POSITION TITLE: SGP Finance and Accounting Officer
DURATION OF CONTRACT: 12 months (renewable)
DEPARTMENT: Finance and Administration
DIVISION: Accounting
DUTY STATION: Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
REPORTING TO: Chief Accountant
TERMS OF REFERENCE
A. BACKGROUND
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), established in 2005, is ASEAN’s response to the challenge of biodiversity loss. It is an intergovernmental organisation that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the ASEAN Member States (AMS) and with regional and international organisations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural treasures.
The Small Grants Programmes (SGP) by the ACB is a Financial Cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW (German Development Bank) that aims to protect biological diversity in and around the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) in line with the interests of the local population. After two successful phases, KfW, in collaboration with the European Union, extended its support to a third SGP phase (SGP III).
The goal of the SGP III is to strengthen biodiversity conservation, management of natural resources in line with the basic needs of the local population in the ASEAN region and improve the livelihoods of communities in and around prioritised AHPs in Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Viet Nam.
The ACB is seeking dynamic, innovative, and committed candidates for the position of Finance and Accounting Officer, who will be responsible for executing necessary financial and accounting functions related to the SGP project of the ACB.
B. SCOPE OF DUTIES
Under the Accounting Division of the Finance and Administration (FA) Department, the SGP Finance and Accounting Officer, in close coordination with the SGP Project Manager of the Programmes Department, shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
- Financial Management and Reporting
1.1. Oversee and manage the financial management system of the ACB Small Grants Programmes (SGP) III in close coordination with the Director for Programmes, SGP Project Manager, and SGP project team;
1.2. Monitor the progress of fund disbursements and the overall flow of funds from KfW to ACB and onward to final beneficiaries;
1.3. Monitor expenditures and maintain updated records of fund utilization and balances and notify the Finance and Administration Department Director, SGP Project Manager, and Chief Accountant if there are any discrepancies or issues;
1.4. Prepare monthly financial statements of SGP and corresponding supporting schedules;
1.5. Prepare and submit accurate and timely financial reports in compliance with reporting requirements of KfW and EU;
1.6. Prepare disbursement requests, including all required supporting documentation, and endorse such requests to confirm their accuracy and completeness;
1.7. Verify all transactions related to special accounts, sub-accounts, and contractors to ensure compliance with contracts and relevant agreements;
1.8. Coordinate with the finance staff of Implementing Partners to ensure that reporting requirements are aligned with and compliant with KfW and EU standards; and
1.9. Liaise with the International Consultant team for the review of financial report submissions and verification of compliance with KfW and EU requirements. - Budget and Planning
2.1. Oversee the financial planning aspects of SGP in close coordination with the Director for Programmes, SGP Project Manager, and SGP project team;
2.2. Review budgetary requirements and certify fund availability prior to processing documents such as Activity Designs, Purchase Requests, Travel Authority/Order, Trip Ticket, Requests for Personnel, Requests for Consultancy, and others; and
2.3. Support the monitoring and implementation of activities outlined in the approved Activity Designs and Annual Work Plan of the SGP. - Accounting and Bookkeeping
3.1. Ensure proper and timely recording of all financial transactions in accordance with relevant financial reporting framework;
3.2. Obligate financial transactions prior to approval. - Audit Support
4.1. Provide necessary schedules and financial information during project audits;
4.2. Conduct cycle audit of all financial transactions and reports and ensure that all transactions and reports are in compliance with the provisions of the Grant Agreement and policies of the ACB;
4.3. Coordinate with the Risk Management and Quality Assurance Division to ensure that both financial and operational controls are in place; and
4.4. Maintain and organise project financial records to facilitate efficient planning and execution of annual SGP audits. - Cash Management
5.1. Prepare monthly bank reconciliation statements; and
5.2. Monitor foreign exchange currency rates. - Perform other related tasks under the SGP Project assigned by the Supervisor(s) from time to time.
C. QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in accountancy, business administration major in accounting, financial management or other related field; with at least three (3) years of experience in accounting and finance; or its equivalent requirements:
o Bachelor’s degree in a non-related field, with five (5) years of related work
experience is a requirement.
Skills
- Strong interpersonal, communication, leadership and training skills, and good organisational and advocacy skills
- High standard of personal conduct, honesty, and integrity, attentiveness to details
- High level of analytical and written communication skills to produce descriptive financial reports
- Proficiency in standard computer applications, preferrable web-based programmes
- Working knowledge of financial/accounting systems
- Understanding of contracts and agreements
- Ability to work independently and to effectively manage different tasks
Other Preference
- Previous work experience in a regional or international organisation in ASEAN is an advantage.
- External audit experience is preferable.
- CPA qualification is an advantage.
Nationality
- Must be a citizen of the Philippines
D. COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
a. Core Values
- Integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity
- Cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly
- Prudence, dependability and accountability
b. Core Competences
- Strong managerial and supervisory capacity, communication, teamwork, analytical, planning and organising, innovative, and technological awareness
E. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants should prepare the following and send all to acb.hr@aseanbiodiversity.org:
- A letter of intent of no more than two pages, elaborating on how his/her qualifications and experiences make him/her suitable for the position. Address the letter to Executive Director Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor. JP 2026-22 SGP Finance and Accounting Officer to be indicated in the aforesaid letter.
- Updated curriculum vitae and diploma, or transcript of records
- A completed Job Application Form (which can be downloaded here)
The deadline for submission of completed applications is 7 November 2026. Only applications with complete documentary requirements (Letter of Intent, completed Job Application Form, and curriculum vitae) will be processed. Applications received beyond this date will not be considered. All applicants will be given notice as to the status of their application. Previous applicants may apply again.
F. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The ACB does not ask for payment at any stage of its recruitment process (application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fees) nor authorises anyone to officially receive applications from prospective candidates, except through the ACB HumanResources Division. The public is strongly advised to be vigilant when dealing with financial transactions online and to report any suspicious individuals or accounts representing the ACB.
