Finance Intern

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking applications from enthusiastic individuals who are looking to gain professional experience in the field of finance under IWMI’s internship program. The internship will be based at IWMI’s headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Scope of internship

The intern will support the Finance Department of IWMI and gain practical exposure to accounting and financial management in an international organization. The role includes assisting with journal entries, correction entries, GL reconciliations, Payment on Behalf (POB) transactions, reporting, and audit documentation. The intern will also support the Workday ERP implementation and related finance processes. This opportunity provides insight into donor-funded project accounting and internal control systems. The intern will work with staff at IWMI headquarters in Colombo and regional offices, gaining experience in a multicultural environment while developing technical and professional finance skills.

IWMI is an Executive Level (non-public sector) Training Organization approved by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka).

The intern will assist in the following areas:

• Provide supporting documents requested by the Reporting Team for financial reporting.
• Prepare and organize supporting documents required for internal and external audits.
• Support posting journal entries and correction entries.
• Assist in the Workday ERP implementation.
• Support the Finance Officer in processing Payment on Behalf (POB) transactions.
• Assist in clearing outstanding POB balances.
• Support the Finance Officer in Preparing General Ledger (GL) reconciliations and investigate variances.

Requirements

Qualifications, knowledge, experience, and skills:

• Registered or part-qualified student at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), CIMA, AAT, or ACCA; and an undergraduate or recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Basic knowledge of accounting principles, financial reporting, and journal entry processing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
• Experience with ERP or accounting software (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle, or similar systems) will be an added advantage.
• Excellent command of the English language, both written and verbal.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to coordinate effectively with internal stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of working both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing work requirements.
• Demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct in all activities.
• Maintain strict confidentiality when handling financial records, audit documentation, and other sensitive organizational information.

Benefits

IWMI will provide a monthly stipend to the selected candidate during the internship period.

The duration of the initial internship contract will be for 6 months with the possibility of extension for another 6 months based on performance, requirements of IWMI, and the availability of funds. This is a nationally recruited internship and only Sri Lankans are eligible to apply.

To apply, visit www.iwmi.org/jobs. Applications must be submitted by 24:00 (Colombo time) on 28 September 2026 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis).

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international, research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnership, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis to support implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change and inclusive economic growth. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR Research Center with offices in 17 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 55 countries. www.iwmi.org

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.