Senior Accounting and Finance Manager, Laos

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted over 6 million children by constructing more than 1,500 schools, establishing over 13,000 libraries, publishing 700 new children’s book titles in 11 local languages, and rewarding over 16,000 girls with long-term, holistic scholarships.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$44 million and our global staff numbers over 600. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller fundraising offices in Delhi, New York, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. We have an Asia Regional Office located in New Delhi, a Southern Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, and program offices in Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.

Position Overview:

Based at the Laos Country Office (CO) in Vientiane, the Senior Accounting & Finance Manager (Sr. AFM) will report to the Country Director and serve as a member of the County Management Team. The Sr. AFM will have the overall responsibility for finance, accounting, audit and legal functions and will work closely with other members of the Country Management Team to ensure that strong financial management of Room to Read resources is practiced in the Office. The Sr. AFM will also contribute to better decision-making in the office through providing up to date and timely data and analysis. S/he will also support the development and maintenance of staff capacity (including non finance staff) for financial management.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead and guide the Finance and Accounting Department on their day to day functioning
• Train, develop, hire if necessary and supervise the CO Finance & Accounting team
• Oversee the development, approval and implementation of the CO’s annual budget and quarterly forecast in collaboration with the Country Management Team and Program Managers at CO
• Working closely with Country Management Team and Regional counterparts, ensure all finance and accounting activities are consistent with global strategic plan
• Establish a framework for financial analysis and reporting on a regular basis that meets CO, Regional Office and Global Office requirements
• Establish and implement short- and long-range departmental goals, objectives, policies and operating procedures for the CO
• Collaborate with other departments to, for example, align financial planning with program design, streamline forecasting process and involve other departments in the development of budgets
• Develop, analyze and make recommendations relating to global and local financial policies, procedures and controls to ensure effective and efficient financial operations. Some key standard operating procedures may be on monthly fund forecast, salary preparation, legal vetting, and policies to make sure that latest changes in applicable statutes are complied with
• Oversee creation and maintenance of strategic and analytical financial models useful for operational purposes;
• Design and facilitate in-house employee training modules on subjects such as budgeting, strategic planning, financial controls, etc
• Lead and/or participate in projects that have departmental, cross-departmental, Regional or global impact. Projects that may be considered could be Country Office cost management, etc
• Ensure that major financial risk issues and gaps in systems as highlighted in the internal audit are addressed
• Schedule and undertake regular travel to the provinces where the CO implements programs to train Program staff, community members on finance topics and local legal compliances, internal policies and procedures and other financial requirements
• As a management team member provide inputs towards strategic decision making for the CO
• Make sure that CO agreements with the Government of Laos are complied with to the extent of financial matters;
• Prepare highlights of key business indicators for the organization’s annual report
• Review internal audits of Country and Provincial Offices and School Construction Committee Coordinate follow up, and ensure timely mitigating steps with regards to the audit observations
• Implement relevant accounting standards, audit standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and maintain current knowledge and understanding of accounting and tax regulations, laws, industry trends, practices
• Ensure complying with OFAC regulations as it applies to RTR Laos
• Represent Room to Read at relevant meetings and occasionally assist in hosting key donor visits
• Ensure all relevant Government Acts, Rules, and Regulations like provision of taxation, Value Added Tax etc. are followed. Identify and monitor risks relating to legal and statutory compliances
• Implement all Financial and Accounting Policy Manual (FAPM), Human Resources and Administrative guidelines;
• Implement all country specific internal policy guidelines
• Make relevant reports to Government, Regional office, Global Office and Country Director in timely and precise manner

Qualifications:

Required:

• A professional degree in Accounting or Finance or Master Degree in Accounting/Finance
• At least 8 to 10 years experience in accounting/finance, particularly in business or INGOs Sectors
• Ability to travel frequently throughout Laos
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Must have experience of working at National level in a multi- location organization
• In depth knowledge of financial and accounting systems, financial reporting as per local legal compliances
• Detail oriented and extremely organized
• Experience in implementing financial control systems
• Adept at using Excel and other Microsoft Office applications
• Training/capacity building and management skills and experience
• Results oriented; commitment to quality and efficiency
• Willing and able to work in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment
• Flexible attitude towards changing priorities and ability to multi-task
• Strong initiative, good leadership skill and team player
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

• Have passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker that tries new things and inspires others to do so
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Compensation:

The salary range for each position will be determined based upon the experience of the candidate hired. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through literacy and gender equality in education.

Application Procedure:

Please submit your resume and cover letter by email (no calls, faxes, or drop-ins, please) to:Laos@roomtoread.org or sathaphone.chanthavong@roomtoread.org

In case, you cannot reach us through email, you mail your applications to: Room to Read, P.O Box 11607, Ban Sibounheuang 314, Unit 25 Chanthabouly District, Vientiane Lao PDR.

Due to the high volume of applicant response, not all applicants may receive a response from Room to Read.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.