Finance Associate

Job Description

Title: Finance Associate

Company Name: Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO)

Vacancy: 02

Age: At most 40 years

Job Location: Cox`s Bazar (Teknaf, Ukhia)

Salary: Tk. 50000 (Monthly)

Experience:

• 4 to 6 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, or a related discipline from a recognized university; a Master's degree in the same fields will be given preference.

• Candidates holding BBA/MBA with a Finance or Accounting major, or partial completion of professional qualifications such as Chartered Accountancy Course (CA-CC), Cost and Management Accounting (CMA), or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), will be given preference.

• Additional training in Financial Management, Accounting Software (Tally, QuickBooks, or ERP systems), VAT and Tax, Audit, or Donor Compliance will be considered an advantage.

• 4 to 6 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• Age At most 40 years

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 4 to 6 years of professional experience in finance, accounting, or grants management, preferably within NGO or donor-funded project environments.

• Demonstrated experience in day-to-day accounting, transaction processing, bank reconciliation, budget monitoring, and financial reporting.

• Knowledge of UNICEF's Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT), FACE form preparation, and Direct Cash Transfer procedures and International Public Sector Accounting Standards are highly preferred.

• Experience supporting audits, spot checks, and donor financial reviews in a partnership context.

• Sound understanding of Bangladesh statutory requirements including VAT, tax, and NGO Affairs Bureau financial regulations.

• Experience working in the Cox's Bazar Rohingya humanitarian response is an advantage.

Additional Requirements

• Age at most 40 years.

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, double-entry bookkeeping, and financial management practices.

• Excellent analytical, numerical, and attention-to-detail skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced level), Word, and accounting software.

• Strong documentation, filing, and reporting skills.

• Ability to work under pressure, meet strict quarterly deadlines, and manage multiple priorities.

• High integrity, accountability, and commitment to confidentiality.

• Must possess a valid driving license.

Job Context

Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) started its journey in 1988 with a noble vision to stand in solidarity with the poor and marginalized. Being a people` centered organization, ESDO envisioned for a society which will be free from inequality and injustice, a society where no child will cry from hunger and no life will be ruined by poverty. Near about three decades of relentless efforts to make this happen, ESDO has embraced new grounds and opened up new horizons to help the disadvantaged and vulnerable people to bring meaningful and lasting changes in their lives. During this long span, ESDO has adapted with the changing situation and provided the most time-bound services especially for the poor and disadvantaged. A community focused and people centered approach has been adapted by ESDO while consideration was given to the national policy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as its guiding principle. ESDO is one of the most dynamic organizations expanding its development interventions across 422 upazilas under 56 districts of Bangladesh covering over 10 million poor and vulnerable people.

ESDO is going to implement a UNICEF-supported project titled "Provide quality, inclusive skills development and Myanmar Curriculum STEM education for adolescent learners aged 15-18, and portable skills training for education volunteers in Cox's Bazar" in Rohingya camps of Ukhia, Cox's Bazar. The project aims to improve access to quality foundational literacy numeracy (FLN), trade skills, employability skills, leadership skills, entrepreneurship training, STEM Education and portable skills opportunities for Rohingya adolescents and youth through Multi-Purpose Centers (MPCs), Science and IT Labs, and SKILFO-based portable skills interventions.

The Finance Associate is the operational backbone of the project's finance function and first point of financial verification. The position is responsible for the day-to-day accounting, transaction processing, budget tracking, cash and bank management, financial documentation, and preparation of the financial reports and instruments that keep the project's cash flow compliant with UNICEF's Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) and audit-ready at all times. The position ensures that every financial transaction is recorded accurately, coded correctly against the approved budget, supported by complete documentation, and processed within the timelines that Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) cycles demand.

The Finance Associate will work under the direct supervision of the Admin and Finance Manager and coordinate closely with the Procurement Associate, HR and Admin Associate, and programme colleagues to keep the project's financial engine running smoothly.

