Brief Description:

Location Tacloban, Philippines

Start Date Feb - Apr 2018(flexible)

Length of Placement 6 Months

Language Requirements English

The Volunteer’s Role

Working with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) who have graduated from the Mentor Micro-Enterprises (Mentor ME) program, a new government initiated social entrepreneurship program, you will enhance or develop simple financial systems for bookkeeping, internal controls and auditing. You will also develop and standardize the processes to prepare financial statements, audits and compliance reporting, and train the staff to use these tools appropriately. These businesses have crude financial systems which limit their ability to access financial capital, as funders require financial documentation which they cannot provide.

Working with other Cuso International volunteers, you will coach the graduates, review their operations, and help them to implement their business improvement plans. You will assess the learning of the graduates and provide feedback to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to scale up the program for national expansion and implementation.

You will work with 3 other Cuso International volunteers coaching the Mentor ME graduates. Together, you will review their operations, identify the gaps, needs and strengths of the enterprises, and establish the financial systems and processes needed, while developing plans for growth, expansion and increased profit. In addition, you will explore opportunities for future volunteer engagement with individual businesses. You will also assess the learning of the graduates and provide improvement feedback to DTI to scale up the program for national expansion and implementation.

As a volunteer, you will:

- Review the business improvement plan of each MSME, including their needs, strengths and gaps

- Assess and understand the current financial systems and needs for each organization

- Work with key staff to understand and put together funding applications

- Assist staff in the auditing process

- Support capacity building at the different levels of the organization

Essential Academic Qualifications:

Education in Business, Accounting, Finance or equivalent professional/volunteer experience

Essential Professional Background:

- Minimum of 3 - 5 years’ experience in accounting, bookkeeping, financial management

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills

- Ability to adapt and apply business knowledge and techniques to grass roots organizations

Support Package

- Modest monthly living allowance (varies depending country)

- Accommodation while in placement

- Return airfare and visa/work permit costs

- Cost of required vaccinations, antimalarial medication and health insurance

- Pre-departure training and in-country orientation

- Travel and accommodation for reintegration debriefing weekend

- Modest support for accompanying partners and dependents going on placement with you for 12 months or longer

- Access to Employee Assistance Program while in placement and upon return

- Cuso International assessment day (Candidates must cover the first $200 of the most cost-effective travel expenses and all accommodation costs).

- Travel and accommodation for the five-day pre-departure training course and for in-country orientation

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