Global Finance Operations Assistant

Location: Makati City, Metro Manila (Philippines)

About IDinsight

We amplify social impact by partnering with leaders to develop tailored solutions. Our mission is to use data and evidence to help leaders combat poverty worldwide.

IDinsight is a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics, and research organization that helps global development leaders maximize their social impact. We tailor a wide range of data and evidence tools, including randomized evaluations and machine learning, to help decision-makers design effective programs and rigorously test what works to support communities. We work with governments, multilateral agencies, foundations, and innovative non-profit organizations in Asia and Africa. Our work spans a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in a variety of rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact we:

• Support clients’ use of data and evidence for routine and major decision-making.
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches.
• Create and share tools, knowledge, and ideas that expand the use of data and evidence for social good.

Our diverse, growing team of more than 300 outstanding colleagues operate in nearly two dozen countries around the world.  Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org.  

We are seeking an individual who possesses exceptional attention to detail and thrives in an entrepreneurial, global setting. This is a hands-on role, and the incumbent should expect to execute many processes directly, in addition to reviewing the work of others. The Global Finance Operations Assistant will be responsible for the financial and compliance aspects of the operations in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. 

About the Finance Operations Assistant role

The Finance Assistant will play a vital role in managing query resolution for employees' expense reimbursements and vendor invoices, and supporting daily Accounts Payable (AP) operations for all of IDinsight entities. Additionally, this role will be the focal person in the region for finance-related liaising with partner organizations, banks, auditors, government agencies, local legal counsel, vendors and service providers.

This role requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, and foundational accounting knowledge. The Finance Assistant will report directly to the Senior Specialist, Finance Operations based in India.

This role is ideal for a finance professional with at least 3 years of relevant experience, looking to develop their skills in a dynamic environment. 

The successful candidate will be proactive, detail oriented, and capable of managing multiple tasks to meet deadlines. This would also be an excellent role for someone looking to transition to the Development Sector and/or candidates from a consulting or accounting firm background who are transitioning to working within a company’s finance organization.

The candidate should have experience in query resolution, invoice processing, and compliance, with demonstrated success in maintaining accurate records and supporting team members. Prior experience with SAP or similar ERP systems is preferred. Those applying should expect to produce a significant amount of work independently and also coordinate work across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Query Resolution - Global (30-40%)

• • Review and process all queries received w.r.t employee reimbursement claims, providing resolutions for rejected expenses or delayed payment within the agreed timelines as per Service Level Agreement (SLA).
  • Resolve vendor queries and requests received via emails and tickets within the agreed timelines as per Service Level Agreement (SLA).
  • Follow up with requisitioners (via calls/emails or tickets) to resolve held invoices as per AP guidelines.
• Exception Handling and SLA reporting - Global (10-15%)
• • Maintain a tracker of exceptions and ensure invoices/queries are handled based on the exception tracker.
  • Maintain exception logs for process related exceptions for knowledge retention.
  • Independently perform transactional tasks supporting the compliance, planning, and execution of assigned processes.
  • Publish SLA tracker with payment team performance on a monthly basis 

• Regional Support (45 -50%)

• • Act as a bridge between the SEA regional office and global finance and operations teams on all accounting and finance matters
  • Act as the focal person for the region’s finance inquiries from partner organizations, banks, auditors, government agencies, vendors and service providers
  • Engage with external payroll and accounting firms to ensure accurate and timely financial transactions for payroll 
  • Guided by IDinsight’s finance policies, improve financial systems and processes for the SEA region, and contribute to process improvements at the global level
  • Establish a filing system and oversee the management of all finance and compliance related documents for the region.
  • Perform a variety of regional financial tasks including: 
    • Creation and management of invoices
    • Reconciling source information to accounting information
    • Issuance of official financial receipts 
    • Submitting payroll information to third party service provider to process reporting and other statutory compliance requirements
    • Creating reports, particularly in Excel, and tracking accounting transactions and relevant metrics for finance team review
    • Reviewing monthly office petty cash expense reports and documentation, as well as tracking of expenses incurred from events organized by the SCC and PD committees. 
    • Conducting training sessions for regional staff to enhance their understanding of global financial policies and procedures.
    • Supporting project teams with budget projections, if needed.

Qualifications

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or closely related field 
• 3 or more years of relevant work experience 
• Knowledge of tax and business compliance laws in the Philippines 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and working proficiency in Filipino
• Experience in a customer service/ payment representative role is preferred

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain systems and procedures for complex tasks
• Possess good communication abilities; is organized and efficient. Should be able to communicate needs and updates within and outside the team.
• Demonstrated proficiency in working in a technology-intensive environment, including familiarity with tools such as Unit 4, Slack, G-Suite, and Microsoft Office
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and working proficiency in Filipino.

Behaviors and mindsets

• Highly organized, attentive to deadlines, and able to manage a high volume of work with efficiency and under minimal supervision
• Strong attention to detail
• Solutions-oriented, with an ability to translate strategic ideas to action plans working across multiple work-streams in parallel
• Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter and fast learner; resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges
• Ability to interact and engage with employees from diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to take on all kinds of tasks and areas of responsibility; take on tasks at short notice
• Possesses honesty, integrity, strong work ethic, positivity, and team skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage close coordination with teammates and supervisors in different geographies is a plus

Professional development

Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy, and have been noted highlights of teammates’ experiences. IDinsight staff receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and are given considerable autonomy when ready. They maintain professional development plans and are given "stretch" opportunities designed to strengthen a variety of skills. Real-time feedback is embedded in our culture and formal structure enables maximum professional growth. Additionally, teammates have access to an annual professional development stipend that they are encouraged to utilize to explore their career interests and develop their skills.

Nuts & bolts

Location

The Finance Assistant will be based in IDinsight’s Southeast Asia headquarters in Makati City in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Start date

We are looking for candidates who can start by October 2024.

Professional development

Skills development is at the heart of our human resources policy. IDinsight staff benefit from professional development plans and evaluation plans to improve and strengthen their expertise over time. IDinsight's entrepreneurial culture also allows everyone to evolve according to their talents, interests and objectives.

How to apply

Please click the "Apply for this job online" button at the top right. The application asks various questions in order for us to get to know you, and requires a CV and cover letter. 

Please ensure that your CV includes relevant professional and personal experience as well as details on academic qualifications. CVs can range from one to two pages. Please note, headshot photographs, parental details, birth dates, marital status and other personal information not relevant to the application do not need to be included in your CV. Additionally, we strongly encourage you to use your cover letter to highlight why you want to work for IDinsight specifically, and what has prepared you to succeed in the role you’re applying for. A customized cover letter is an important part of IDinsight’s recruiting process as it allows us to understand your motivations for the position, relevant skills, and clarity of writing.

More information, including details on IDinsight’s hiring process and frequently asked questions, can be found online at IDinsight Careers. Any questions should be directed to sea.careers@IDinsight.org. 

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work. 

We seek a workforce that is inclusive of a variety of perspectives that will help us refine and improve our methods and relationships, and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations with whom we work and clients we serve.
2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.
3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.
4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is an equal opportunity employer and strives to create a diverse and supportive workplace.