Intern, Finance & Administration

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.

Our alliance spans 70 countries and includes farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together we work to protect forests  and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.

As an international nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production.

At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes.

Why

To protect nature and improve lives it’s becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers.

How

Our growing global alliance aims to transform our relationship with our natural resources and each other, to create a better future for people and nature together.

The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability and any other protected group.

Position summary:

The Rainforest Alliance is seeking a motivated finance and administration intern who is ready to apply knowledge of financial terms and principles to an authentic real-world experience. The intern will support the Finance & Administration unit to manage the day-to-day business administration and logistical support for the team and projects in Cote d’Ivoire.

Responsibilities: 

• The Rainforest Alliance’s Core Values are Impact, Change, Collaboration, Openness and Trust and as such they form the basis of the behaviours we demonstrate;
• Support the Project Finance Manager in making payments in the field and at workshops;
• Support the Project Finance Manager in recording accounting transactions in the financial software;
• Support the Project Finance Manager in the verification of program staff justification documents;
• Support the Project Finance Manager in filing and archiving accounting documents;
• Verify payment files and ensure that they are correct and accurate before they are sent for payment;
• Provide logistical support for workshops, meetings and trips including flight bookings, car rentals etc;
• Support the Project Finance Manager in the follow-up of staff advances;
• Support the Project Finance Manager during financial audits of the PROJECT;
• Performs any other relevant and reasonable duties as requested by the supervisor.

Learning Objectives: 

• The intern will improve skills using the financial software by assisting with month-end financial reports through shadowing the supervisor and gaining hands-on experience;
•  Intern will develop better interpersonal skills and learn how to establish a strong financial advisor relationship by attending meetings and workshops;
• It provides opportunity for the intern to further develop own skills and gain knowledge necessary for a successful career in Finance and Administration.

Qualifications: 

• Minimum a BAC+2 BTS, DUT or equivalent professional qualification in Accounting, Finance, Business Studies or related field;
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word and Excel) and skills in the use of e-mail and Microsoft Teams;
• Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations is an asset;
• Good interpersonal, organizational and time management skills;
• Previous work experience (as an intern) in Finance and/or Administration is desirable; 
• Ability to multitask and cope with changing priorities; 
• Ability to work independently and in a team; 
• Strong math, analytical and technical skills; highly organized, detail oriented and customer service oriented;
• Proficiency in French and working knowledge of English;
• Able to meet local travel requirements for the role of up 25% of the time.

Benefits: 

• Gain hands-on experience with a wide variety of activities;
• Shadowing, mentoring, and training opportunities with knowledgeable professionals;
• Opportunity to participate in networking events and company meetings.

Notes:

Only candidates authorized to work in Cote d’Ivoire will be considered.

If you have any questions about the internship, please contact the HR department: recruitment@ra.org