Job Title:      Senior Finance Accountant

Organization: Self Help Africa

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Head of Finance and Administration

About US:

Self Help Africa (SHA) is an International Non–Governmental Organisation implementing rural development, sustainable food and livelihoods security programmes in nine countries in Africa. SHA’s vision is an economically thriving and resilient rural Africa with a mission to support sustainable livelihoods for Uganda’s smallholder farmers.

Job Summary: The Senior Finance Accountant is responsible for the preparation of monthly management accounts, project income and expenditure statements, reports to donors and any other ad hoc report as required. The Senior Finance Accountant plays a key role in the management of the relationships between Self Help Africa Uganda and the partner organisations we work with by providing accounting support and conducting regular monitoring and internal audit visit.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Country Programme Finance:

• Responsible for the review and correction, where necessary, of the monthly trial balance ahead of the preparation of the monthly management accounts
• Responsible for the preparation of the monthly management accounts for approval by the HoFA in line with standard SHA procedures – includes monthly and year to date project and donor expenditure, bank reconciliations, income and expenditure account, and other necessary information;
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts every month including, but not limited to, the partner advance account, the staff advance account and payroll liabilities
• Assist the HoFA in the preparation of Annual Budgets and work plans for the Uganda Country Programme;
• Responsible for ensuring that all project budgets are mapped to appropriate PSF nominal accounts, including partner budgets;
• Approve expense settlement documentation after checking the accuracy and completeness of the documentation as well as the available budget;
• Perform a monthly review of individual project spend against budget using the project budget / donor format. In conjunction with the relevant Project staff, provide detailed explanations for variances;
• Prepare ad hoc project specific financial reports as required;
• Monitor and ensure partner expenditure is in line with agreed budgets – identify potential programme under or over-spends and liaise with HoFA and Head Office as to the required action needed;
• Responsible for the preparation of monthly cash flow projections,;
• Assist the HoFA in the preparation of an annual schedule of partner monitoring visits and internal audits.
• Perform internal audits and conduct monitoring visits to partner organisations to ensure security and effective management of funds advanced by SHA;
• Evaluate the internal control systems and conduct financial risk assessment of partners to identify areas requiring attention and improvement.
• Preparation of the monthly payrolls and ensure all statutory deductions off the payroll are timely remitted to relevant authorities.
• Prepare monthly financial reporting template for use by partner organisations, which maps to PSF nominal accounts;
• Responsible for the review of the monthly financial reports and source documentation of partner organisations. Resolve any queries with partners as required;
• Approve partner expenditure reports for posting into PSF;
• Ensure that recommendations arising from the internal audit of, or monitoring visit to partners are followed up on and implemented in a timely manner;
• With support from the HoFA, assist in the management and coordination of annual audit for the country programme and project specific audit;
• Assist the HoFA in following up on and implementing all audit recommendations;
• Perform any other duties as assigned by Head of Finance and Administration from time to time;
• Operational Management
• Assist the HoFA in ensuring that procedures are adhered to by all staff in the country programme and assist in ensuring the efficient management of financial and other resources by partners;
• Ensure that reports are completed in accordance with deadlines;
• Assist the HoFA in the capacity building of programme and partner staff in financial management and budget monitoring;
• Logistics/ Procurement / Assets Management
• Assist in the update and maintenance of the fixed asset register in Salesforce and the reconciliation of the same to PSF.
• Assist the HoFA in the procurement function and controlling of stock and stock management;
• Assist the Procurement Committee in the processing office procurements, ensuring that financial procedures are followed by the committee;
• Assist in ensuring compliance with all relevant donor financial regulations,
• Drawing and ensuring supplier contracts are up to date.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

• The prospective employee for the Self Help Africa (SHA) Finance Officer must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in the Finance/Accounting field.
• Internationally recognized Accounting Qualification (CA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA)
• Three years of experience as a qualified accountant preferably in an INGO environment.
• Strong technical abilities and up to date knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Ability to bring accounts to at least Trial Balance stage
• Desirable
• 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
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally
• Experience of working with partner organisations
• Experience of working with donor funds
• Experience of management, training and supporting staff
• Excellent verbal, analytical, organisational and written skills
• People management skills
• Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to Self Help Africa’s vision, mission and values
• Excellent ICT skills including a good knowledge of MS Office and accounting software
• Keen attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate financial reports

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to send a filled application form, download here, with a cover letter indicating 3 referees, two of whom should have been direct supervisors to uganda@selfhelpafrica.net including your name and the job being applied for in the Subject Line.

Deadline: 31^st January 2018

  Job opportunities, Job Vacancies, JOBS, Jobs at Self Help Africa, Jobs in Uganda, Self Help Africa