Finance Manager
WSUP Country Office, Bangladesh
Total years of experience :18 years, 10 Months
In my role as WSUP Country Office Finance Manager, I ensure that all financial activities comply with international standards, and local regulations, adhering to funder rules, WSUP policies, and procedures. This includes coordinating seamlessly between field offices and headquarters, even under tight deadlines.
During my tenure at WSUP Bangladesh, I've achieved a zero-question cost record, consistently exceeding auditor expectations (both locally and at UK headquarters). My clear documentation and work style have earned their continuous praise.
Beyond financial management, I actively participate in the country-level decision-making team for program operations and management. I work collaboratively with various teams to provide valuable input on program operations and management. This includes timely support to partners (regarding fund management) and government entities involved in WSUP programs. I guarantee adherence to local authority and National Board of Revenue requirements. Additionally, I ensure the accurate and timely processing of country staff payroll.
Financial reporting is another key responsibility. I handle internal and external (funder) reporting needs, along with budgeting (including funding applications) and cash flow management for the WSUP Country Office. I also ensure general IT support and error-free usage of iPOS and Sun System Financial Management software.
Furthermore, I oversee project and period closure activities. Effective communication is a vital aspect of my daily interactions with internal and external stakeholders. I have even served as Acting Country Manager for WSUP Bangladesh on several occasions. My responsibilities extend further, as I provide finance business partnering support to both WSUP UK and WSUP Kenya.
In a nutshell, my oversight encompasses Finance, Grants, Administration, HR, Procurement, IT Functions, Finance Systems, and Office Safety & Security.
Throughout my time at CARE Bangladesh, I played a pivotal role in managing budgets and reporting for a diverse range of projects funded by major donors. These included USAID, DCOF-USAID, OFDA/BHA, GoB, EU/EC, ECHO, GAP Foundation, Wal Mart Foundation, UNICEF, UNDP, FCDO/DFID, and others.
I actively supported all program leads, shared departments, and field offices in preparing our yearly budget, which typically averaged $30 million. My responsibilities included developing yearly budget guidelines, utilizing and training staff on budget software, and facilitating local and international audits for major funding agencies like USG, EC/EU, ECHO, and UKaid.
Financial Management Reports were a key area of expertise and personal interest for me. I also hold significant experience in cost analysis, having performed CARE Bangladesh Shared Cost Analysis for several years. Additionally, I was a contributing member of the CARE Bangladesh proposal budget development team.
Further demonstrating my well-rounded financial management skills, I actively participated in reviewing budgets, contracts, and financial monitoring for Partner NGOs and Implementing Partner NGOs. Effective communication remained a cornerstone of my daily interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
During my tenure, I even had the opportunity to serve as Section Manager- Budget and Reporting at CARE Bangladesh.
At HASAB, I ensured strong financial management, controlling budgets and making timely payments. I meticulously followed financial rules for payments, reports, etc. I also prepared project financial reports and helped to consolidate organizational financial statements. This included verifying donor reports, managing daily treasury functions, and overseeing project accounts and petty cash. Effective communication was one of the key tasks with all stakeholders.
At IDSL, I excelled in financial operations (cash management, budgeting) and recordkeeping. I ensured profitability (staff bonuses), followed procurement procedures, and managed inventory. Monthly reports tracked financial health. I assisted auditors and handled HR, ensuring smooth communication and coordination.
My key tasks involved preparing draft audit reports for various clients (special and internal audits), supervising articled students, and contributing to the development of NGO financial manuals.