Chief of Finance and Administration

Job Title: Chief of Finance and Administration
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Department: Finance and Accounting
Responsibility for Others: Accounting and Finance staff, as assigned
Level: Senior Management
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
A - Overall Purpose of the Role The Chief is the senior accounting, finance and Administration professional responsible for the integrity of the accounting function, financial stewardship, statutory compliance and decision-ready financial information across VCF's operations, programmes, projects and other activities within the assigned remit.
Working closely with the CEO and relevant leaders, the role ensures that financial resources, donor funds and organizational assets are properly authorized, recorded, safeguarded, reported and used in accordance with approved budgets, contractual commitments, internal policies and applicable Vietnamese law.
B - Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Accounting, Close and Management Reporting
• Lead the end-to-end accounting function and ensure that transactions are authorized, complete, accurately recorded, appropriately classified, and supported by valid accounting documentation.
• Maintain complete, orderly and audit-ready accounting books, vouchers, reconciliations, schedules, accounting files and retention records, including electronic records where applicable.
• Own the quarterly and year-end close, including reconciliations, receivables, payables, accruals, prepayments, fixed assets, provisions, foreign-currency matters and necessary adjusting entries; ensure the chart of accounts, accounting policies and reporting processes remain fit for purpose.
• Prepare timely, accurate and decision-useful monthly, quarterly and annual management reports, including budget-versus-actual analysis, cash-flow position, working-capital items, commitments and material risks requiring management attention.
• Reconcile accounting records with donor, programme, payroll, procurement, banking and other relevant operational records; investigate and resolve discrepancies promptly.
2. Planning, Budgeting, Cash Flow and Financial Stewardship
• Work with the CEO and budget holders to develop annual budgets, programme budgets, rolling forecasts, scenario analyses and cash-flow projections that support sound operational decisions.
• Monitor actual expenditure, commitments and funding utilisation against approved budgets; identify material variances, root causes and corrective actions in a timely manner for each program and overall.
• Maintain robust working-capital oversight, including accounts receivable, donor receipts, advances, accounts payable and payment timing, and provide practical financial analysis on programme viability, cost allocation and other material operating decisions.
3. Treasury, Payments and Internal Control
• Maintain effective cash, bank-account and payment controls, including appropriate segregation of duties, approval workflows, access controls, reconciliation procedures and secure custody of financial instruments and records.
• Review payment requests and supporting documentation for budget availability, contractual basis, procurement and policy compliance, tax treatment and delegated authority before submission to the authorized signatory.
• Ensure that payment, reimbursement, advance and settlement processes are timely, transparent, adequately evidenced and audit-ready; design and periodically test controls to prevent error, fraud, misuse of funds, duplicate payments and conflicts of interest.
4. Programme, Donor, Contract and Operating Finance
• Review the financial terms of proposals, donor agreements, memoranda of understanding, contracts, events and other commitments, including budgets, disbursement conditions, payment terms, reporting obligations, cost eligibility and financial risk.
• Ensure that restricted or designated funds are separately identified, accurately tracked and used only in accordance with the relevant agreement, approved budget and internal approval requirements.
• Advise program, fundraising and other teams on financial planning, cost allocation, expenditure eligibility, reporting deadlines and implications before commitments are made; ensure appropriate segregation of records, funds, tax treatment, statutory obligations and reporting where required.
5. Compliance, Tax, Audit and Regulatory Change
• Ensure the accurate and timely preparation, filing and retention of tax declarations, invoices and accounting records, financial statements, statutory reports and other fiscal or regulatory submissions applicable to the organization's activities.
• Monitor changes in Vietnamese accounting, tax, invoice, banking, foreign-exchange, corporate and other financial regulations relevant to the role; assess impact, update procedures and brief management on material actions or risks.
• Lead audit readiness and coordinate external audits, tax reviews, inspections and other financial reviews; prepare schedules and responses, manage follow-up and drive timely remediation of agreed findings.
• Maintain and improve financial policies, accounting procedures, delegated controls and compliance monitoring; promptly escalate material irregularities, suspected fraud, control failures, regulatory concerns or significant financial risks to the CEO with a clear written assessment and recommended action.
• Act as the principal finance liaison with auditors, tax advisers, banks, competent authorities and other relevant counterparties, within the assigned authority.
6. Team Leadership, Systems and Continuous Improvement
• Lead, coach and review Accounting and Finance staff to build technical capability, professional judgement, accountability, confidentiality and consistent quality of work.
• Set clear priorities, closing timetables, review standards and backup arrangements; strengthen the use, integrity and efficiency of accounting systems, reporting tools, master data and financial templates without compromising control or audit trail.
• Perform other reasonable duties assigned by the CEO that are consistent with the purpose, seniority and professional responsibilities of the role.
7. Authority and Accountability
• The Chief exercises independent professional judgement on accounting and financial-control matters, and may request complete and timely financial documentation and explanations from relevant functions.
• Within the scope of applicable law, internal policy and delegated authority, the Chief may review, endorse and sign accounting records, financial reports, tax filings and payment documentation, and may recommend that incomplete, unsupported or non-compliant documentation not proceed.
• Final approval of budgets, contracts, payments and material financial commitments remains with the CEO or another duly authorized signatory. The Chief Accountant must document and promptly escalate any material professional reservation, compliance concern or control exception.
• The role is accountable for the quality, accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and integrity of accounting records and financial information under its control, and for the effective operation of assigned financial controls.
C - Qualifications and Experience
Must Have
Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting, Auditing, Finance, or a closely related discipline.
Meets Vietnam's statutory requirements for appointment as Chief Accountant.
Strong verbal and written communication skills in BOTH Vietnamese and English.
At least 06 years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including at least 03 years in a senior accounting, finance-management, or Chief Accountant role with end-to-end responsibility.
Demonstrated command of full-cycle accounting, financial statements, management reporting, cash-flow management, tax compliance, e-invoicing, audit coordination, and internal controls in Vietnam.
Strong, current knowledge of Vietnamese accounting, tax, invoicing, statutory reporting, and audit requirements, with the ability to translate regulatory change into practical controls and procedures.
Proven experience leading an accounting/finance team and working credibly with senior management, external auditors, banks and professional advisers.
High integrity, sound judgement and confidence to raise concerns constructively; Advanced Excel and accounting-system capability.
Please note that this position is open to Vietnamese nationals only.
Preferred (but not required)
Professional accounting or finance qualification (e.g., Vietnam CPA, ACCA, CMA, or the CPA designation from CPA Australia).
NGO/INGO, social enterprise or donor-funded experience, including donor compliance, restricted funding, and grant reporting.
D - Benefits
Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and skills.
Statutory insurance coverage in accordance with Vietnamese labor law, plus additional benefits under VCF policies.
E - Application checklist & How to apply:
Please submit the required documents and information to [protected info], using the email subject line "CFA - Full Name" (e.g., "CFA - Nguyễn A"), and include the following:
Your CV (with a cover letter and relevant certifications, if applicable)
Your expected gross monthly salary (VND)
References (if applicable)
Application deadline: COB, November 30, 2026 (Vietnam time). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may close early once filled.
Before applying, please review the job description, mandatory requirements, and application checklist to ensure your submission is complete.
Note
Thank you sincerely for your interest in VCF and the time you have taken to apply. Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage. If you have not heard from us by December 11, 2026, please understand that we will not be able to progress your application on this occasion. We truly appreciate your interest in our work and warmly encourage you to apply for future opportunities with VCF.