Finance Officer

Salary: As per relevant grade/band & to commensurate with relevant experience and skills

Location: Lahore, Pakistan

About the Job

Are you passionate about using technology to make a positive impact on the world? Finance Officer supports financial administration of BCI Pakistan and smooth running of the office. S/he supports in taxation and ensuring compliance with local laws. Alongside, the Officer will support the membership team in their invoicing and financial administration. The Finance Officer will function under the line management of the Manager Finance & Operations.

This challenging role offers excellent opportunities for personal and professional development, together with a competitive benefits package.

The Challenge

Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women's empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

Areas that play to your strengths

We are seeking a motivated Finance Officer to join our Finance & Operations team. In this role, you will be responsible for:

1. Employee Claims on Expensify:

Before processing for payments, ensure all claims on Expensify are properly coded, authorised, are as per BCI policy and approved by the competent authorities.

Ensure all staff advances are properly recorded in respective ledgers and liquidated within the given timeline.

Process claims for payments (with the adjustment of advances if needed).

Make sure all vendor claims are as per BCI policy, contacts, TORs etc.

Ensure correct deduction of tax as per local tax regulations.

Ensure all accounting records and supporting documentation for all financial transactions are maintained in a systematic order and in a safe and secure condition under the custody of the organisation and scanned copies are also saved.

Preparation of vouchers along with all supporting documentation according to the organisation's financial policies and procedures.

Maintain vendor records and database up to date.

Process vendor and consultant invoices/payments.

Ensure all procurement processes are in compliance with BCI and local regulations.

Administer and process all petty cash transactions within the parameters of organisation policies and procedures.

Tax Management:

Support in organising and updating the company's tax database.

Ensure all taxes deducted from employees and vendors and company taxes are properly recorded and timely deposited in treasury/bank.

Maintain all tax challans and timely send to the specific vendor.

Others:

Support in maintaining bank statement records, updating ledgers and preparation of monthly bank reconciliation statements.

Support the Manager Finance & Operations for month-end closing procedures and data entry in the accounting software.

Assist the organisation and management of internal and external audits.

In case of need, the officer will assist in smooth running of office and arranging meetings.

We are looking for someone who has

the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Experience (Essential)

Minimum of 3-4 years of work experience in the development sector.

Strong understanding of financial and taxation matters.

Experience working in multicultural teams.

Skills and Knowledge (Essential)

Demonstrated interest in administrative work, account, and finance.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to finding and proposing solutions to challenges within clearly defined boundaries.

Fluent in English and Urdu – ability to communicate clearly and concisely.

IT literacy, to include Word; Power Point; Excel; Outlook; SharePoint; ERP.

Excellent organisation and capacity to handle a set of different priorities.

Knowledge of local taxes/rules and able to manage deductions.

Objective and meticulous professional with the ability to multitask.

Knowledge of other local Pakistani languages will be an asset.

Academic background in administration, HR, accounts and finance.

Knowledge of Financial Force / Certinia will be an added advantage.

What we offer

1. Hybrid working – (Depending upon location).
2. Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time.
3. Indoor health insurances for self and dependents.
4. Terminal benefit (Gratuity).
5. Continuous learning and development.
6. 25 days paid annual leave, plus 8-9 Bank Holidays and a further 3 days off and parental benefits.
7. A warm, positive working environment where everyone is valued.
8. The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based in Lahore. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 28 .02.2025 via this link.

In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Our hiring process

Initial Screening:

Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicants. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.

Interviews:

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.

Assessment and Testing:

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.

Reference Checks:

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton

Better Cotton is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world's cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible)
• As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic)
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic)
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic)
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)

Better Cotton is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.