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 the 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
📄 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 reconciliations and investigate variances
📊 A women-focused project where finance is the tool rather than the department: ESC Volunteering in 🇬🇭 Ghana 💜 Women's Digital and Financial Inclusion 📊 → https://youthworkshub.org/21312
✅ Qualifications, Knowledge, Experience and Skills
🎓 Registered or part-qualified student at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of 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 such as 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
💡 A comparable trainee role on the business side of financial services: Internship in 🇨🇿 Czechia 📊 Product Management Trainee in Financial Services 💡 → https://youthworkshub.org/19734
🎁 Benefits and Duration
💶 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
⚠️ Who Can Apply
This is a nationally recruited internship and only Sri Lankans are eligible to apply.
🏢 About IWMI
IWMI's vision is a water-secure world. It is an international, research-for-development organization, with offices in 17 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 55 countries, and for over three decades its research results have led to changes in water management that have contributed to social and economic development.
IWMI targets water and land management challenges faced by poor communities in developing countries, and through this contributes towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of reducing poverty and hunger and maintaining a sustainable environment. Based on evidence and knowledge drawn from its science, innovative technologies and testing of business models, IWMI works with governments, policymakers, farmers, civil society, water managers, development partners and businesses to solve water problems and scale up solutions, combining research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis.
IWMI's value proposition rests on its track record of more than 30 years of rigorous, solutions-oriented water management research, built on long term partnerships at local, country and regional levels, a sustained field presence across Africa and Asia, and recognized through the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize in 2012. IWMI is a Research Center of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, and it led the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE), which over its ten-year journey from 2012 to 2021 operated in over 60 countries, working with more than 300 partners and completing over 200 projects.
🌈 IWMI believes that diversity powers its innovation, contributes to its excellence and is critical for its mission, offering a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment, and consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects its global character and its commitment to gender equity. It therefore encourages applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations and gender identities.
📍 Location
IWMI headquarters, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
📩 How to Apply
Apply online through the institute's recruitment portal before the closing time.
⏰ Deadline
05 August 2026, at 24:00 Colombo time.
🔗 Link
📝 Application: https://apply.workable.com/international-water-management-institute/j/74A89E4C53
