Job Title: Finance Coordinator
Hiring Organization: CIFOR
Location – Locality: Nairobi
Location – Region: Kenya
Industry: Non
Profit Organisation
Job Type: Full
Time
Salary: KES
Competitive
Date Posted: 03/24/2024
The
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry
(ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from
drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all.
CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply
evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and
the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have
built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural
landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to
improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on
innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies
and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR
and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure
future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security,
and improving natural resources.
Overview
To
provide Financial Management leadership enabling strategic and timely
decision-making by the initiatives and projects leaders and staff. On a
periodic basis and ad-hoc upon request provide overall financial overview of
the program, including variance analysis; propose appropriate corrective
actions in response to unacceptable variances. Advise initiative and project
leaders about potential problem areas and recommend/implement agreed solutions.
Duties
and responsibilities
Financial
coordination and management support.
- Provide
Financial Management leadership and support to BRI and BMI Directors,
Senior Project Managers and other senior staff enabling strategic and
timely decision making by upper management.
- On
periodic basis and ad-hoc upon request provide overall financial overview
of the initiatives, including variance analysis; propose appropriate
corrective actions in response to unacceptable variances.
- Advise
supervisor and management about potential problem areas and
recommend/implement agreed solutions.
- Support
the Senior Project Managers with financial aspects of workforce planning
and recruitment of staff by identifying gaps in staffing in relation to
available budgets: identify/signal funding gaps.
- Review
partner/collaborator contracts on financial aspects; review of financial
reports issued by collaborators and request contractual payments. Ensure
financial compliance of collaborator with grant agreement.
- Review
financial transactions as per established Delegation of Authority Matrix
(DOA) and eligibility as per CGIAR financial frameworks and CIMMYT
financial policy and procedures.
Planning,
Monitoring & Operations.
- With
input from senior management, develop budgets for new proposals and grant
applications as required by donors in line with institutional procedures
and tools.
- Ensure
full cost recovery of project proposals (and / or identify funding gaps).
- Develop
operating budgets for the initiatives, including CAPEX and staffing
requirements.
- Perform
a monthly budget vs. expenses analysis at project and initiative level,
including suggested actions and proposed solutions, to support strategic
and timely decisions by Senior
- Management.
- Upon
grant approval, to timely prepare budget templates, coordinate the
uploading of budgets in the financial ERP system, and to forecast spending
potential, based on project plans in coordination with the Program Finance
Management Unit (PFMU) for W3 and bilateral funding and/or Financial
Planning Unit (FPU) for W1/2.
- In
cooperation with Project leaders/Senior Management, review Financial Donor
Reports as prepared by the Program Finance Management Unit (PFMU) and
ensure consistency with technical reports and donor agreements.
- Ensures
that all accounting entries corresponding to the month and year end
closing processes are completely and correctly uploaded into the financial
system. Review, analyze and prepare necessary adjusting entries for
initiative monthly transactions report.
- Review
and/or Maintain Up to date high quality Program Master Data in the ERP,
such as, but not limited to, staff allocation percentages, ICC holders,
and project master data.
Compliance,
Policies & Systems.
- Ensure
compliance with CIMMYT policies and procedures and recommend improvement
in internal financial controls and acts as ambassador to cascade down
financial policies and procedures within the initiatives.
- During
the entire Projects life cycle ensure compliance with donor financial
guidelines: Required activities consist of reviewing donor grant
agreement, donor grant regulations and periodic review of project
transactions. For W1/2 funding preparation and review of periodic
financial reporting to the CGIAR system management office (SMO) jointly
with the Financial
- Planning
Unit (FPU).
- Support
and timely respond to Donor/project Audits and or internal audit requests.
- Ensure
research and support costs are fully allocated to projects/ grants in a
transparent manner.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s
degree in accounting.
- Minimum
5 years’ experience in a finance position with increasing levels of
responsibility in a medium sized to large grant funded organization.
- Excellent
use of MS Office (advanced Excel skills). Experience with AX Dynamics will
be an advantage.
- Knowledge
of financial systems, data mining bases, data extraction methods, report
presentation and analytical skills.
- Education,
knowledge and experience
- Bachelor’s
degree in accounting.
- Minimum
5 years’ experience in a finance position with increasing levels of
responsibility in a medium sized to large grant funded organization.
- Excellent
use of MS Office (advanced Excel skills). Experience with AX Dynamics will
be an advantage.
- Knowledge
of financial systems, data mining bases, data extraction methods, report
presentation and analytical skills.
Terms
and conditions
This is a
Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position and on competitive remuneration in local
currency, commensurate with skills and experience.
The appointment will be for a period of two (2) years, inclusive of a six-month
probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon
performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.