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Human Rights Watch FINANCE ASSISTANT

Deadline for applications: 15 August 2012

Human Rights Watch is seeking a Finance Assistant to be responsible for providing assistance with financial data entry and accounting work as well as maintaining an orderly, efficient, and professional office.This position reports to the Senior Associate.

Responsibilities:

1. Assist with day-to-day financial matters;

2. Review and process expenses reimbursements, invoice payments and cash advance requests including data entry in accordance with organizational policy;

3. Maintain the translation of records for vendors, staff and donors between HRW’s English based systems and locally administered Japanese systems;

4. Perform data entry into HRW’s financial database, Serenic, including synchronizing with local accountants;

5. Perform data entry into the Raiser’s Edge and local development databases;

6. Perform monthly reconciliations including cash flow analysis as needed;

7. Track and code petty cash and bank transactions and post to Japan accounts;

8. Handle all banking matters;

9. Process relevant mail including bank account statements, invoices, and receipts; reconcile monthly bank account and Supplier statements with receipts;

10. Maintain and update financial documentation;

11. Monitor and create financial reports for the Japan charity including expense reports, donor reports, pledge balance reports and other fundraising and financial reports as requested;

12. Liaise with finance staff in New York and HRW’s other offices;

13. Assist in responding to general finance enquiries;

14. Ensure the financial files are orderly,organized, secure and professional at all times; and

15. Carry out other tasks as requested.

Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor‘s degree and/or certificate is required, preferably in the area of finance, accounting, business, or bookkeeping.

Experience: Minimum one year of prior finance work preferably with an International NGO, organization, or company, or a minimum of one year performing assistant work.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Excellent organizational, administrative, and financial and skills are required.

2. Excellent interpersonal skills are required.

3. Ability to function under pressure, prioritize competing demands with minimal supervision and handle numerous tasks simultaneously is required.

4. Proven track record of taking initiative and problem solving is required.

5. Excellent written and spoken skills in English and Japanese are required. TOEIC score of 900 points or more and Japanese-Language Proficiency Test N1 level are welcomed.

6. Prior database experience, particularly with Raiser’s Edge and Serenic, is a plus.

7. Ability to act independently to identify and analyze problems and recommendcost-effective solutions is highly desirable.

8. Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a team of talented professionals in multiple global locations is highly desirable.

9. Good judgment, discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality are essential.

10. Proficiency in computer packages including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook is required.

Other: Applicants for this position must possess current Japanese work authorization valid for a minimum of two years from start date.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits.

Contact: Please submit a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for three references in English. Please submit the entire application in ONE attached document to opsjobs@hrw.org. Please use “Finance Assistant REF FIN-12-1041-A” as the subject of your email.

Only complete applications will be reviewed and only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.