Self Help Africa (SHA)
Job Title: Project Accountant
Department: Finance
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Head of Finance and
Administration (HoFA)
Contract Type: 2 years contract (project ends
in 2022) with 6 Months’ Probation period and one (1) Months’ Notice Period
Salary: Annual Gross Salary -Kshs.
2,160,000
About Self Help Africa: Self
Help Africa 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.
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, and 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 of risk assessments 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 monthly 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 the 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
·
Liaise with the Programme Manager,
finance staff and other programme administrators on programme and activity
budget preparation, spending and realignments, and 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 agreements;
·
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 a
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.
How to Apply:
Please submit: A completed application form before 27 March 2020,
explaining why you want the position and why you think you are particularly
suited to the role. Applications should be in a Word document or in pdf. Make
it clear which position you are applying for by writing the Position in the subject
line of your e-mail as follows [KF1 Project Accountant + Your name]. The
application should be submitted by email to the following email address:
infokenya@selfhelpafrica.net
Download JD HERE.
Closing date for applications is 27
March 2020.
Any candidate offered a job with Self
Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies
and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to
conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.
Specific roles may require police vetting.
Specific roles may require police vetting.
All applicants are encouraged to read
through the following safeguarding policies as you make your applications:
Women applicants are highly
encouraged; Self Help Africa is an Equal Opportunities Employer
