POSITION TITLE : Finance Manager
LOCATION : Dhaka, Bangladesh
GROUP: Agriculture, Resilience, and Water
REPORTS TO : Deputy Chief of Party , Operations
PROJECT SUMMARY:
The Systems for Expanded Trade and Uptake (SETU) project is a five-year USDA Food for Progress initiative implemented by Winrock International in Bangladesh. SETU seeks to expand international trade in agricultural goods by improving the efficiency, transparency, predictability, and effectiveness of trade related processes and institutions. The project will strengthen the trade enabling environment through four complementary areas of work: improving legal frameworks and processes for trade and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures; operationalizing risk management systems; increasing private sector engagement in trade related reforms; and strengthening trade infrastructure and access to finance. Through these activities, SETU will work with Government of Bangladesh agencies, private sector stakeholders, financial institutions, and other partners to reduce unnecessary trade costs and delays, improve regulatory coordination and compliance with international standards, and create a more predictable environment for agricultural trade and investment.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Finance Manager will provide leadership and oversight for SETU’s financial management and accounting functions and will support the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations in ensuring the effective stewardship of project resources. The Finance Manager will be responsible for maintaining strong financial systems and internal controls; overseeing accounting, budgeting, cash management, payroll, financial reporting, and statutory compliance; and ensuring financial transactions are timely, accurate, properly documented, and compliant with USDA requirements, Winrock policies, and applicable laws and regulations in Bangladesh.
The Finance Manager will supervise the Bookkeeper and work closely with the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations, Procurement Coordinator, Administration and HR Assistant, technical teams, and Winrock Home Office and Regional Office to support sound financial management and efficient project implementation.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Management and Internal Controls
•Manage SETU’s day to day financial operations and ensure that project financial systems, procedures, and records are accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with USDA requirements and Winrock policies.
•Maintain and enforce appropriate internal controls over the receipt, disbursement, safeguarding, and management of project resources.
•Ensure project expenditures are reasonable, allowable, allocable, properly authorized, and supported by complete documentation.
•Review payment vouchers, journal vouchers, receipts, invoices, travel advances, expense reports, and other financial transactions for accuracy and compliance prior to processing.
•Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and financial review and approval processes are maintained.
•Identify financial management and compliance risks and recommend improvements to project systems, procedures, and internal controls.
•Maintain complete and organized financial records in accordance with Winrock document retention and project filing requirements.
Budgeting, Forecasting, and Financial Reporting
•Support the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations and Chief of Party in developing, monitoring, and managing the SETU project budget.
•Monitor expenditures against approved budgets, work plans, and forecasts and provide project leadership with timely analysis of financial performance.
•Prepare and update expenditure forecasts and cash flow projections to support effective project planning and resource management.
•Identify significant budget variances, spending trends, and potential financial risks and recommend corrective actions as appropriate.
•Prepare accurate and timely weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports and other financial information required by Winrock and USDA.
•Coordinate with technical teams to ensure activity budgets and forecasts accurately reflect planned implementation.
•Support preparation of budget modifications, realignments, and other financial analyses as required.
•Provide timely financial information to project leadership and Winrock Home Office to support management decisions.
Accounting, Cash, and Banking Management
•Oversee project accounting processes and ensure financial transactions are recorded accurately and in a timely manner in Winrock’s financial systems.
•Review general ledger coding, project and activity codes, transaction descriptions, and supporting documentation for accuracy.
•Manage project cash flow and prepare accurate cash forecasts and fund requests to ensure adequate funds are available for implementation.
•Oversee project bank accounts, payments, transfers, reconciliations, and other banking activities in accordance with Winrock policies.
•Maintain effective working relationships with project banking institutions and coordinate with Winrock Home Office on banking requirements.
•Ensure timely reconciliation and liquidation of staff advances and other outstanding financial items.
•Oversee payroll related financial processes and ensure accurate and timely payment of salaries, benefits, taxes, and other required deductions.