Reporting to: Direct reporting to Admin & Finance Manager

Job Responsibilities

1. Financial Management, Accounting, and Transaction Processing

• Maintain project accounts, books of records, ledgers, and supporting documents in line with ESDO's accounting policies, IPSAS standards, HACT policies and donor’s other requirements.

• Prepare payment vouchers, journal vouchers, cash vouchers, and bank vouchers with correct budget coding and complete supporting documentation.

• Verify bills, invoices, and supporting documents for accuracy, completeness, and compliance before payment processing.

• Record all financial transactions in the accounting system on time and with accurate output and activity-line coding.

• Maintain cash books, bank books, and all financial registers as per policy.

2. Budget Tracking, DCT Preparation, and Financial Reporting

• Track monthly expenditure against approved budget lines and flag under- or over-spend to the Admin and Finance Manager so that Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) funds are fully utilized within the quarter.

• Support in preparing inputs for DCT requests so that requests can be cleared and submitted to UNICEF at least fifteen days before the start of each quarter.

• Support in preparing liquidation documentation, FACE forms, and expenditure statements so that quarterly liquidation is completed and submitted within fifteen days of quarter end, in strict compliance with HACT timelines.

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, budget variance analyses, and inputs to donor financial reports.

• Support budget forecasting and cash flow planning under the direction of the Admin and Finance Manager.

3. Cash and Bank Management

• Monitor project cash balances and banking transactions on a daily basis and prepare bank reconciliation statements on a regular basis.

• Maintain accurate records of cash advances, adjustments, settlements, and outstanding balances.

• Ensure secure handling of cheques, cash, and financial instruments in accordance with internal control procedures.

• Support cash flow monitoring, fund management, disbursement to prevent delays in payments to volunteers, vendors, and landowners.

4. Compliance, Statutory Obligations, and Documentation

• Ensure compliance with UNICEF financial guidelines, PCA requirements, HACT rules, and ESDO's financial policies in every transaction process.

• Ensure statutory deductions (VAT, tax, and other levies) are calculated, withheld, and deposited to the relevant authorities on time, and that returns are filed in accordance with Government of Bangladesh requirements.

• Maintain complete, well-indexed, and secure financial documentation and filing systems (physical and electronic) for audit, spot check and donor review.

• Support the Admin and Finance Manager in responding to audit observations and implementing recommendations.

5. Audit Support, Internal Controls, and Risk Awareness

• Support internal audits, UNICEF financial spot checks, programmatic spot checks, HACT assurance activities, and any external or donor audits by providing accurate documentation, reconciliations, and explanations.

• Follow internal control procedures diligently, including segregation of duties, authorization thresholds, and dual-signature requirements.

• Stay alert to fraud risk indicators and unusual transactions, and escalate any concerns immediately to the Admin and Finance Manager.

• Contribute to the project's risk register by flagging emerging financial or operational risks observed in day-to-day work.

6. Cross-Functional Financial Support

• Coordinate with the Procurement Associate, the other Finance Associate on payment processing, vendor documentation, and reconciliation of procurement transactions.

• Coordinate with the HR and Admin Associate on payroll processing, staff advances, volunteer incentive disbursements, and benefits payments.

• Support inventory and logistics records, verification, asset registration, and end-of-project asset transfer from the financial recording perspective.

• Provide timely financial information to programme colleagues so that decisions on activity implementation are informed by accurate expenditure data.

• Assist in administrative and operational financial matters as required.

7. Safeguarding, Accountability, and Ethical Practice

• Uphold the highest standards of Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Child Safeguarding (CSG), Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), and anti-fraud behavior in every financial transaction processed.

• Maintain strict confidentiality of financial, personnel, and community feedback information.

• Ensure that financial dealings with vendors, service providers, volunteers, and community members reflect integrity, transparency, and dignity.

8. Continuous Learning and Other Responsibilities

• Participate in project financial reviews, planning sessions, and capacity-building activities.

• Contribute to process improvements and efficiency gains within the finance function

• Any other duties assigned by the Admin and Finance Manager or the Skills Development Technical Lead in the interest of the project.

As per project allocation and organizational policy.