Terms of Reference

Finance Manager

Job Description 

The Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN) is a globally and regionally focused non-governmental, not-for-profit organization committed to advancing building energy performance and realizing sustainable built environments for all. With team members based in Indonesia, India, Australia, and Europe, GBPN brings over 10 years of experience and innovation to sustainable building policy reform. By leveraging our expertise, analysis, evidence, and global network, GBPN helps governments and industry achieve their climate and sustainability goals. 

GBPN’s mission is to support the building sector in realizing its full energy savings and CO2 mitigation potential of more than 2.1 Gt by 2030. To achieve this, GBPN works with governments and industry to implement climate actions in their building sectors aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Context & Reason for the Hire

Over the past three years, GBPN has experienced rapid organisational growth, particularly in Indonesia and India. With plans to open legal entities in these countries in 2025, there is a need for a Finance Manager to design and implement compliant financial processes and systems that ensure effective budgeting, financial management, monitoring, reporting, and income projections. The Finance Manager will also oversee mandatory or contractual audits and help optimise financial structures and systems to support GBPN’s ongoing expansion and operations. 

Scope of Work

The Finance Manager will oversee and manage the following:

Impact and Leadership 

  • Collaborate with the Leadership Team to drive Financial strategic initiatives to impact overall organizational goals and OKRs.
  • Develop and deliver initiatives to ensure stakeholder engagement and messaging/communication.
  • Build and develop a best-in-class scalable Finance function and team to support ambitious organizational growth, new market expansion while
    maintaining compliance and adherence to budgets.
  • Hire, develop, mentor Finance team members, and promote professional growth.
  • Act as an internal consultant and trusted Financial business partner to the Head of Shared Services and Global and Country Leadership teams on high-priority matters.

Key Responsibilities

1. Maintenance of QuickBooks accounting system 

  • Maintain QuickBooks master-data ie. chart of accounts, projects codes and currencies
  • Maintain QuickBooks transaction data ie. Journal entries for income, expense accruals, bank transfers, interest, reclassifications and corrections
  • Supervise the maintenance of the accounts payable ledger and bank accounts (performed by the Finance Assistant)
  • Maintenance of budgets in QuickBooks for programmes and departments
  • Continue with the optimisation of the accounting system in order to improve efficiency and enhance integration with other systems where practical

2. Accounting 

  • Responsibility for all balance sheet account reconciliations and accounts payable balances
  • Ensure the integrity of all financial and master-data in QuickBooks

3. Treasury Responsibilities 

  • Execute payment cycles in online banking system and maintain beneficiary records
  • Prepare regular cash flow forecast in USD & Euro currencies and optimise bank deposit interest earnings

4. Financial Statements

  • Provide timely information to accounting service providers in Paris to ensure the local financial statements are maintained in local currency
    (euro) with periodic reviews and resolution of any issues or queries
  • Provide all necessary information and documentation to Paris based service providers
  • Oversee and participate in the completion of the financial statements annually and ensure timely availability for General Assembly approval
  • Lead the annual financial statements audit programme

5. Reporting 

  • Prepare quarterly financial report for board meetings
  • Prepare monthly financial report for GMG
  • Prepare all donor reports in relation to awarded grants, interim and final, in line with contractual commitments.

6. Budgeting and Forecasting 

  • Lead and collaborate with senior management and other budget-holders on the annual budgeting cycle
  • Prepare final annual budget document for submission to the board for review and subsequent approval
  • Lead on quarterly project reviews with relevant stakeholders
  • Maintain regular updates of the budget

7. Management Responsibilities 

  • Manage and support other personnel in the team, currently 1 part time Finance Assistant
  • Participate in meetings and other collaborations with personnel across the organisation
  • Ownership of the finance function and a continuous improvement mindset with regard to processes, policies and technology

Essential Qualifications 

Skills and Experience

  • Proven experience in accounting and budget management.
  • Demonstrated experience in operational and financial planning, budgeting, and managing multi-office & multi-country projects.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills in a dynamic environment.
  • Proficient in MS Suite, particularly Excel at an advanced level.
  • Familiarity with integrated accounting systems.
  • Comprehensive understanding and experience of accounting for foreign exchange transactions.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate with non-finance personnel.
  • Experience working in an international context with diplomacy and ability to engage with a variety of people from different cultural backgrounds.
  • Ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with project budget holders and country managers.
  • Ability to work autonomously under minimal supervision but in close collaboration with the Head of Shared Services.

Education Profile 

  • Finance degree and/or accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA , ACA)
  • Formal accounting training required, a Degree in Business Administration, Accountancy, Economics or similar is considered an advantage
  • 10-12 years relevant post-qualification experience – 4 years in a service-based organisation

Desired skills 

  • Ability to work as an independent consultant
  • Flexibility to co-work across international time zones
  • Proficiency in oral and written communication in French (preferred)
  • Understanding of legal and accounting requirements in France, Indonesia, India
  • Familiarity with US nonprofit management and regulatory compliance
  • Knowledge of ERP systems (such as Quickbooks) for SMEs is an added advantage
  • Experience as a financial manager within an organisation of relevant scale and complexity
  • Experience in a grant-funded, project-based environment (preferably with US-based donors)

Direct Report 

  • The Finance Manager is part of the Shared Services team of the Global Head office (association loi 1901- registered in France)
  • The Global Head of Shared Services manages the team that works closely with Country teams, the Global Head of Operations (HoO) and Executive Director
  • The Finance Manager will also interface with grantees, consultants, contractors and partners in countries, and possibly GBPN Board Members
  • Reports include in-country outsourced services & external partners (Payroll, Tax & Accounting)

We Offer 

  • This role is offered as a full-time position (230 days/year) as a remote-working contractor, with a fixed-term fee for service consulting contract for a period of up to 24 months subject to satisfactory performance. The contract may be extended subject to available funding.
  • Communication with GBPN team members around the world is largely online (Zoom), and may require working outside normal working hours to overlap with other time-zones.

How to apply 

Email proposals by 28th February 2025 to: careers@gbpn.org (include Finance Manager in the email subject line). 

Please provide: 

    1. Your CV and a cover letter detailing qualifications to perform the role, including relevant experience, and description and/or links to similar assignments. The letter should also indicate your preferred start date. 
    2. A one page proposal detailing your approach for the services and work described, including number of days per week, your daily rate and total fee for services in $US Dollars including all applicable taxes and charges.
    3. List of references and their contact details.

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GBPN runs innovative building policy reform programs in key regions around the world that aim to tackle the climate emergency by decarbonising the buildings sector. Stay up to date with our newsletter.

Stay in touch with how we’re transforming the buildings sector

GBPN runs innovative building policy reform programs in key regions around the world that aim to tackle the climate emergency by decarbonising the buildings sector. Stay up to date with our newsletter.