•Ensure appropriate controls are maintained over cash and petty cash transactions.
USDA, Statutory, and Audit Compliance
•Ensure SETU financial management complies with applicable USDA requirements, Winrock policies and procedures, and Bangladesh laws and regulations.
•Maintain current knowledge of applicable local tax, banking, accounting, labor, and statutory financial requirements.
•Coordinate required tax and statutory financial filings and payments and maintain appropriate supporting documentation.
•Support internal, external, statutory, and donor audits and financial reviews, ensuring required records and supporting documents are complete and readily available.
•Coordinate responses to financial audit findings and support timely implementation of corrective actions.
•Conduct periodic financial reviews and spot checks to verify compliance with project procedures and internal controls.
•Provide guidance to project staff on financial policies, procedures, documentation, and compliance requirements.
•Support financial reporting and documentation requirements of the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB).
•Coordinate with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on VAT exemption procedures, documentation, and related compliance requirements.
Subcontractor and Project Financial Oversight
•Review invoices, financial documentation, and other submissions from subcontractors and service providers for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with agreement terms and applicable requirements.
•Coordinate with the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations and Procurement Coordinator to ensure financial and procurement processes are aligned and properly documented.
•Monitor subcontractor expenditures and payment status and support reconciliation and financial closeout of agreements.
•Provide financial guidance to subcontractors and project staff regarding invoicing, supporting documentation, cost allowability, and other financial requirements.
•Support financial monitoring and risk management for project agreements and other implementing arrangements, as applicable.
•Coordinate closely with technical teams to ensure commitments, procurements, and planned activities are accurately reflected in project forecasts.
Monetization and Project Specific Financial Management
•Support the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations, Chief of Party, and Winrock Home Office in the financial management and documentation of SETU’s monetization activities.
•Maintain accurate financial records related to monetization proceeds and ensure proceeds are tracked, recorded, and reported in accordance with USDA and Winrock requirements.
•Support reconciliation and financial reporting associated with monetization sales and the use of monetization proceeds.
•Maintain clear documentation and audit trails for monetization related financial transactions.
•Coordinate with project leadership and Home Office finance staff to address financial management or compliance issues associated with monetization.
Team Management and Coordination
•Supervise, train, mentor, and provide quality control for the Bookkeeper, promoting accuracy, accountability, and timely completion of financial responsibilities.
•Establish efficient financial workflows and clear responsibilities within the project finance function.
•Provide training and guidance to project staff on Winrock financial policies, expense documentation, advances, travel, timekeeping, and other relevant financial procedures.
•Coordinate closely with the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations, Procurement Coordinator, Administration and HR Assistant, and technical staff to ensure effective integration of finance with project operations.
•Liaise regularly with Winrock Home Office and Regional finance, contracts, and operations staff regarding project financial management and compliance.
•Promote a culture of financial accountability, compliance, transparency, and responsible stewardship of project resources.
•Perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations.
QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in in accounting, finance, business administration, or another closely related field required .
Master’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field is an advantage.
Professional accounting certification, such as CA, ACCA, CMA, CPA, or equivalent, preferred.
Experience:
•Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, accounting, or financial operations, preferably for international development or donor funded programs.
•Demonstrated experience managing the financial operations of complex projects, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, financial reporting, and internal controls.
•Experience managing finances for USDA, USAID, or other U.S. Government funded programs strongly preferred.
•Demonstrated knowledge of donor financial compliance requirements and experience ensuring expenditures are properly authorized, documented, and allocated.
•Experience developing, implementing, and enforcing financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
•Demonstrated experience with project budgeting, pipeline analysis, expenditure forecasting, and financial reporting.
•Experience managing banking, cash flow, payroll, tax, and statutory financial requirements in Bangladesh.
•Experience supporting internal, external, donor, and statutory audits.
•Experience reviewing subcontractor invoices and financial documentation and supporting financial monitoring of implementing partner