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Since we started in 1981, we’ve remained resolutely focused on tackling these three essentials that transform people’s lives
Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty, and change their lives for good. Children grow up healthy and strong, women and men get to earn a living, whole communities start to thrive. It sounds normal and it should be.

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Country Programme Pakistan

Job Purpose:

 The provincial finance officer works in collaboration with other provincial teammates at provincial office to ensure that WaterAid operates within sound financial environment, and with absolute compliance with the relevant applicable laws and regulations. The position holder supports to establish, operate, and maintain good financial system and control. The role is also responsible for review partner NGO budget, review and record keeping advance to partner and liquidation thereon, keeping track of financial movement, financial reporting for donors, financial monitoring of implementing partner NGOs, provide technical assistance in the area of financial management, facilitating financial management training for both finance and non-finance staff, prepare/review financial transactions, ensure donor compliances, assisting in day to day financial operation as and when require, maintaining coordination with other teams within the organization and partner NGOs.

Role of Position in the Organization:

The position will function as a key liaison and support point within finance as well as for programme in relation to financial operations, financial management, grant management, partners management and budget monitoring at provincial office.

Reporting line:

The position lies in the category of Pakistan Country Program. The Provincial Finance Officer will directly report to Provincial Manager, and will also report to the Finance Coordinator (FC), based in Islamabad office, in dotted capacity.

Key working relationships:

Internal: Provincial Manager, Manager Finance, Finance Coordinator(s), Budget Holders, Country Director, All WaterAid Staff in Pakistan, and WA UK Finance Team.

External: Donors, Partners, Consultants, Auditors, Sector Stakeholders and other INGOs/ NGOs.

Grants Management

• Develop financial reporting and budget monitoring tool for the implementing partners
• Support FC in preparing grant financial report and discuss this with the project team at field office
• Ensure that the partner reports and all other expenses are uploaded to enable FC review donor expenses within the required time schedule
• In coordination with the FC, participate in responding to respective queries from donors, partners and WAP and UK management on matters relating to financial reports
• Actively participate in financial design of the projects and revision in approved budgets in coordination with relevant project/ team lead

• Support FC in preparing monthly variance report and support in management accounts and their analysis for SMT review. Follow-up and coordinate for variance analysis with provincial manager
• Be a key player in the issues of grants accounting and management to ensure full compliance with WaterAid internal and donor requirements

• Coordinate with WaterAid UK for donor-codes and upload of budget to SUN Financials
• Ensure other financial databases are up to date, like FinStream and RIS, and inform the relevant position holder for any flaws/ lags

• Support FC in preparing final donor report as per requirement of a grant with donor.
• Upload E-ledgers in the SUN Financials and provide support to FC in budget uploads to FinStream

Partner Financial Management

• Ensure financial monitoring of implementing partners to ensure financial controls and procedures are in place and in accordance with WaterAid Pakistan, donor rules and state applicable laws
• Performing budget versus actual analysis on monthly basis for all provincial partners and then holding sessions with relevant budget holders to discuss the deviations and documenting the same
• Ensure that partners are complying the WaterAid’s Financial Management Guidelines and are using standard reporting formats
• To review the partnership mechanism and bring in the innovation to ensure value for money and efficiency in the mechanism
• Review and assist on the project budget preparation and assist FC in resolution of compliance issues of partner
• Conduct partner monitoring visits and issue the monitoring reports. Follow up and devise action plan on observations, in consultation with the FC
• Report any raise to FC if there any issue in partners grant implementation and financial oversight
• Provide on orientation to partner’s finance/non finance staff on the WaterAid financial management and donor compliance 
• Ensure timely and productive monitoring reports for the improvement of systems and controls at partner’s financial mechanism
• Provide technical support to partners as finance focal person
• Review of financial data and post partner liquidations into SUN, a Global Accounting System

Financial Accounting & Management

• Maintain effective financial operations and controls at provincial level to ensure the efficiency, integrity and transparency of all the financial operations in accordance with the WaterAid’s policies, donor’s rules and regulations, national regulatory requirements and applicable accounting frameworks (IFRS, IAS, GAAP)
• Lead the provincial cash forecast exercise and timely share the cash requirement with FC to ensure efficient management of cash flows and availability of sufficient and optimal cash for the provincial office needs
• Perform funds reconciliation on monthly basis, against the funds disbursed for provincial office
• Act as the custodian of the petty cash, perform regular cash reconciliations and cash counts, and apply for replenishment when applicable
• Follow and comply with the annual financial calendar and ensure all pre-requisites within due date
• Upload all financial data to the Global Accounting System within the stipulated timeframe and agreed internal KPIs
• Ensure accuracy of financial transactions/payments in terms of code allocations, sufficient supporting evidence, mandatory deductions, timeliness, and appropriate approvals
• Prepare and present monthly financial documents, as required by FC
• Assist FC in external audits, internal audits, project financial reviews, donor audits, tax audits and participate in responding to internal and external audit queries
• Ensure deduction of tax at source complying with relevant legislation, timely deposit of withheld tax in government treasury, and provision and maintenance of all the required information for relevant tax filing

• Ensure monthly closure process is completed effectively, timely circulation for relevant reviews and approvals and in compliance with Water Aid UK deadlines
• Assist FC in Management Accounts Narrative and developing a detailed analysis to support the narratives
• Maintain all the relevant financial record at provincial office in proper systematic manner and in audit-ready mode
• Assist FC in developing periodic forecasts and underlying analysis
• Actively participate and assist FC in the annual budgeting process

• Assist FC for capacity building of program staff & budget holders to understand the financial reporting and management accounts
• Assist FC in compliance with statutory laws, policies and procedures

Support & Capacity Building:

• Liaison with partners’ finance team, for capacity building on applicable financial policies, grants management procedures, as required
• Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the Finance Coordinator, Manager Finance, and Provincial Manager
• Perform admin and logistics tasks as required by the line manager

• Develop capacity building plans for partners and ensure implementation and tracking of such plans. Update FC and relevant Project/ Team Lead on quarterly basis on such progress
• To orient and train the relevant human resource of the partners on applicable financial matters and policies

Education

• If you are interested in the position and have the right skills and attributes, kindly apply with your curriculum vitae with cover letter.
• Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. 
• WaterAid believes in a fair and transparent recruitment process. It however reserves the right to accept or reject any application.

Closing date: January 31, 2025

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Successful candidates will be called for written test/presentation and interview. Interview session will be held in the WaterAid Pakistan office in Islamabad or via Teams Application. A second interview may be requested, if required.

WaterAid is committed to welcoming people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, culture and experience. We will make any practical adjustments to enable people with a disability to participate fully in an inclusive working environment. Please let us know if you have a disability and require any special assistance in making your application or attending an interview.  

Please note: to apply for this role you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in Pakistan.