FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION ADVISOR

The Finance and Administration Advisor  is a 6-month position where the successful candidate will be responsible for providing high-level Financial Management such as Budget planning and execution, Liaison and coordination of inter-agency financial activities like coordination of AAP (Annual Action Plan ) and QRM (Quarterly Matrix Report), Embassy financial advances monitoring and reimbursement, account reconciliation, and others. 

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ADVISOR 
•    Draft guidelines on good administration and finance management principles and best practices in the running of the Ministry (One session of in-house lecture to be given to all staff members.)
•    Participate in the design, control, operation, and enhancement of manual and computerized systems established for accountability and transparency in the MFA, to include accounting functions such as budget/general ledger control, contracts/accounts payable, payroll, etc;
•    Prepare a variety of financial statements, reports and analyses, and assist all Divisions and overseas missions of the MFA in formulating their Annual Action Plan (AAP) and in implementing their quarterly matrix reports;
•    Participate in the annual audit process and in the preparation of annual budget;
•    Prepare required financial reports to other government agencies and financial institutions;
•    Prepare fund balance projections and reviews with relevant departments;
•    Prepare and issue journal entries and verify financial data;
•    Answer inquiries and coordinate operations with relevant government departments, organizations, and overseas missions;
•    Analyze and reconcile expenditures and revenue accounts and coordinate various accounting records with information received from any accounting systems and departmental records that exist within the MFA;
•    Review and audit entries made to various financial records for maintenance of accountable and transparent accounting procedures;
•    Analyze, calculate and allocate inter-Ministry charges for various expenditures, performs comprehensive financial activity studies and ensure compliance with reporting requirements;
•    Train, supervise, and professionalize clerical / accounting employees and any other relevant personnel in all of the above processes.


REQUIREMENTS
1.    ABLE TO TRANSFER SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO TIMOR-LESTE’S STAFF:
Knowledge/skills that the Timor-Leste incumbents are expected to acquire through on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring by the Advisor.
•    Accounting, payroll
•    Financial management
•    Budgeting
•    Benefits and salary administration, such as design and review of salaries, benefits, and other conditions of employment

2.    REQUIREMENTS FOR SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO BE DEVELOPED
Legal and managerial systems and processes to be developed by the Advisor.
•    Managing and developing accounting and financial reporting systems
•    Establish administrative and finance template, data base for the Ministry and Missions abroad

3.    REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR TO BE DEVELOPED
Desired attitudes and behaviors to be developed by Counterparts through interaction with the Advisor.
•    Self-sufficient, self-starter, resourceful
•    Professional
•    Upright and a person of integrity
•    Honest and trustworthy
•    Responsible, reliable and adaptable
•    Decisive, objective and impartial
•    Has keen eye for details, meticulous
•    Versatile and can work across varied functions
•    Diplomatic
•    Can work across varied cultures and types of people; has respect for diversity

REQUIRED EDUCATION /CERTIFICATION:
•    A University Degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Business Management, post-graduate degree highly preferable

REQUIRED TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
•    Accounting and financial management experience in the areas of budgeting, resources planning, accounts management and analysis, financial analysis and reporting for at least ten years in any government or private or international institution or agency;

REQUIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE FOR CAPACITY BUILDING
Apart from necessary technical and management experience, the Advisor will also be required to transfer management and technical knowledge and skills to the East Timorese incumbent through coaching and mentoring.
•    Research and drafting Foreign Services Rules and Regulations
•    Accounting, payroll
•    Financial management
•    Budgeting
•    Benefits and salary administration, such as design and review of salaries, benefits, and other conditions of employment


PERSONAL COMPETENCIES
The Advisor will be required to work in a tropical environment, to be flexible and creative in adapting his/her knowledge and skills to the unique situation of Timor-Leste, to be able to deal sensitively with a diversity of languages and cultures, and to manage effectively high levels of stress and shifting priorities.
•    Qualified candidates with prior experiences in similar context to Timor-Leste will be given preference.
•    Self-sufficient, self-starter, resourceful
•    Professional
•    Upright and a person of integrity
•    Honest and trustworthy
•    Responsible, reliable, adaptable
•    Decisive, objective and impartial
•    Has keen eye for details, meticulous
•    Versatile and can work across varied functions
•    Diplomatic
•    Can work across varied cultures and types of people; has respect for diversity

Language

Fluency in English and Portuguese.

Preferred
Living and working experience in Timor-Leste, the South East Asian region, or Pacific Islands.


Application is due by June 10, 2011. Please send cover letter, resume and contact address/phone addressed to Office Manager, The Asia Foundation, Rua De Nu Luran No. 20, Bairro Dos Grillos, Dili, Timor Leste or to gro.dnuofaisa@acesnofj  or  gro.dnuofaisa@etseLromiTFAT. Only short-listed candidates will be acknowledged.

For full position description please contact Hugo Fernandes on (+670 723 0926) or (+670) 3313457 or by email to gro.dnuofaisa@sednanrefh

Open to International Applicants