Senior Finance Officer - Financial Reporting & Auditing

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking a driven professional to join its dynamic team in headquarters in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, as a Senior Finance Officer - Financial Reporting & Auditing*.

The successful candidate will lead the Donor Financial Reporting team by overseeing the financial management and reporting of donor-funded projects, ensuring compliance with donor regulations. Work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to maintain high standards of financial accountability, transparency, and efficiency. Coordinate the project audits and donor-commissioned audits to ensure that project audits are conducted effectively, in compliance with donor regulations and organizational policies, and financial integrity is upheld. This role also requires a high level of analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with various teams to assess and improve project financial management practices.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Obtain thorough understanding of the donor agreements and provide clear guidance to the reporting team and internal stakeholders on the complex terms and conditions.
• Oversee the preparation and review of donor financial reports in accordance with donor agreements, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and timelines.
• Act as the focal point to communicate with bilateral donors on project finance related issues and participate in progress review meetings with the donor.
• Oversee the donor invoicing process and ensure donor receivables are followed up regularly to maintain a healthy liquidity level for the Institute.
• Lead the donor commissioned audits and oversee the project audits carry out by external auditors.
• Provide technical assistance to staff on audit-related matters, and financial reporting standards; Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of all audits, findings, and follow-up actions for future reference.
• Review the draft project audited financial statements; Monitor the implementation of corrective actions following audit recommendations and track progress to ensure timely resolution of issues.
• Implement best practices in grants management and consistently assess and enhance the processes and internal controls.
• Ensure coordination with Program Management Office, Regional Offices and Project Leaders to discuss and resolve issues / concerns on project financials.
• Conduct a comprehensive review of the existing Financial Policies and Procedures Manual, ensuring it reflects any changes in regulations, financial standards, or organizational practices over the past year.
• Assist the Primary Manager in the annual audit process of the Institute.
• Responsible for the annual performance evaluation of the donor reporting team.
• Attend to any other responsibilities relevant to the role, assign by the primary manager.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Part professional qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) or the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
• Minimum of 05 years of highly relevant experience.
• At least 2 years of experience in auditing in the capacity of audit supervisor / in-charge auditor.
• At least 2 years of experience in financial reporting function.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential,

• Excellent oral and written language skills in English, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities.
• Strong ability to present complex findings in a clear, concise, and actionable manner.
• Ability to review financial reports and identify gaps.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel with coupled with strong ability to analyse and reconcile figures.
• Ability to read, understand and interpret the terms and conditions in complex documents and agreements.
• Strong teamworking skills with the ability to coordinate tasks across departments.
• Proven ability to manage and prioritize a diverse workload while meeting deadlines.

Benefits

This is a nationally recruited position and only Sri Lankan nationals will be considered. IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years with the possibility of extension.

*Please note that the position is advertised under the title Senior Finance Officer - Financial Reporting & Auditing; however, the successful candidate's job title will be Senior Grants Officer, in accordance with IWMI's job title guidelines.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on March 13, 2025 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.