Job Title: Project Accountant, MHU

Organisation: SOS Children’s Villages/Mental Health Uganda

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: The MHU Finance and Administration Manager (FAM)

About US:

SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, locally registered, child-focused, social development non- governmental organization with a strong reputation for providing quality care and protection, education and health needs for vulnerable children. Since its inception in 1991, SOS CV Uganda has reached over 60,000 children, youths and adults directly and indirectly to become empowered and self-reliant to contribute significantly to the needs of their families and communities.

Mental Health Uganda (MHU) is an indigenous, non-governmental, membership-based disabled people’s organisation; an organisation of people with a lived experience of mental health problems. MHU was established in 1997 and formally registered as a national NGO in 2001. MHU is based in all regions of the country and works for equal access to services and opportunities for people with mental health issues. MHU is the biggest organisation of people living with mental illness in Africa with over 25,000 members.

About Project:

The 2 partners will implement a 3-year project from January 2023, primarily targeting young people between the ages of 13 to 19 in 10 selected secondary schools (5 from Gulu district and 5 from Wakiso district). The project seeks to: normalize mental health problems and reduce stigma and discrimination; facilitate access to psychosocial support in the targeted schools; and contribute to improved policy and legal framework in favour of young people experiencing mental health problems in Uganda. Youth active participation and empowerment is a key proponent of the project, ensuring that youth lead the development and implementation of project activities.

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Job Summary: The Project Accountant is responsible for the preparation of monthly management accounts, project income and expenditure statements, reports to donors and any other (sometimes) ad hoc reports as required.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Management

• Provide the FAM and Project Coordinator with all necessary information to ensure good financial management
• Monitor the cash flow of the project bank account in to ensure that the account is not over withdrawn
• Implement all financial policies as established by MHU
• Prepare monthly accounts i.e. monthly statements and bank reconciliation for the project funds, ensuring they are submitted to the supervisor in time
• Assist the FAM in following up on and implementation of all audit recommendations
• Assist the FAM in the capacity building of programme staff in financial management and budget monitoring
• Participate in the preparation and execution of annual and any other audits.

Budget preparation and Control

• Provide the FAM and Project Coordinator with necessary background information and guidelines for the preparation of quarterly, mid-year and annual budgets
• Provide the FAM with monthly variance statements indicating to him/her major likely variances in project finance expenditures
• Provide MHU with quarterly variance statements and their accompanying notes.

Authorization of Payments

• Check all transactions to ensure that all payments are authorized and backed up with proper receipts, invoices and/or other supporting documents.
• Make authorized payments within approved budgets limits and provisions.

Payment Vouchers Control

• Check all vouchers to ensure that they are serially numbered, properly described, signed, duly approved, stamped “PAID”, and supported by proper receipts or other documents
• Store and file all the above documents ensuring that they are secure and well labelled.

Salaries and Statutory Payments

• Preparation of the monthly payrolls and ensure all statutory deductions off the payroll are remitted to relevant authorities, in a timely manner
• Prepare monthly payroll reconciliation indicating the reason for any difference from previous months.

Procurements, stores and logistics

• Follow laid down procedures in procurement by checking pricing of all items and advise management on cost minimization by ensuring that items purchased are in accordance with approved budgets
• Ensure that the project assets including the computers, vehicle, etc, are well maintained and functional all the time
• Prepare and maintain/update the fixed asset register
• Drawing and ensuring supplier contracts are up to date
• Checks vehicle log book on a monthly basis
• Carry out assigned administration duties directly or indirectly related to MHU financial procedures.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal applicant must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in the Finance/Accounting field
• Professional training in accounting will be an added advantage.
• At least three years of experience as a qualified accountant preferably in an NGO environment.
• Strong technical abilities and up to date knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
• Experience in the preparation and review of management accounts and the critical analysis of a trial balance
• Experience in the preparation of annual financial statements for audit IT Skills and familiarity with any accounting computer software
• Experience of working with donor funds

Desirable criteria

• Excellent verbal, analytical, organisational and writing skills
• People management skills
• Experience of working in partnership settings
• Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to MHU’s vision, mission and values
• Attention to detail.

How to Apply:

All interested individuals should send a motivation letter and CV as one PDF document/file (of maximum 8 pages for the Project Coordinator and 6 pages for all other positions), not later than 4:00pm on Friday 18th November 2022 via email to jobs@sosuganda.org and copy to mhu@mentalhealthuganda.org – subject line is the job title e.g. “Project Coordinator”. Do not send academic documents – heavy files containing academic documents or submitted as images, or any other that do not adhere to these instructions and or late applications, will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The motivation letter must also include the details of 2 suitable referees who can comment on the candidate’s ability. Women and Persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply, including those with a lived experience of mental health problems.

Note

• The commencement of these positions is subject to the availability of funding.
• SOS and MHU promote zero tolerance for discrimination/harassment based on gender, religious beliefs etc. All staff and volunteers shall adhere to strict guidelines in order to facilitate “silent” inclusion. Staff and volunteers also adhere to safeguarding provisions – a set of procedures and practices designed to ensure that no harm comes to project beneficiaries as a result of contact with MHU’s programs, operations or individuals.

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