EDUKANS Uganda
PROJECT ACCOUNTANT
TEAM/PROGRAMME: EASY Project
LOCATION: Kampala with regular visits to Project sites
Department: Finance & Administration
ROLE PURPOSE:
Reporting directly to the Finance & Administrative Manager, the jobholder will be ensures the efficient financial management of Empowering Agricultural Skills for Youth and women for green growth (EASY) project including budget monitoring, reporting, and compliance with contractual obligations of Edukans also organizational policies;
In carrying out his/her work, the Project Accountant interacts with other Finance team within Edukans and Enabel staff and visiting stakeholders at the local level to promote extensive participation and complementarity of Edukans programme and activities.
SCOPE OF ROLE: Reports to the Finance and Administrative Manager
Staff directly reporting to this post: : None
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
i.Budgeting
• Provide timely project budget implementation feedback to partners’ senior management, and support in the monitoring of projects, while ensuring that the Project Team is informed of programme planning;
Prepare monthly Budget Vs Actual report for the budget holder.
ii.Project Financial Management & Compliance
- Reviewing financial documents (e.g., partners Financial & Procurement Checklists) for approval by critically analysing financial processes and procedures for compliance;
- Â Documenting the key highlights noted in the financial monitoring reports and reporting on the progress of the implementation of recommendations by Edukans/Enabel Finance team, project auditors and other stakeholders through persistent follow ups;
- Review periodical programme funds reconciliation statements, fixed asset register and financial reports of partners in coordination with the partners’ finance team to ensure completeness and accuracy of financial reports;
- Assist in financial training of partners’ staff, contributing to training materials and resources, organizing and facilitating partners’ finance workshops and Edukans’ partners project finance officers’ workshops and reflective meetings, and take responsibility for following up on participants’ action plans especially as they relate to partners;
- Identify red-flags in partners’ transactions and processes, compile the red-flag reports and checklists, provide regular updates to the Finance and Administration Manager;
- Support in partner financial capacity gap identification through effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes, and enhance access to requisite training to strengthen the partner financial system for successful project implementation.
- Foster a culture, among implementing partners for effective, sustainable and inclusive project implementation through proper induction to Edukans’ processes and expectations, timely communication, troubleshooting and effective management of challenges during the partnership, with support from the Finance and Administration Manager/ Programme Manager for quality and accountability;
- Supports the Finance and Administration manager and Implementing Partners’ staff in project close-out activities;
- Support the development, roll-out, and continuous improvement of partners’ financial capacities through regular capacity building sessions;
- Support implementing partners in submission of Semi-annual fund request;
- Undertake project monthly bank reconciliation.
iii.Controls and Reporting
- Ensure clear audit trail of processed transactions and their linkage to the accounting system;
- Implementation of any accounting and financial audit recommendations;
- Support and sustain a high quality and timely documentation culture including financial supporting documents and financial reports;
- Prepare project monthly fund requests;
- Review financial reports and prepare consolidated financial reports for donors.
iv. Account Payables
- Receive all documents from the field offices;
- Review and register the completeness of documents received from the field and report on any omissions/missing documentation to the support services officer.
- Prepare payment vouchers for all payments received and ensure that they have been signed-off as per Edukans’ standards;
- Maintain a schedule of recurrent expenditure i.e. Utilities such as Electricity Bills, Water Bills, Internet Bills, and Security, Cleaning services to ensure that they are all paid and accrued on a timely basis;
- Timely preparation of statutory deduction payments;
- Preparation of withholding tax payments.
v. Internal reporting and accountability
- Preparation of documents for internal and external communication which give oversight of
EASY project (including annual report); - Ensuring accountability and transparency in Grants management, as well as seeing to it that the information is always up to date;
- Identifying areas of organizational development to improve projects and grants management
- Collecting information for monitoring purposes.
Perform other duties as required by the supervisor for achieving program effectiveness.
KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES / INDICATORS
- Compliance with donor requirements, rules and regulations;
- Support partners and colleagues understand the reporting deadlines and adherence to donor requirements;
- Submission of quarterly compliance reports;
- Training and implementation of audit recommendations within the organization and among consortia partners;
- accountability and transparency, as well as seeing to it that the information is always up to date.
SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS (our Values in Practice)
- Trust, accountability, problem solving, cooperation, flexibility, creativity, innovative, diplomatic, results-oriented, collaboration
- Social skills to realize a positive attitude towards compliance and improvements in compliant behaviour, and to accompany and direct partners with financial management of the organization and projects
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED
- Computer skills (Microsoft word, excel, PowerPoint) and ability to use virtual platforms, it could formulated like: agility in using current software packages, tools, management information systems and digital platforms.
- Strong report writing skills and Knowledge of project management cycle.
- High-level communication skills, stakeholder and partnership management skills,
- Able to work with wide range of internal and external stakeholders and to foster and maintain successful working relationships
- Independent, self-starter and accurate
- Ability to work under minimum or no supervision
- Must be a team player and ready to work in and contribute to team building environment
Academic Background, Experience and Person Specifications:
- Â A bachelors degree in accounting, (Bachelor Level or Equivalent). Professional Accounting Qualification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIMA) desirable but not essential
EXPERIENCE
- Knowledge of Accounting and not less than 3 years experience in accounting in non-government organizations
Familiarity with project accounting, Strong understanding of donor compliance requirements.
Knowledge of project management, planning & control, administrative processes, donor requirements - Knowledge of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) or generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
- Budget preparation, monitoring, and variance analysis.
- Financial reporting for multi-currency projects.
- Familiarity with procurement policies and procedures.
- Understanding of local tax regulations and statutory requirements.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Self-motivated, proactive and result driven
- Being a person with high integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to work independently but at the same time being a team player
Contacts:
Internal contacts: The jobholder is expected to work closley with the, Edukans Finance Manager, the Finance director at the Enabel, and with the staff within the country office;
External contacts: The jobholder will be expected to develop and maintain personal and professional links and effective relationship with the EASY project partners.
How to apply:
A cover letter (1 page) including qualifications as well as salary expectations. Concise and accurate CV (maximum 3 pages) and copies of Academic certificates sent by email to uganda@edukans.org with a subject line indicating the EASY – Job title”. Qualified Females are encouraged to apply.
Closing Date: Applications will close at 04:59 on Thursday 19th June Uganda time.
