Education / academic background:
Master’s Degree or equivalent in finance, accounting, or business administration.
Minimum 5 years experience on a similar position, in the humanitarian sector.
Specific skills and experience:
Technical skills
1. Previous experience in administrative and financial management for an international NGO (at least three years).
2. Good knowledge of Excel and SAGA.
3. Experience in team management.
4. Experience in leading finance teams and department in remote.
Transversal skills
1. Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.
2. Ability to work autonomously under high pressure and without constant supervision. 3. Previous experience in Myanmar and with Solidarites International is a strong asset.
Language:
1. English (fluent – mandatory)
2. French (strong asset)
Desired start date: As soon as possible
Duration of the mission: One year
Location: Myanmar
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI’s interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers – intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
About the mission
SI has been in Myanmar since 2008, first responding to the devastating Cyclone Nargis. In 2011 and 2012, SI expanded to new regions focusing on Livelihoods, Food Security, Shelter, and WASH sectors. SI is currently mainly operating in Rakhine and in Kachin States with outreach emergency capacities. The operations are supported by a Coordination team based in Yangon.
While continuing to support the vulnerable communities suffering from a long-term protracted crisis, SI is also developing a stronger and more responsive Emergency component, to tackle the growing needs spreading across the country.
As of December 2024, SI had 17 international staff and more than 307 national staff are working with SI Myanmar to implement projects focusing on Wash, FSL and Emergency response. Projects range from immediate life-saving response (Water Scarcity in Rakhine, Emergency response to new displacements etc.) to the search for more sustainable solutions to protracted crisis (handover to communities and local organizations, capacity-building, community empowerment etc.) Projects are currently funded by FCDO, ECHO, CDCS and UN agencies with potential for development in terms of geographical coverage and activities’ scope to address the emerging needs.
SI currently has a coordination base in Yangon, with field bases in the Rakhine and Kachin States. Each office is operational with a Field Coordinator and between 30 (Kachin) and 228 (Rakhine) colleagues.
SI has 2 regional operational bases (with 2 Field Coordinators):
– In Rakhine State – Sittwe regional base with two areas of intervention in Pauktaw and Sittwe Townships. Sittwe State base is composed of 228 national staffs and 4 expatriates, supported by roughly 50 community facilitators.
– In Kachin State – Bhamo regional base which is composed of 30 national staff and 1 expatriate.
Each base is directly supported by a Coordination team in Yangon, composed of 21 national staff and 9 internationals (CD, DCD-Program, Program Coordinators, Grants Team, Finance Coordinator, Logistician Coordinator).
In 2024, the mission budget reached 10 million euros, out of which two-thirds were from Rakhine, and a similar funding level is expected in 2025. The main financial partners of the mission are ECHO, FCDO, CDCS and UN agencies.
General objective:
Under the direct line management of the RKS Field Coordinator, the RKS Finance manager is responsible for the overall management of the finance team of the base (currently one deputy finance manager, one finance supervisor, one finance officer and 2 cashiers). On finance/admin assistant based in the Sittwe camps should also be recruited starting April 20258.This includes building the capacity of the finance team and ensuring each team member has clear working objectives to reach and an action plan to follow, with deadlines and smart indicators. The RKS Finance Manager is also expected to ensure qualitative cash flow and bookkeeping for all transactions of the base as well as budgetary and financial monitoring. Finally, s/he will be expected to participate to key internal meetings, report on achievements and reporting and ensure regular communication with his line and functional manager as per needs and/or agreed schedule.
The main challenges:
Entry in the country is limited for expatriates, the position has to be considered as remote position until further notice.
Access: Travel Authorization (TA) is needed every month in order to access the camps, expatriate cannot apply for TA since august 2023. The TA is not granted every months, thus remote working and supervision apply.
Priorities for the 2/3 first months:
. Understanding the Sittwe context
. Understanding the team dynamics, strengths and areas of improvements and build up a capacity plan for key position of the team – DFiM + supervisor)
. Familiarize and master the key SI finance tools such as Boussol, AB and CFF
. Organise monthly budget follow up meetings and train the managers in proper budget follow up, forecasting and SAGA cross checks
Security constraints:
SI internal security level : 3
The security context in Rakhine is currently stable but quite volatile since the reignition of clashes between MAF and AA on November 13th 2023.
No humanitarian staff or N/INGOs are threaten or at direct risk but clashes can sometimes be heard from Sittwe office or Sittwe camps. The risk of being caught is cross-fire is therefore light but not inexistent. Since November 13th, all roads/waterways to/from Rakhine are closed by the de-facto authorities and SI’s last TA expired on November 5th. SI has therefore no TA hence no possibility to access to the camps. However, in both areas SI relies on strong camp-based staffs who lead the activities from inside despite the lack of access to expatriate or other senior managers. Working without TA and in a conflicting environment remains challenging and stressful. From a finance perspectives, the risks of fraud & corruption are high and strong remote management SOPs + skills are required to minimize those risks. Access to internet and electricity in Sittwe can be difficult at times and adaptable working modalities must be use as alternates.
A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 2310 gross per month (2100 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 750.
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.
Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.
Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
Based in Sittwe or Yangon in case of access constraints – in both locations : Guest House conditions
Good living conditions in Yangon, with many restaurants ) social life options.
No electricity nor internet in Sittwe.
Electricity and internet at the office few hors a day thanks to a generator and a VSAT.
electricity at the guesthouse thanks to a generatorand invertor but no internet.
Limited restaurant & social life options. Curfew from 8 pm until 4 am.