JOB DESCRIPTION

The role

We are currently looking for Finance and Procurement Manager for GPE-STG Project based in Vientiane Capital

Role Purpose

The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) has received a System Transformation Grant (STG) from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to implement the “Foundational Learning Improvement Project” in disadvantaged communities of 9 districts from 5 provinces: Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Salavanh and Saysomboun. The implementation period is 3.5 years, July 2025 to December 2028. The MoES is an implementing agency for the GPE-STG project and Save the Children is the grant agent providing fiduciary and technical oversight of the grant.

The GPE-STG program has been designed within the approved parameters of the Partnership Compact 2024-2028 that reflects extensive dialogue between the Government and its development partners, which is based on a comprehensive analysis of enabling factors and educational data. The priority reform objective of partnership compact is “Improving foundational learning outcomes for all and supporting students in lower secondary”. To achieving this reform objective, the GPE-STG project includes the following components:

1. Expand one-year school readiness programs for five-year-old children
2. Strengthen continuous professional development (CPD) for primary school teachers
3. Support girls at risk of dropping out of lower secondary schools

This position is reserved for Lao nationality only.

KEY AREA OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Ensure they and their team fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct and Local/Country Procedures.

Conduct themselves and ensure their team conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy, in their personal and professional lives – which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.

That child safeguarding is integrated and given a “voice” in all management processes including recruitment, induction, performance management, team meetings, annual planning processes, field level monitoring, etc.

Key responsibilities:

Finance matters:

• Provide overall guidance on financial management with close oversight of reviewing, budgeting, reporting, financial forecasting and analysis.
• Manage financial matters and ensuring all payments meet regulations and requirements of Save the Children, GPE and the Government related to the GPE funding usage.
• Manage the annual budgeting and financial reporting processes and lead the writing of the budget for the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB), and Quarterly and Annual Financial Reports expenditure reports.
• Review budget proposals from lead departments compared to approved AWPB, which are submitted from implementing agencies at central and subnational levels and then, making recommendations for issuance of advances through coordination with SCI finance team and MoES-Department of Finance.
• Review expenditure reports compared to completion/technical reports, which are submitted from implementing agencies and then, making recommendations for clearing advances.
• Prepare lists of advances issued to implementing agencies and track submission of the expenditure reports for clearing advances after completion of activities; also provide hands-on support for preparing expenditure reports to avoid delays of clearing advance.
• Ensure grant expenditures, payment controls and fraud controls are compliant with regulations and policies in the STG Project Operations Manual, Government of Lao, and the Financing Agreement.
• Prepare cash forecasts, quarterly and annual financial reports, disbursement letters, monthly reconciliation of the project bank account, and prepare budget documentation as required.
• Coordinate with Save the Children to track and include direct payments made by the grant agent in the quarterly and annual reporting.
• Ensure financial records are up-to-date, secure and available for audit.
• Manage all entries, transfers, foreign exchange transactions, reports and reconciliations in the project and government financial management system, including ensuring the grant financings are reflected in the national budget annual report.
• Prepare Quarterly and Annual Financial Reports, and other reports or spot-checks as requested by MoES, MoF, GPE or Save the Children.

Procurement

• Manage overall Procurement Plan activities of the GPE-STG project through coordination with SCI procurement team and with Department of Finance, MoES.
• Arrange bidding procedures or quotation requests related to any procurement exercises, such as purchasing goods, renting vehicles, arranging meeting rooms, etc.

Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance, accounting or any related field.
• At least 5-7 years of working experience on financial management of projects, transactions, procedures and processes, bookkeeping, and bank reconciliation, audit support and administration, ideally in an aid program or the government system.
• Strong knowledge of project finance and procurement systems and procedures.
• Computer literate in MS Office suite and financial management software.
• Flexible, able to respond to changing situations and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively and calmly in a high-pressure environment.
• Self-motivated, confident and able to take initiative, and work under minimum supervision.
• Good command of English communication skills in both writing and speaking is an asset.
• Commitment to gender equity, safeguarding and inclusive education.

Contract length: Fixed term

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Interested candidates please submit a full application using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document including contact details of three professional referees (current and last line managers and HR department). Please also include details of your salary expectations and a copy of your ID card. Please note that we will require a copy of your Criminal Records (ໃບແຈ້ງໂທດ) later.

Save the Children International is a child-rights based organization. Safe recruitment is central to the safeguarding of children and young people that we come into contact with, and support through our programmes.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Save the children is an equal opportunities employer, qualified females, persons with disability and candidates from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.