WWF, the conservation organization with 26 years of experience in China, is seeking a highly motivated professional to join our team

Position title: Project Finance Officer

Unit: Project Finance

Reports to: Finance Manager

Location: To be based in Beijing, China

I. Major Functions:

a.        Responsible for administration of approved WWF projects.  Ensures that appropriate support is provided to project supervisors, contracted partners or consultants.  Responds to queries on project related financial matters.

b.        Responsible for preparing donors financial records, and ensuring compliance to WWF International and donors’ financial policies and procedures.

II. Major Duties and Responsibilities:

a.        Ensure the implementation and maintain sound financial policies and procedures for the project locations, in accordance with WWF International and donor requirements.

b.        Take lead in developing and updating project finance handbook and manual including processes, procedures and policies

c.        Assess and identify project capacity gaps and provide necessary training to third parties and project staff. In addition, to develop a capacity building plan and to facilitate training and development workshop where required.

d.        Take lead in project internal audit.

e.        Assist Project Supervisors to develop and give necessary input to project budget development at the project proposal stage. In addition, to assist and co-ordinate annual budget development against donors’ contract requirement.

f.         Review secured funding agreement from various donors. Keep Project Supervisors inform of contract related matters.

g.        Develops, and/or drafts project contracts with programme officers and responsible for issuance of project contract.

h.        Prepares requests for project payments based on approved budgets (contract payments, invoices).

i.         Collect and review third parties’ financial report.  Review third parties expenditure to ensure that the spending is in line with approved contractual budgets. In addition, to co-ordinate timely completion of all programmatic reporting requirements.

j.         Call funds from donors as and when required.  Responsible to liaise with donors as and when necessary.

k.        Undertakes visits to contracted projects to review administrative and financial status as and when requested by supervisor. 

l.         Train other project staff on WWF financial procedures and policies and the use of the computerized accounting system as necessary.

m.      Prepare donor budgets and financial reports, in consultation with Programme Officer and project technical staff for submission to donors.

n.        Monitors quarterly submission of financial reports from project and third parties to identify problems and solutions.

o.        Responds to project related financial queries from programme office staff, consultants, project staffs and donors.

p.       To be a backup within the project finance unit when necessary.

q.        Perform other tasks as and when assigned by the supervisor.

III.           Working Relationships:

1.       Internal: Frequent interactions with all Programme offices in WWF CPO, in particular key project leaders. Works closely with WWF CPO Finance Director, Finance Manager, Programme Officers, and various donors. Some contacts with WWF Network, specifically WWF International Asia Pacific and Finance unit, internal audit unit and Project finance unit.

2.       External: Consultants and third parties.

IV.           Minimum Qualifications:

1.       Knowledge: A university degree in finance, accounting or business administration.

2.       Experience: Minimum 3 years experience in the field of project financial management is essential. Good interpersonal skills as well as day-to-day contact with a diverse working group are required. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain clear lines of communication within all levels of staff is necessary.

3.       Skills and Abilities: Leadership and communication skills, coupled with diplomacy, numeracy are essential. The successful candidate will not only be meticulous and thorough, with a keen attention to detail, but will also be able to recommend changes and provide solutions to benefit both the unit and organization. Proven interpersonal and people-management skills, complemented by good written and spoken English, are a must. Strong financial skills, as well as a well-organised approach to work are necessary.

VI.        WWF's Mission and Values:

1.         It is part of every staff member's terms of reference to contribute to WWF's mission. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

-    conserving the world's biological diversity

-    ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable

-    reducing pollution and wasteful consumption.

2.        It is also part of every staff member's terms of reference to embody WWF’s values, which are: Passionate & Optimistic, Challenging & Inspiring, Credible & Accountable, and Persevering & Delivering Results.

Interested candidates should email a cover letter and CV to: HR@wwfchina.org. Please indicate your salary expectation in the cover letter. For further information on this position and other job opportunities in WWF China, please consult our web site at http://www.wwfchina.org (Chinese) or http://www.wwfchina.org/english/topic.php?topic=19 (English).

Application deadline:  June 4, 2006