Financial Analyst Job At US Mission in Uganda

Job Title:         Financial Analyst (Several Job Placements)

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary Grade: UGX 137,483,245 – 202,072,484 per annum (FSN 11)

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years.  Ambassador Deborah R. Malac currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda.  The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Peace Corps

Job Summary:  The Financial Analyst (FA) is part of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and reports to the Supervisory Financial Analyst. S/he provides professional financial management advice on a broad range of financial management issues to the Controller, Mission Management, Development Objective (DO) teams, and various governmental and non-governmental partner institutions, as well as to potential partner institutions which implement an array of complex development activities. As OFM representative to the DO team to which s/he is assigned, the FA performs necessary analyses and provides appropriate advice on financial, accountability and risk management issues related to planning and implementation of USAID/Uganda’s program funded activities with an estimated annual program budget of $450 Million in one of the most corrupt countries in the world. The FA will provide financial tracking and analysis of USAID resources to ensure better financial monitoring and minimize fraud risk. The FA will specifically be responsible for audits, financial reviews, pre-award assessments, control environment and risk assessments, cost effectiveness assessments, and closeout reviews, all of which have been less rigorous than necessary due to staffing shortages in OFM. The FA will assist in assessing Government of Uganda (GoU) public financial management and procurement systems and provide oversight of third party monitoring services.

The FA acts as the “one stop” customer service representative between OFM and numerous internal and external customers, including Senior Mission Management; Host Country agency representatives, private sector service providers; implementing partner organizations; and other international donor agencies regarding financial analysis and accounting for projects implemented by the Mission.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

Portfolio Financial Management, Analysis, Monitoring and Advisory Services – (60%)

• Provide professional financial advice to USAID/Uganda Mission management personnel on a range of issues related to the financial management aspects of proposed activities, such as estimated costs and required budgets; internal controls; fiduciary risk management and compliance; and other issues.
• Contribute to USAID’s decision and policy making process by providing recommendations and suggestions for improving operational efficiencies, financial management practices, and the accuracy of financial reporting.
• Provide technical guidance on U.S. federal government and USAID rules and regulations to the technical DO teams, implementing partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and host government officials.
• Prepare the financial aspects of project design and procurement planning documents, such as budgets and financial plans for Implementation Letters, Grant Agreements, and other relevant implementing mechanisms.
• Participate in the performance of financial reviews, pre-award assessments, organizational capacity assessments and compliance reviews. This includes control environment and risk assessments, cost effectiveness assessments, disbursement reviews, indirect cost rate reviews, pre-closeout and closeout reviews on USAID funded organizations to determine the levels of accountability and adequacy of control environments within those entities. Prepare reports on their detailed findings and issue these reports both to internal and external stakeholders. Subsequent to these reviews, consistently follow up on the findings until they are closed.
• Perform reviews of financial terms and conditions on project agreements, project implementation orders, GLAAS requisitions, contracts, purchase and delivery orders, and lease and grant agreements for compliance with applicable rules, regulations, and procedures relating to accounting and fund controls. Monitor the execution of such documents to ensure compliance with financial plans and report on the financial status of those instruments to the Controller, the DO teams and Team Leaders.
• Serve on the DO team, representing the Controller in accordance with delegated authorities, and providing the full range of advisory services, including periodic portfolio and/or project implementation reviews, procurement planning exercises and other such activities.
• Prepare and present the quarterly financial reviews to the DO teams, providing in depth analysis and insight to ensure DO team leaders and team members are aware of any issues related to pipeline positions, spend plans and obligation plans.
• Guide and coach the A/COR on the development of accruals. Prepare and present the quarterly financial reviews bringing to light areas of concern to the technical teams; identifies and recommends adjusting entries to the accountants to bring the project/program pipelines into accurate levels; investigates any variances between projections and actual disbursements or accrued expenditure; and provides the results to Activity Managers.
• Conduct financial management training for USAID implementing partners and recipients as part of capacity building, and hold workshops where specific challenges faced in financial implementation are shared by implementing partners and action plans developed to mitigate or address the challenges.
• Provide training to senior project staff responsible for financial implementation of USAID-funded programs.

