and report to the Board of Trustees on all matters relating to finance, policies and procedures, and administration and ensure that the decisions and recommendations made by Executive Committee and Board of Trustees relating to these areas are effectively implemented
• Periodically conduct spot check and audits of various functions under corporate service, including of all projects and country offices
• Oversee implementation of an integrated financial and administrative management system and controls within the organization
• Supervise RECOFTC grants management system and implement improvements
• Support Project Managers and Finance Manager to track core staff time recovery (aligned with core staff time identified in project budgets, actual expenditure, and reimbursement/payment by project)
• Supervise Finance and Administration team and oversee the assets, revenue and expenditure (i.e. program/project grants received from various donors, and income from RECOFTC’s services)
• Ensure that all financial, treasury and accounting activities are in compliance with fiscal, legal and statutory requirements, and all transactions are done accurately and in accordance with accepted accounting principles and procedures, as agreed by the RECOFTC with its clients
• Support financial planning, budgeting and forecasting for the RECOFTC’s annual and other periodic budgets and budgetary control mechanism (e.g. financial information to program staff as well as financial reports for all donors)
• Implement existing and new systems for improved real-time financial reporting to the Executive Director, Unit Directors, Country Directors, and programme and project leaders;
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

The Finance Director will also be required to ensure compliance with RECOFTC’s Policies and Procedures, its Code of Conduct and Gender Policy, maintain and track staff performance and contracts, as well as all collaborative agreements with partners and subcontractors. RECOFTC has clauses and statements condemning any form of conflicts of interest, corruption and sexual harassment and/or abuse at the workplace. Any such practices may be grounds for immediate termination of contracts and agreements. Condemned practices include but are not limited to: abuse of position for personal gain or advantage; accepting directly or indirectly any sum of money for unauthorized commission; offering preferential treatment or promise in consideration of any act, decision or services connected with the discharge of the employee’s official work; and using RECOFTC’s name in private transaction or business for personal profit.

Qualifications and experience

Essential

• Master’s degree in an area relevant to finance, accounting qualifications as in a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent
• Minimum 15 years of experience at a managerial level in regional or international developmental organizations with operations in multiple countries, especially not for profit organizations
• Knowledge in the areas of financial analysis, financial planning & business modelling in a non-profit setting
• Having at least 5 years in designing or implementing ERM and ERPs in an institution of similar size and complexity
• Knowledge, skills and experience, with proven record, for developing administrative systems and procedures for compliance within an institution of similar size and complexity
• An acceptance of personal accountability and desire for collaboration
• Good command of written and spoken English

Desired

• Experience designing and managing an enterprise resource planning or ERP transition
• Experience with business operating systems including finance and human resources functions
• Experience working in an international organization and non-governmental organization environment
• Good understanding of information technology to support procedures, inventory management and procurement
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills

RECOFTC’s core values

At RECOFTC, our core values are the foundation of our culture and guide all our work. In addition to job specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics, attitudes and skills:

• Embrace innovation
• Adapt to, and learn from, challenges
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
• Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership
• Prioritize sustainability
• Cultivate participation, social inclusion and gender equity