Graduate School of Business

[Full time]

Mekong Institute

recruitment@mekonginstitute.org

Mekong Institute

MI is an intergovernmental organization that contributes to regional cooperation and integration through capacity development, dialogue, and advocacy for the acceleration of sustainable socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

Founded and represented by Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, MI’s strategies are aligned with the core tenets of the GMS Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030, ASEAN Economic Community, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. MI supports these frameworks through the implementation of projects across the areas of Agricultural Development and Commercialization, Trade and Investment Facilitation, and Sustainable Energy and Environment, while addressing issues of social inclusion and vulnerability, digital economy and innovation, and labor mobility to cement holistic and sustainable development impacts in the subregion and beyond.

Mekong Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF)

Following the launch of the Mekong - ROK partnership in 2011, the MKCF was established in 2013 to encourage and support cooperation in six priority areas outlined in the Han River Declaration of 2011. It was agreed among five Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam and Thailand) and the ROK that the MKCF will be financed through an annual contribution from the ROK to MI which will be managed by MI in accordance with the Terms of Reference (TOR) adopted at the 3rd Mekong – ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in July 2013. Mekong Institute (MI) serves as the coordinator of the Mekong-Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF) and the MKCF financed by MOFA ROK.

RoK provides financial contributions to the MI on a yearly basis, subject to the availability of resources and in accordance with its national laws and regulations, to support the implementation of cooperative activities such as projects initiated by the ROK and the Mekong countries. In this role, MI is responsible for collecting proposals for MKCF-funded projects from the Governments of the Mekong countries and the ROK, screening the proposals and circulating shortlisted proposals to the Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOM) for review and approval, disbursing funds from the MKCF to the approved projects, monitor and review the implementation of the MKCF-funded projects and communicating the progress and results of the implementation of MKCF-funded projects with the Mekong countries and the ROK.

Since its inception in 2014, a total of 32 projects have been approved for implementation in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and ROK out of which 9 has been completed and 23 projects are in various stages of implementation. The total amount disbursed until 2021 is 7.4 Million USD. The annual contribution of RoK is 5 million USD (likely to increase each year) during the current Mekong RoK Plan of Action from 2021- 2025.

MKCF Unit

The MKCF unit is under the Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) Department of MI. The program Director of TIF is the Coordinator of the MKCF whose role is to coordinate all activities related to MRCF and report progress to the RoK and Mekong Senior officials’ meetings. The MKCF Coordinator is assisted by a Program Officer to coordinate activities by working closely with the project implementation agencies (PIA) in the Mekong countries. The Project Finance Coordinator (MKCF) will work closely with the MKCF unit to provide the MKCF team with regular financial reports to aid management decision making and manage and monitor financial expenditure of the MKCF. The MKCF unit is supported under the current Mekong RoK Plan of Action from 2021-2025.

Project Finance Coordinator (MKCF Project), Finance & Operations Department

We are seeking a Project Finance Coordinator (MKCF Project), Finance & Operations Department. The position is based at Mekong Institute, located on Khon Kaen University campus, Northeast Thailand. Khon Kaen, a growing city, is the commerce and political center of Northeastern Thailand and an important gateway to other GMS countries.

Reporting to the Director, Finance and Operations of MI, the Project Finance Coordinator (MKCF) is responsible for providing complete financial and contractual project management support to MKCF project teams. The Project Finance Coordinator (MKCF) will act as focal point for the PIAs for grants, budgets and contracts.

Main deliverables, responsibilities and tasks

Key deliverables

1. Establish and conduct due diligence of the projects to assess project proponent capacities, any long term /short term risk etc for shortlisting the proposals for funding.

2. Provide accurate project budget management, in compliance with all relevant MKCF and MI rules and standards, through systematic and recording and reporting of transactions.

3. Provide accurate and timely general project finance support provided to the MKCF projects.

4. Provide accurate and timely financial reports, as required by RoK and MI.

5. Support and assist other finance functions routinely provided as required.

Main responsibilities and tasks

The Project Finance Coordinator (MKCF) will be a part of MKCF team and will be responsible for day-to-day activities related to the MKCF project. S/he should be responsible and take full ownership for the following scope of work:

• Establish and conduct due diligence of the projects to assess the proponent capacities for shortlisting the project proposals for funding.

• Prepare project’s annual cash flow plan on the basis of work plan and related procurement plan.

• Support on maintaining and operating the MKCF projects designated account and making payments to PIAs and verifying and authorizing payments for all activities under the MKCF funded projects;

• Prepare unaudited and audited Project Account of the project;

• Facilitate training/orientation of PIA staff members MKCF guidelines and Procedures;

• Maintain the MKCF bank accounts organizing the process of disbursements of amounts from the Grant account and replenishment;

• Provide required support to the PIAs on overall financial management including planning and budgeting, accounting, internal controls, financial reporting, auditing and funds flow management;

• Ensure a proper management and disbursement of projects funds following a sound accounting, budgeting, financial control and audit procedures acceptable to the RoK;

• Ensure that all project transactions are booked timely & accurately and preparation of all requests for payments;

• Carry out control and filing of all documents related with financial activities, invoices and other documents relating to project transactions;

• Ensure that all documents are kept appropriately and are made available to the independent auditor and RoK’s supervision missions for examination;

• Cooperate with RoK to improve project financial management, following up the action points and the recommendations of external auditors;

• Provide the Auditor with access to copies of all necessary documentation, information and supporting materials;

• Ensure implementation of general principles and policies of budgeting, accounting, auditing, internal controls and financial monitoring are fully complied in the Project;

• Support in institutionalizing and implementing effective internal controls and financial monitoring for the MKCF Projects;

• Any other tasks assigned by the MI Executive Director, Director Finance and Operations and MKCF Coordinator.

Required qualifications, skills and experience

Candidates should have a Master Degree in Finance and Accounting/ ACCA qualification or equivalent, Business Administration or Business Studies with at least 5 (Five) years of professional experiences in the field of project financial management.

The candidate should also have:

• Proven experience in financial management in development projects funded by multilateral institutions will be an added advantage;

• Excellent knowledge of the English language (both spoken and written) and excellent communication skills;

• Ability to build capacity and train various stakeholders;

• Knowledge and/or familiarity with the Mekong region and willing to travel to the project sites located in the region;

• Ability to work well with UN Agencies, International organizations, Government officials and community personnel;

• Strong and demonstrated capacity for organization, management with excellent reporting and coordination skills;

• Strong leadership, technical competence and professional skills for timely implementation, coordination and management of activities;

• Ability to work in a team, develop synergies and establish effective working relations with various stakeholders;

• Strong interpersonal and communications skills, resourcefulness, initiative and ability to cope with any situation;

• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;

• The candidate should be able to legally work in Thailand.

The salary and benefits are up to USD 2,500 per month based on the qualifications

If you have the skills and experience to exceed in this position, and are passionate about equitable and inclusive economic growth in GMS, please send your CV and cover letter, to recruitment@mekonginstitute.org, titled ‘Project Finance Coordinator (MKCF Project).

"Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we reserve to close this advertisement when we are in receipt of sufficient application."

Please note that only applications successful in progressing to the next stage will be responded to.