Lead Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Initiatives and Capacity Building – (30%)

• Participate and advise Mission senior management and staff in the efforts set forth by the Agency related to Public Financial Management (PFM) System reforms to use local partners. This includes advising Mission management on the reliability and/or weaknesses of host country systems, the effectiveness of the underlying internal controls, and providing possible recommendations. He/she identifies or coordinates the capacity building needs endorsed and/or determined from assessments conducted on the Host Government Agencies, both at the National and Local Levels, develops an Action Plan or a SOW to address those, and oversees implementation.
• Through agreements between the Government of Uganda and USAID/Uganda, design and implement reforms to create independent and transparent public finance institutions, budgetary and treasury processes, audit and performance evaluations of public finances and unbiased data and information dissemination.
• Manage USAID/Uganda’s assistance and investments on PFM-related activities, working directly with the Host Country Government Officials, including Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI), Ministry of Finance, Treasury, Judiciary, Internal Audit Institutions, civil societies and the private sector associations.
• Advise and assist USAID/Uganda’s Mission Office Chiefs and the Front Office on all cross-cutting PFM issues impacting the Mission’s assistance portfolio and program implementation.
• Coordinate with the DO team to design, procure, implement and manage USAID/Uganda’s authorized government to government (G2G) activities in compliance with ADS 220. Responsible for developing the activity scope to provide reasonable assurance that identified fiduciary risk(s) that might result from the use of GoU systems are low or can be mitigated appropriately. The FA will specifically be responsible for:

• Developing the scope of work to ensure that the PFMRAF Stage 2 Risk Assessment will cover the key areas such as the Budgetary System and Budget Execution, External Audit, Procurement Human Resources and Payroll, Ordering goods/services & payment of invoices, Control Environment and the Information Technology.
• Selecting, coaching, and preparing the in-house Stage 2 risk assessment team if authorized by the Mission, guiding the team throughout the process, and coordinating the risk assessment program with the counterpart agencies and GoU officials.
• Devise technical specification to engage an outside contractor, assisting contracting officer with procurement details including the subsequent technical evaluation of the cost proposals submitted, and performing A/COR duties of all outsourced assessments.
• Formulating risk mitigation and capacity building frameworks and plans to address identified fiduciary risks and control weaknesses.
• Perform Government Agreement Technical Representative (GATR) duties in relation to G2G activity implementation.
• May be seconded to the host country government relevant ministry for capacity development activities.

Manage the Mission’s Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Control and Audit Management (10%)

In line with the Agency’s Audit Management and Resolution Program and accountability requirements, the FA acts as the Audit Management Officer’s designee for the assigned portfolios and assists Technical Offices in meeting their audit management responsibilities. This includes responsibility for planning, executing and coordinating the annual financial and performance audits of USAID/Uganda assistance programs and projects in consultation with the Regional Inspector General’s office in Pretoria, South Africa as needed per the ADS.

Ensure compliance with USAID audit requirements for all contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements. S/he formulates and maintains the Mission’s annual audit management plan and audit inventory, which includes following-up on the receipt of audits from contracted audit firms, and also involves tracking the progress of open recommendations. The FA will be responsible for:

• Providing guidance to auditees and audit firms in consultation with RIG/Pretoria to ensure full compliance with USAID audit requirements. Follows up on the audit process until the final audit report is accepted and issued by RIG/Pretoria. This involves working closely with implementing partners, auditors and RIG/Pretoria to provide required support and guidance.
• Serving as the contracting officer representative (COR) with the Certified Public Accounting Firms, supervising the coordination of pre-audit surveys, performed by the CPAs and the subsequent technical evaluation of the cost proposals submitted by the CPA firms. This also entails: drafting the scopes of work; reviewing final reports for each audit; conducting initial desk reviews draft audit reports; chairing and coordinating the entrance and exit conferences for all financial audits, and being directly accountable to the Audit Manager Officer (Controller) and MCRC; supervising and coordinating audit field work and reviewing audits for adequacy and compliance with requirements as specified in OMB-Circulars.

