Job Description
Job Title: Project Accountant; Strengthening the Competitiveness of the Cassava Value Chain in Kenya Programme
Organisation: Self Help Africa
Department: Finance
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA)
Contract: 11 (eleven) months contract with 3 Months’ Probation period and one (1) Months’ Notice Period
Salary: Annual Gross Salary -Kshs. 2,160,000
ABOUT SELF HELP AFRICA:
Self Help Africa (SHA) is an international NGO, dedicated to the vision of an economically thriving and resilient rural Africa. SHA focuses on agriculture and agribusiness as the engine of growth in Africa.
Our approach is collaborative and market-based: although we see our primary clients as smallholder farmers in Africa, we work with all participants in the agricultural value chain.
The Group also has other social enterprise subsidiaries – TruTrade, which supports market access for small-holder farmers in the agricultural value-chain; and Partner Africa, an ethical auditing and consultancy firm that operates across more than 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Self Help Africa is also the lead agency in the delivery of a schools national Development Education programme on behalf of the Irish government, WorldWise Global Schools.
We work in nine countries across Africa supported by offices in Dublin, Galway, Belfast and, in England, London and Shrewsbury. In addition, we have 20 retail outlets in Ireland.
JOB PURPOSE:
The Project Accountant will provide financial management to the Cassava Value Chain Programme funded by the European Union. The overall objective of the Programme is to increase food and nutrition security, employment and income among 28,000 smallholder-farming households (at least 60% women) in seven Counties (Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Siaya, Busia, Kitui and Kilifi).
Under the overall financial and administrative leadership of Self Help Africa (SHA) Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA), the Project Accountant will be responsible for maintaining a high standard of accounting and financial control, providing guidance and technical financial support to all the Implementing partners funded under the EU Programme. This will include but not be limited to the identification of training requirements, provision of training, undertaking risk assessment and the provision of assistance and advice on financial systems and procedures for best practice. He/She will also ensure accurate and timely recording of financial data, processing of transactions and compliance to reporting as per the EU regulations.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Management
• Responsible for routine financial accounting functions including processing and recording all transactions in line with organisational policy, EU accounting standards, and compliance to policies and Kenyan legislation, ensuring timeliness, efficiency and completeness;
• Responsible for checking the accuracy and validity of documents submitted by partners and prepare a schedule to be used for posting entries on PS Financials (PSF);
• Review partner’s monthly bank and ledger reconciliations, financial templates, reports and other statements;
• Review the monthly payments requests against the budget and cash flow projections and follow up on the disbursement of funds to partners;
• Prepare monthly wage analysis of all partners balances and follow up on overdue liquidations;
• Prepare a month work plan and share with the Programme Manager and Head of Finance and Administration.
Partner Management
• Assist partners in developing financial management and procurement policy guidelines, where necessary and implementation of same;
• Develop a training schedule and undertake the training & ongoing mentoring of partners to ensure a stronger financial system and structure is in place;
• Coordinate regular internal audit scrutiny of partner organisations, ensuring financial systems and controls are of an appropriate standard for security and effective management of funds advanced by SHA;
• With support from the Head of Finance and Administration, lead the coordination of an annual audit of the implementing partners.
Financial Planning and Budgeting
• Liaising with the Programme Manager, finance staff and other programme administrators on programme and activity budget preparation, spending and realignments, ensuring they are aligned with grants agreements;
• Preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual budget vs. expenditure;
• Prepare and process financial data necessary for budget adjustments as required while ensuring compliance to the grant agreement;
• Participate in the preparation and revision of the annual budgets.
Donor Reporting and Compliance
• Prepare partner consolidated reports and donor financial reports that comply with donor requirements;
• Coordinate the expenditure verification exercise, special audits and respond to internal audit reports
Other Duties
• Any other duty that may be assigned from time to time
Key Relationships:
Internal
• Finance and Administration Team
• Country Management Team
• Programme Manager and other country programme staff
• Programme and Finance staff in Dublin HQ
External
• Officials from partner organisations both finance and programme staff
• Service providers
Qualifications/Knowledge and Experience
Essential
• Internationally recognised accounting qualification (CA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA)
• Five years practical experience in finance department, three of which should be in grants management
• Strong technical abilities and up to date knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Experience of managing donor funds and contracts
• Experience of managing, training and supporting staff
Desirable
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally
• Previous experience of managing USAID, EU or other donor funding
• Experience working with partner organisations
• Experience of undertaking risk assessments, internal audits and/or assessing internal controls
Role Competencies
• Excellent verbal, analytical, organisational and written skills
• People management skills
• Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to Self Help Africa’s vision, mission and values
• Excellent ICT skills including a good knowledge of MS Office and accounting software
• Attention to detail and ability to produce timely, accurate, financial reports