LOCATION: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
CONTRACT TYPE: 18 months, with possible extension
INTERNAL JOB GRADE: C1
DEPARTMENT and TEAM: Mekong Regional Water Governance Program
REPORT TO: Mekong Regional Program Manager
ROLES REPORTING TO THIS POST: 3 direct reports
BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: over 2 million per year
HOURS (FTE): 37.5 h/ week
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization.
DEPARTMENT PURPOSE: Oxfam is an international confederation of 19 organizations networked together in 97 countries. As part of a global movement for change, we are working together to end world poverty and injustice. We work with thousands of partners in countries around the world and employ staff in a wide variety of posts. We work directly with communities and we seek to influence the powerful to enable the most marginalized to be improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.
Working at Oxfam is so much more than just a job. As an Oxfam employee, consultant, or volunteer, you will join a team of dedicated and passionate professionals working to save lives, help people overcome poverty, and fight for social justice.
TEAM PURPOSE: Oxfam has been implementing the Mekong Regional Water Governance Program in the region over the last two decades. The governance of water resources is of critical importance to the future of the Greater Mekong region, which covers Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar and China (Yunnan Province). Decisions over how water resources are developed, managed and shared will influence whether growth will be inclusive and equitable, or will further marginalise millions of people.
Oxfam’s Water Governance Program in Asia has multiple projects that contribute to sustainable development of water resources in key river basins, in South Asia, Mekong and the Salween basins. The Mekong Water Governance Program aims to have more inclusive, equitable water governance that reduces the impact of climate change and increases social accountability to citizens in the Greater Mekong Basin. The program envisions that communities living along the Mekong and Salween River basins are able to realise their right to sustainable livelihoods.
Three projects are currently at different stage of implementaiton in the Mekong Water Governance Program:
Mekong Inclusion Project phase 2 (June 2020-June 2024) – with funding support from the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Strengthening Climate Resilience in the Mekong Sub-region (March 2022-June 2025) with funding support from the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Water Governance Project – with funding support from Oxfam
JOB PURPOSE: The Finance and Operations Manager is a senior management position in the Mekong Regional Water Governance Program. S/he will manage four key areas of Oxfam’s operations namely Finance, Administration, Partner support on finance, and Human Resources. The focus of the position is on managing and maintaining the financial integrity of the program and managing the finance team, the HR and administration functions.
The position requires the development of close and effective working relationships with Oxfam in countries in the Mekong (Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, regional), consortia member organization, and other regional programs within the regional cluster program. It is also envisaged that this role will be required to participate in strategic planning functions and to work as an active member of the Mekong Program Management Unit Team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Finance)
- Responsible for financial management of in-country Oxfam’s program implementing the Mekong Water Governance Program, ensuring the integrity of financial accounting systems, financial reporting both internally and externally to donors, budget co-ordination and preparation, internal control and risk management and co-ordination of internal and external audits.
- Coordinate regularly with Oxfam in Cambodia (OiC) and the CLV (Cambodia Vietnam Lao) Finance team to ensure that Finance systems is managed smoothly and effectively and to provide the financial control and reporting for donors, and Oxfam affiliates.
- Actively and regularly meet with country and regional finance team to coordinate on working procedures and systems, and identify resource needs
- Coordinate and report regularly with Oxfam affiliates on program and partner reporting requirements and compliances. Lead the coordination discussion between the PA, EA and OI on common finance systems and reporting challenges, paying special attention to Foreign Exchange rate and risk management
- With Program team, maintain an overview of the partner granting systems and support to ensure that there is no delay in partner grants
- Oversight on and monitor the Oxfam Project Agreement (OPA) with countries and affiliates and ensure finance expenditures are in compliance with the agreement.
- Supervise the Senior Finance Officer (SFO) and Junior Finance Officer (JFO) in managing the day-to-day finance transactions and month end finance processes, monthly variance reporting, re-forecasting and acquittals
- Supervise the monthly financial reporting of Oxfam affiliates (partners and executing), and provide analysis to the budget holders and Management Team.
- Monthly reporting to the management team on the tracking of actual expenditure against budgete expenditure highlighting upcoming activities and grants
- Coordinate with the program team in preparation of the annual and reforecast budgets.
