PROJECT: Various

REPORTS TO: Country Office Finance Manager

REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: Project Finance & Admin. Officers

LOCATION: Addis Ababa

DURATION & HOURS: One year with a possibility of extension

BACKGROUND

Farm Africa is implementing a large number of projects/programmes in the areas of agriculture (crop and livestock), natural resources management and market engagement across Ethiopia. We are increasingly designing and implementing complex and integrated multi-sector projects, some by ourselves and some others in partnership with like-minded organizations in the form of consortium.

Currently, Farm Africa is implementing variety of projects both solely and in partnership with several NGOs with funding received major institutional donors and Foundations. The projects are funded by EU, DFID, SIDA, Norwegian Embassy, the Packard Foundation and others being implemented in SNNPR, Oromia, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella and Somali regional states. The Senior Programme Finance Officer is responsible for ensuring proper support to all Farm Africa field offices, follow up on their budget utilizations, review of their financial transactions, participate in donor budgets and reports, and preparation of government budgets and reports working closely with respective program finance managers and the programme support officer.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Senior Programme Finance Officer will be responsible for all financial support to all FA project offices including, but not limited to, input into the development of budgets, ensuring compliance with grant conditions relating to finance, perform financial analysis, ongoing budget management, supporting budget holders with provision of advice and reports, supporting on development of budgets and forecasts and monitoring of on-going spend. Focal person in preparation of government budgets and reports. Ensure that project offices maintain acceptable accounting standard and financial control according to the FARM Africa’s financial policies and procedures. He /she will also be responsible for building the capacity of the project finance and admin officers.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONISBILITES

Key areas of responsibilities are:

• Review monthly and biweekly project financial reports for completeness and accuracy.
• Post monthly and biweekly project financial reports in to SUN system.
• Ensure accuracy and correctness of month-end bank and cash reconciliation and subsequent filing (soft and hard copy) and communicate to the CO Finance manager.
• Assist the respective Project Finance Managers in reviewing monthly partners financial report and posting to the system.
• Liaise with the Finance and Documentation Officer in maintaining and managing the finance filing system to ensure that it provides easy and immediate access to financial information.
• Assist the program department staff and actively participate in the preparation of budgets alongside with the respective Program Finance Managers.
• Ensure timely government report submission as per Government Reporting Calendar.
• For new projects, liaise with respective Project Finance Managers and the Programme support officer in preparing projects budgets for submission to the regional government offices. For both government budgets and reports, ensure that projects’ spending is within the new CSO threshold for Programme and Support costs.
• Assist, as appropriate, in preparation of donor financial reports in consultation with Project Finance Managers;
• Assist, as appropriate, the Project Finance Managers in periodic budget reviews and preparation of budget amendments.
• Assist, as appropriate, the Project Finance Managers in preparation of budget monitoring reports.
• Review the monthly fund requests from all field offices and facilitate their transfers.
• Ensure that field offices cash and bank balances don’t exceed the acceptable / authorized cash levels at all times. Report any irregularities to the Country Finance Manager and Head of Finance.
• Perform monthly field offices’ Balance Sheet accounts reconciliations in coordination with the Country Office Senior Finance Officer.
• Closely monitor as well as conduct periodic review of projects’ internal control system.
• Assist in preparing and posting of necessary normal and adjusting entries for Feld Offices arising from such as BMR reviews, project closure accruals, and posting errors.
• Conduct regular field visits with pre-prepared field visit checklist to ensure that all FA’s systems are functioning. Update the necessary fields of the field visit checklist to be able produce a summary report to SMT.
• Ensure timely communication of revisions to financial policies and procedures to the project finance and admin officers. Also ensure that field office have all the relevant FA’s manuals and are made aware of them.
• Organize an annual workshop for the field office team liaising with finance and other support department staff to provide refresher training on FA’s policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the improvement of the finance systems and working standards.
• Be part of project audit process as well as in the annual general audit of Farm Africa.
• Provide support in monitoring procurements and vehicle usages for project offices.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the line manager.
• These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related duties as required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

Job Requirements

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

Essential

• BA/MA/ACCA or above in the area of finance/accounting and related fields
• Excellent communication skills in English language (both written and verbal)
• A sound understanding of administration procedures
• Good understanding and firm belief in gender equality

Desirable

• Knowledge of SUN & Vision 5 accounting system

Experience

• At least three years of experience at senior finance officer role in similar organizations
• Experience of working with major institutional donors as well as the Agency for Charities and Societies Organization (ACSO)
• Project budget monitoring in multiple currencies

Skills & abilities

• Skills in budgeting and maintaining accounts
• Working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines
• A high level of attention to detail and problem solving skill
• Discretion and a proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive information
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Team building skills and the ability to work in a multi partner approach
• Strong analytical, organisational and IT skills
• Proven numeracy and data analysis skills
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Farm Africa

Our VALUES

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

EXPERT. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.

GROUNDED. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.

IMPACTFUL. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families.

BOLD. We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.