Senior Associate – Finance and Administration

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Senior Associate – Finance and Administration to support all aspects of finance and administrative functions to programme operations teams at GAIN Bangladesh offices. This role is offered on a 2 years’ fixed-term contract, subject to availability of funding. You will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

About GAIN

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. In particular, we aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Operations, the Senior Associate will provide essential support to the staff and consultants in maintaining good relationships with external stakeholders. You will be responsible for all aspects of finance and providing essential financial services to programme operations teams whilst ensuring compliance with global GAIN policies, systems and procedures.

The postholder are expected to be both responsive and proactive to operational requirements with an ability to plan the work of programme support and will be responsible for the payment process, compliance and internal control. You will ensure appropriate financial regulations and controls are always in place for the country office and in compliance with external requirements, such as local laws and regulations and donor, partner, service provider and vendor contractual obligations.

Key Responsibilities include;

• Supporting the Head of Operations to ensure that accounting controls evolved are complied with country rules and regulations in accordance with GAIN guidelines
• Responsible for all types of payment processes from GAIN Country office and Global office. Ensuring financial transactions are recorded in line with GAIN norms and standards in a timely fashion. Maintaining financial records including ledger, journal, petty cash and cash books and bank books
• Supporting the Head of Operations in the preparation of financial management reports and meeting the requirement of the donors and external audit (GAIN year-ended financial audit)
• Ensuring project approval, yearly fund release and reporting requirements are complied with the NGO Affairs Bureau
• Preparing monthly payment withholding Tax and VAT to the government treasure account as per NBR rules and regulations
• Ensuring GAIN policies and procedures adhere with a special focus on purchase following due diligence as per terms and conditions of procurement policy as well as country-specific procurement committee
• Responsible for recording employee benefits including medical and relevant HR data regarding the country office
• Ensuring system integrity, security of the system and easy accessibility of the required information and cost-effective maintenance of all IT equipment

About You

The ideal candidate should have substantial experience in a similar finance and accounting, internal audit/compliance position. You should have experience in managing private sector funding and external consultancies and knowledge in introducing and implementing GED (Gender Equity and Diversity) principles. Candidate with experience in International NGO would be an advantage.

The postholder should have excellent command of written and spoken English and proven ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment. You should be able to plan and organize a substantial workload that includes complex diverse tasks and responsibilities and to work without close supervision.

You should be computer literacy in MS Office and experience in using Navision or similar accounting software. Candidate should have professional accounting qualification and university degree in Accounting or related fields. A master’s degree in Finance or Business Management would be an added advantage.

About our Offer

The starting salary on offer for this role is from BDT 1,555,584 – BDT 1,777,608 per annum, depending on experience.

GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance.

We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.

GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Our Working Culture and Environment

We provide a flexible working environment that includes a combination of home and office working opportunities through our global hybrid working policy. This encourages our staff to have a healthy work-life balance and increases staff motivation, enriches employee wellbeing, and improves performance and productivity.

All of our positions are based in one or more of GAIN’s designated offices as stated on our job advertisements. Successful candidates will be based in one of GAIN’s country offices and must have the existing right to live and work within a reasonably commutable distance of the relevant city / cities in which the role is advertised. Please note, that GAIN does not sponsor working visas and relocations.

GAIN reserves the right to withdraw an offer of employment for candidates who are considered to ineligible under the above conditions during or after the recruitment process.

Applicants must be currently based in the Dhaka, Bangladesh region to be eligible to apply for this position.

This advert closes on 2nd January 2023. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is committed to equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. We are keen to reflect the diversity of our society at every level within our organisation and therefore welcome applications from talented and committed people from all backgrounds, representing the diverse societies we operate in.