Department & Location :

Regional Grants Compliance Manager (1 position) based in Bangkok and / or Philippines and other countries in Asia

Reports to :

Head of Regional resources Mobilization, ARO with dotted line (matrix reporting) to a Senior Manager in Plan Canada.

Purpose :

The job holder is a part of a cross functional project team,  Responsible for quality implementation of complex multi-million dollar grant funded projects. The team includes specialists in Program Management, Monitoring & Evaluation and relevant thematic areas such as Gender, Health, Education, Livelihoods, etc. The Grants Compliance Manager’s role within the team will be to provide Oversight and analysis of the financial health of assigned projects while ensuring compliance to donor requirements. The incumbent will  also contribute to proposal development focusing on budgeting for quality implementation and maximum cost recovery.  

Dimensions of Role:

Financial measures or statistics relevant to post such as budget; list of direct and indirect reports

The Compliance Manager’s role within this team will be to provide oversight and analysis of the financial health of assigned projects while ensuring compliance to donor requirements. The Compliance Manager will also contribute to proposal development focusing on budgeting for quality implementation and maximum cost recovery.

The position is flexibly based in the ARO region, within a Plan International Office and in addition requires extended travel to Plan Country Offices (up to 60%). Preferences are the Plan International offices in Bangkok or Manila where Plan International’s Asia Regional Office is located.

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

“What” is done and “why”, but not “how”; include indicators for success

Working closely with Canadian project team members, Plan Country Offices and the Plan Asia Regional Office colleagues:

• Review donor and partner agreements ensuring the financial and contractual terms and conditions are compatible with Plan’s systems and are favourable to quality implementation and reporting.

• Provide oversight of financial and operational management of the project and ensure project accountability requirements.
• Support and guide the strategic planning, work planning, and operational processes for the project.
• Support and guide the preparation and submission of project budgets, forecasts and financial reports to donors ensuring alignment with project activities.
• Identify areas of risk by providing regular analysis of financial and compliance health of projects against standard key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Develop and implement strategies to minimize financial and compliance risks.
• Ensure all project expenditure, procurement and contracts are in compliance with terms and conditions of donor agreements by conducting regular desk audits as well as occasional in-field audits. 
• Oversee donor financial audits.
• Identify ways to maximize efficiencies within and across projects.
• Provide training and ongoing support to relevant stakeholders including Canadian project team members, Plan Country Offices and partners on understanding donor financial and procurement compliance, identifying financial and contractual management risks and other best practices related to financial and contractual management.
• Participate in proposal development teams leading the budget development with a focus on appropriate costing models, alignment with proposed activity and staffing plans as well as maximizing cost recovery. 
• Contribute to development and implementation of standardized package for quality financial management of grant funded projects including standard KPIs, budget and reporting guidelines, Gift In Kind treatment, procurement and asset management plans, compliance training, project start-up and closing procedures, etc.

Dealing with Problems:

Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required to solve them

• Experience with in-depth analysis of current issues and providing innovative solutions.
• Demonstrate skills in dealing with the complexity of working with international and local NGO partners.
• Demonstrate ability to deal with comprehensive and demanding requirements of the donor.  
• Effective decision-making regarding the most appropriate, effective and efficient approaches to ensure quality financial management, ensuring maximum alignment with donor requirements.
• Develop and implement strategies to minimize project risks.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact

Internal to Plan:

• Country Offices: The position will collaborate with Country Management Team members and project staff including the program manager, technical experts, and finance staff. (high level)
• Regional Office: Regional Finance Department, Regional Resource Mobilization team, and other senior management team members as appropriate (medium level)
• Plan Canada: Program Management & Compliance team (high level)

External:

• Donor’s Management team (medium level)
• Local Funding Agent/Auditors (medium level)

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives: 

Gained through education, training, & experience

Knowledge and skills

• Seasoned professional with a degree in Business or Finance
• Demonstrable knowledge of full donor compliance requirements
• Excellent communication, management, and leadership skills
• Fluent in oral and written English
• Extensive experience in financial reporting and analysis
• Demonstrated decision making and risk management capabilities
• Excellent computer skills using Microsoft Office, Internet and databases
• Coaching & mentoring skills for building project staff capacity on quality financial and compliance management
• Superior skills in building productive working relationships with team colleagues, field offices, donors and partners
• Understanding of project management cycle 
• Flexible approach to deal with ambiguity 
• Ability to work effectively in a complex, matrix management structure
• Excellent computer skills using Microsoft Office, Internet and databases

Experiences

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in financial management, grants analysis
• Experience in reporting and presenting to the senior management
• Extensive experience in financial reporting and analysis, risk assessment and mitigation
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of financial controls and procedures
• Proven experience of ensuring donor compliance in terms of logistics, procurement or supply chain management preferred
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables

• Solid understanding of compliance requirements of donor government agencies such as Canadian DFATD; multilateral agencies (Global Fund, Global Sanitation Fund, UNICEF, Asian Development Bank, etc.); and/or charitable organizations/Foundations
• Experience leading and managing donor compliance audits 
• Hands on experience reviewing complex contracts and agreements 
• Developing, coaching and mentoring skills for building project staff capacity on quality financial management 

Physical Environment and Demands: 

• Ability to travel up to 60% time.

Level of Contact with Children: 

Low contact:     No contact or very low frequency of interaction

Closing date : Friday 4 September 2015

Application Process :

Please send your CV and a covering letter explain why you should be offered this job to PlanAsia.JobVacancies@plan-international.org by 5.00 pm local time Bangkok on Friday 4 September 2015. Please state clearly in the subject title of the E-mail the job you are applying for.

                         All applications are kept as a strictly confidential matter