MYANMAR – FINANCE COORDINATOR (M/F) – YANGON

ABOUT THE MISSION

Desired start date: to be discussed, not before June 22

Duration of the mission: 12 months

Location: Yangon, and regular visits to the bases

SI has been in Myanmar since 2008. SI currently has a coordination base in Yangon, with field bases in the Rakhine and Kachin States. Each office is operational with a Field Coordinator. In 2021, 17 international staff and 318 national staff are working within SI to implement 7 contracts (on-going) in WASH, FSL, Emergency programs (WASH and Multipurpose Cash) funded by OFDA, DFID/HARP, ECHO, CIAA, OCHA, CDC and UNICEF.

In 2021, the mission had an approximatively financial volume of USD 5.2 million.

To learn more about the Myanmar mission, please click here.

ABOUT THE JOB

Role

Under the direct management of the Country Director, the Country finance coordinator will direct and coordinate all accounting and financial services associated with the mission.

• He/She is responsible for the mission’s financial balance.
• He/she will monitor adherence to SI’s administrative procedures and donor procedures as well as to the laws of the country in which intervention is taking place.
• He/she is the point of reference for the mission, and the link between headquarters and the mission for all financial matters.

The Country finance coordinator is managing a team of 3 employees. He/She is the functional manager of the Finance Manager of Sittwe base and the Administrative Manager of Kachin base.

The overall budget is: USD 5.2 million (2021).

Main responsibilities

• Define and support the implementation of the financial strategy to reflect the mission ambitions and strategy;
• Challenge existing processes to improve accountability and optimize financial management of the mission including transfers of cash, table of allocation…
• Be the point of reference for the mission, and the link between headquarters and the mission for all financial matters.
• Define the capacity building needs with the finance and admin managers and define a capacity building plan accordingly

Main challenges

• Myanmar’s currency, the MMK, has been gaining strength towards our donor currency. This has to be continuously monitored, and forecast adjusted.
• The increased volume of the mission (HR set up- salary grid increase etc.) has to be balanced with funding opportunities
• SI is working with implementing partners, and the financial management of these partnerships require a lot of time and support.
• Working in remote due to COVID causes delays in archiving, which has to be pro-actively followed. It also causes delays in operations, that lead to budget readjustments (ex: no cost extension) and difficulties to assess the cash needs of the mission.

Please note that, at the moment, INGO are facing major delays to get visas: it takes between 4-6 months to get in country. As a consequence, it is possible that the contract will start in work from home and require remote management with sometimes significant time difference.

YOUR PROFILE

Education

University degree in, Business or Public Administration or Accounting or related field.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years overseas experience working with an international humanitarian/development NGO, with strong program management, team management and financial management experience;
• 2 years proven experience in a similar position required.
• Previous experience at Finance coordination position with significant financial volume (> 5 millions EUR at least), multiplicity of donor’s contracts (6 at least recommended)
• Proven experience in team management, and department structuring;
• Proven experience in training & capacity building;
• Previous experience of project management in NGO / humanitarian fields;
• Previous experience in remote management
• Previous experience in highly complex crisis contexts

Previous experience with SI; and / or in South East Asia is an asset.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Strong knowledge in humanitarian missions’ financial management;
• Strong knowledge in Audit management;
• Strong knowledge of DFID / ECHO / OFDA-USAID, UN agencies & other donors assistance policies, guidelines and financial reporting requirements
• Capacity to provide hands-on technical support
• Mastery of the MS Office pack, including EXCEL (mandatory)

Transferable skills

• Ability to make sound management decisions in difficult situations
• Work in autonomy is essential
• Ability to work in a team
• Excellent capacity building and coaching skills
• Ability to find the right balance between rigor and flexibility
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Diplomatic and smooth leadership skills
• intercultural skills mandatory, coupled to great listening skills
• Show a clear calm, stable, mature and rational personality; exemplary behaviour
• Ability to work under pressure

Languages

Bilingual in English. Knowledge of Burmese language is an asset.

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried position
According to experience, starting from EUR 2640 gross / per month (base salary of EUR 2400 + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) + a monthly Per Diem of USD 700 / month.

SI covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

The Finance Coordinator will live in a shared guesthouse with other international colleagues.

Breaks

During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every 3 months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7 working days break at 3, 6 and 9 months (with USD 850 allocated by SI). In addition to these, SI adds 1 additional rest day per month of work, i.e. 12 additional days off for a one-year contract.

Insurance package
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which covers all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system, including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

Living conditions

The climate is hot and wet tropical. It can be cold on the bases during December – February period.

Please note that the current political situation and security context is very volatile, but SI monitors it daily and adapts its procedures in order to ensure the security of all staff.

COVID19

Safety and security rules are regularly reviewed and adapted to the situation, to minimize the exposure to the COVID 19, in constant monitoring and adaptation to the context evolution. This include social distancing, teleworking and strict hygienic rules, such as regular handwashing etc.

Please note that SI strongly recommends its staff to get the vaccination against COVID 19, using WHO-approved vaccines. If possible, the vaccination should be done before departure, in order to reduce the future logistical constraints once on the field (2^nd , 3^rd dose within a certain time frame).