Finance and Admin Assistant

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Finance and Admin Assistant

Sanepa Rd, Lalitpur 44600, Nepal

Full-time

Company Description

The Why: NEPAL aspires to graduate from least developing country to a lower middle-income country by 2026. However, the development community’s excessive focus today on socio-political empowerment has not yielded the desired economic transformation.  In reaching the 2026 national target, shall we wait for institutions of power to become accountably productive or shall we bolster innovations of people to bring inclusive prosperity?  And, shall we strengthen grassroots-government collaboration in shaping an equal and enterprising future?

The How: DAAYITWA, with a focus on economic empowerment, envisions an enterprising Nepal where every youth has opportunities for a prosperous future. Daayitwa is a part of the Daayitwa Abhiyaan which consists of four organizations: Daayitwa, Governance Lab, Nepal Leadership Academy based in Nepal and Nepal Rising (Daayitwa-US) based in the U.S. Inspired by shared values of innovation, collaboration, and service, it promotes the socio-economic development of Nepal. The movement fosters inclusive and equitable economic growth by accelerating grassroots innovations, strengthening government institutions, and revitalizing a virtuous cycle of democracy and development through grassroots-government collaboration.

1. Daayitwa - The Nepal-based NGO promotes domestic youth employment by enabling rural enterprises to create jobs and the government to make evidence-based policy decisions. 
2. Governance Lab - The Nepal-based research firm enables the government to make evidence-based policy decisions by conducting policy research, strengthening policy implementation capacity and fortifying research and governance ecosystems. 
3. Nepal Leadership Academy - The Nepal-based non-profit firm builds leadership capacity in change-agents so they can architect effective policy, business and civic innovations that tackle the most grueling adaptive challenges in the society. 
4. Nepal Rising - The US-based non-profit engages and empowers Nepali diaspora in the US to act as change-agents and strengthens glocal collaborations to promote socio-economic development of Nepal.

Our Focus Areas: 

1. Enterprise-led employment creation 
2. Design evidence-based policies for improved decision-making 
3. Build state capability for effective policy implementation 
4. Foster stakeholder collaboration for governance innovations

Growth Entrepreneurship and Employment Program (GEEP): GEEP accelerates rural enterprises for boosting employment and income growth in rural Nepal. GEEP is executed through a partnership among Daayitwa, Gandaki and Koshi provincial governments, 10 local governments and the Nepali diaspora. GEEP’s objectives are to accelerate growth-oriented rural enterprises, build state capability for effective policy implementation  and foster stakeholder collaboration for governance innovation. GEEP builds on Daayitwa’s decade-long experience in governance innovation and accelerating growth-oriented enterprises in rural Nepal to create jobs and amplify income through the Rural Enterprise Acceleration Program (REAP).

Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Policy Fellowship Program: Daayitwa supports bureaucrats and parliamentarians in making policy decisions by conducting policy research, building capability of government and strengthening research ecosystem. Through the Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship (DNPPF) Program and Daayitwa Nepal Public Administration Fellowship (DNPAF), Daayitwa identifies service-minded talented Nepali youth, capacitates them to conduct policy research, connects their policy recommendations with government actions and builds an evidence-based policy ecosystem. Since 2013, DNPSF has supported 189 talented Nepali youth trained in 32 countries to conduct research projects for 28 parliamentarians and 74 government organizations in all 7 provinces (42 municipalities).

Leadership for Economic Governance Program: Daayitwa enables local governments to promote local economic development by enhancing their policy leadership capability and fostering trustful collaboration with other municipal ecosystem stakeholders. Through the Leadership for Economic Governance (LEG) program, a joint initiative of Daayitwa, Governance Lab and Nepal Leadership Academy, we run an executive policy leadership course for local governments, supports them to identify major economic challenges, and facilitates them to implement innovative policy pilots using the Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) and Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) approaches. So far, LEG has supported 3 municipal governments of Lumbini province to promote youth employment and women’s economic empowerment.

Policy and Governance Dialogues: Daayitwa has been organizing policy and governance dialogues and The National Governance Symposium (NGS) to enhance the governance ecosystem of the country. These dialogues and Symposiums aim to foster greater shared clarity, commitment, and capacity among key stakeholders such as the Federal Parliament of Nepal, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Through such dialogues, Daayitwa aims to bring together stakeholders on crucial policy matters related to Nepal's economic development. Daayitwa also brings together local leaders, national and international experts, and development practitioners from various fields to gather unique insights and perspectives.

Job Description

The What: You, as the Finance and Admin Assistant, will assist the Finance and Admin team in the following activities:

Finance:

• Record daily financial transactions and maintain accurate financial records.
• Collect and verify all financial vouchers and supporting documents for accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure that all bank and cash transactions are executed following proper review and approval.
• Prepare complete payment vouchers and handle cash disbursements.
• Review accounts payable, including payroll, and ensure timely preparation, approval, and delivery of checks.
• Maintain petty cash and prepare monthly bank and cash reconciliations.
• Liaise with auditors, tax agents, banks, lawyers, and statutory bodies to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
• Perform monthly reconciliation of bank statements and assist in maintaining proper records of funds received, spent, and remaining balances.
• Keep up-to-date accounts, including cash books, ledgers, subsidiary ledgers, and fixed asset registers.
• Support procurement processes by negotiating and managing purchase orders or vendor contracts for goods and services.
• Assist the Finance Coordinator in preparing financial reports.
• Ensure timely collection and payment of income tax to the Ministry of Finance and address tax-related matters.
• Perform other finance-related tasks as required.
• Provide administrative support in procurement, contract management, staff record management and records maintenance.
• Maintain office inventory and update asset records regularly.
• Coordinate logistics for meetings, events, and training sessions.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Finance and Admin Coordinator.

Qualifications

• At least a Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or other related fields with preferably 2 years of work experience. 
• Understanding of social issues related to economic prosperity, income generation, and community-driven development
• Demonstrates and safeguards organizational ethics and integrity
• Independence in working on complex problems in the field of specialization consistently applying creativity and independent judgment
• Strong motivation and organizational/time management skills.
• Ability to exercise self-control and make informed decisions during uncertainties
• Learning attitude and able to encourage a learning environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Nepali and English
• Excellent client orientation, diplomatic skills, and drive for results are essential
• Proficiency in computer usage, particularly in Word, Excel and Powerpoint
• Expertise in financial management and accounting, including creating financial statements, using accounting software and following the tax policies of the Nepal Government.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, including drive for paying meticulous attention to details in reports and presentations
• Determined to work hard, take risks and fail forward
• Proven ability to prioritize and meet deadlines during pressure
• Proactive and practical approach to problem-solving and managing conflicts
• Teamwork attitude, including facilitating open communication

Additional information

Compensation: Daayitwa will provide compensation on a monthly rate basis. The rate will be mutually agreed upon, commensurate with the level of the required deliverables, the qualifications and experience of the candidate. 

If you're keen on this position, kindly complete the form below by 15th January 2025. To access the page, please click on the provided link and right-click to go to the link.

https://forms.gle/QRG9HbE8hyxkDYnN9

In the subject line, put “Job Title followed by your first and last name (e.g., “XXX – Sabina Nepali)” and attach the following documents. All documents must be compiled in a single file, in the same order and saved in PDF format:

• Cover letter (one page max)
• CV 
• Academic transcripts/certificate for most recent qualification

Deadline: 15th January 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

**Only shortlisted candidates will be notified**