Serve in a rotating role of coordinator for all Mission Control Review Committee (MCRC) related issues and findings by tracking and monitoring actions required to strengthen internal controls in the Mission. He/she is the Controller’s delegated leader of the annual Mission’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) review exercise and the review of internal control systems as required by the Federal Manager’s Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA). This includes:

• Implementing appropriate Mission internal control framework to prevent waste, fraud and abuse of USG resources and safeguarding of all USG investments in Mozambique and assets at the Mission’s disposal.
• Managing Mission FMFIA process (risk assessment and deficiency identification) by utilizing Agency supported URIC A tool and any future updates. Training technical and other support offices staff on using the URICA tool and documenting the results of the risk assessment and deficiency Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), and monitoring CAPs completion and closure
• Organizing the Mission MCRC meetings, acting as the secretary of the MCRC board, and keeping minutes of meetings/discussions.
• Coordinating with the Mission Director to provide FMFIA certification and reporting the results of Mission’s FMFIA and CAPs to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in Washington.
• Responsible for maintaining and updating the list of approved and eligible audit firms, leading the process to add new firms.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

NOTE:  All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

• The applicants for the United States US Embassy Financial Analyst job opportunity should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration
• At least five (5) to eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in professional financial analysis, accounting or auditing is required.
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS); principles and accepted practices of Ugandan governmental and business institutions with regards to finance, accounting, budgeting and reporting; as well as governmental and not-for-profit accounting, budgeting and reporting;
• In-depth professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts and practices, especially as they relate to performing audits of development programs and projects;
• A thorough knowledge of USAID activity design, development, implementation and evaluation processes is essential for full performance level;
• Knowledge of Public Financial Management systems, Committee of Sponsoring Organizations Internal Control Framework, International auditing standards and related areas.
• Excellent skills and abilities in performing audits (financial and programmatic), internal control assessments, financial reviews, compliance reviews, etc.;
• Ability to perform sophisticated analysis of management controls and capabilities of partner/beneficiary organizations;
• Ability to evaluate financial aspects of activities and programs, institutional capacities and capabilities;
• Ability to present results and recommendations to a broad audience, both orally and in writing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills are required, as incumbent will frequently be working with the officials and staff of the Host government, Contractors, Grantees, and others who may be unfamiliar with USAID’s programming and budgeting process;
• Exceptional verbal communication skills to be able to explain and interpret GoU attitudes, priorities and concerns to USAID officials, and to negotiate financial management and audit issues with appropriate GoU organizations and/or USAID implementing partners, technical advisors, counterparts, and peers;
• Excellent writing skills to prepare regular audit reports to the Regional Inspector General of USAID;
• Ability to work effectively in a Team environment, and to achieve consensus on policy, program/project, and administrative matters;
• Strong computer skills including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as capacity to effectively understand financial management and tracking systems, and to process data that form the heart of the tasks performed in this position.
• Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) English language proficiency in speaking and writing is required.

How to Apply:

All those interested in working with the US mission in Kampala should send their applications and strictly adhere to the following:

• A signed DS-174 Employment Application for Locally Employed Staff or Family Member, Click Here
• Cover letter clearly indicating the position for which you are applying and describing how you meet the minimum requirements
• A Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• Copies of Academic Transcripts
• Names, contact numbers, and e-mail addresses of three (3) professional references. At least one of the references must be a prior or current direct supervisor.

Submit Application To:

Human Resources Office

By email at KampalaHR@state.gov

NB: Your application will be reviewed if you have fulfilled all the requirements including submission of standard file types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) in a single attachment (No Zipped files, Links or Multiple Attachments) and should not exceed 10MB. Please clearly indicate the position number and title you are applying for on the DS-174 form.

Deadline: 2^nd August 2019

The US Mission in Kampala provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.  The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.