- Liaise with partner affiliate Finance officers/Managers to ensure budget setting, revision and reporting are prepared timely and effectively. Ensure cash flow holdings are managed to adequately support program implementation
- In coordination with Oxfam in Cambodia and CLV cluster ensure salary and benefits paid to staff are correct and in accordance with HR and Finance policies and tax compliance
- Advise and implement financial tracking systems to facilitate the timely delivery of a complex regional program with special attention on cost recovery and recording of staff time
- Review partner appraisals and financial reports and coach the SFO, Senior Admin and HR officer, and other program team members in good practice. Monitor compliance with Oxfam’s and donor’s finance procedures for working with partner organizations and ensure understanding and compliance
- Ensure the integration, implementation and compliance of Oxfam’s financial policies, procedures and relevant codes of good practice whilst at the same time ensuring all practical fraud prevention mechanisms are in place.
- Provide and ensure technical training and coaching visits to Oxfam affiliates and partners in the region as and when agreed with the Program team.
- Manage the long-term income plan to identify possible gaps and the need for future funding requirements and program development
- Manage foreign exchange risk in collaboration with head offices when dealing with affiliates Partners and Donors in foreign currencies.
MANAGEMENT
- Manage Finance and Operations team with a focus on building the capacity of Senior Finance Officer and Senior Admin & HR Officer, Junior Finance Officer
- With team members visit partners and Oxfam offices in the Mekong region to provide support and coaching on financial requirements, compliance, safeguarding
- Develop a risk assessment and advise the Regional Water Governance Program Manager on risks that involve finance, taxes, budgets that could have a negative impact on the organization
HUMAN RESOURCES AND OPERATION
- Supervise Senior Administration and HR Officer to ensure timely, accurate and compliant administrative procedures and communication.
- Participate in Business & Support Management meetings within the region and among regional clustering program, as requested by the line manager.
- Work with the management team on the implementation of strategic human resource initiatives, workforce planning and resources needed for good quality Human Resource capacity and manage this resource either directly or through an affiliate service agreement.
- Maintain an overview and coordinate with Oxfam in Cambodia/CLV cluster to ensure that all aspects of local labour law and Oxfam HR policies and procedures are adhered to particularly as the program being hosted in the region.
- Work with management team to ensure the establishment and maintenance of a working environment that protects the health, safety and security of staff and that appropriate risk management strategies are in place.
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES
Key Selection Criteria
- Tertiary accounting qualification (minimum Bachelor level) and formal accounting qualification (CPA/ CA/CMA or equivalent) is an advantage.
- Proven experience of managing finance and operations, including a minimum of five-year experience with an international NGO and in a senior finance position
- Experience of working with a regional program that operates through partnerships with local organizations and/or consortia partnership.
- Demonstrated experience in development and implementation of finance systems as well as operating finance software (SAP systems a distinct advantage).
- Demonstrated experience successfully managing and mentoring staff.
- Experience in budget development and budget management.
- Advanced computer skills, particularly Microsoft Excel.
- High level written and spoken English communication skills;
- A good communicator, specifically of financial principles to staff with limited financial understanding.
- Must have the capacity to lead and to be able to motivate/inspire staff.
- Be flexible in terms of management approach
KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES (BASED ON OXFAM’S LEADERSHIP MODEL)
Decisiveness
We are comfortable to make transparent decisions and to adapt decision making modes to the context and needs.
Relationship Building
We understand the importance of building relationship, within and outside the organization. We have the ability to engage with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in ways that lead to increased impact for the organisation.
Mutual Accountability
We can explain our decisions and how we have taken them based on our organizational values. We are ready to be held to account for what we do and how we behave, as we are also holding others to account in a consistent manner.
Agility, Complexity, and Ambiguity
We scan the environment, anticipate changes, are comfortable with lack of clarity and deal with a large number of elements interacting in diverse and unpredictable ways.
Systems Thinking
We view problems as parts of an overall system and in their relation to the whole system, rather than reacting to a specific part, outcome or event in isolation. We focus on cyclical rather than linear cause and effect. By consistently practicing systems thinking we are aware of and manage well unintended consequences of organisational decisions and actions.
Enabling
We all work to effectively empower and enable others to deliver the organizations goals through creating conditions of success. We passionately invest in others by developing their careers, not only their skills for the job. We provide freedom; demonstrate belief and trust provide appropriate support. We give more freedom and demonstrate belief and trust, underpinned with appropriate support.
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