Project Accountant - GSF

POSITION:                                       Project Accountant - GSF

REPORTS TO:                                 GSF/UMATA Project Manager

LOCATION:                                     Dodoma, Tanzania

JOB SUMMARY:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental agency specializing in relief and community development activities through working with local partners. The agency provides equal employment opportunities regardless of age, race, gender, religion or disability.

CRS is looking for an Accountant who will assist the Finance Manager (Projects) on all matters pertaining to the GSF Project. This includes but not limited to; provision of technical assistance to partners and processing of partners’ advances and liquidations while ensuring existence of best financial management practices which are in line with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), CRS policies and procedures as well as donor and other requirements.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Partners’ Financial Systems Management:

1.  Provide technical assistance to the program team and partner staff as needed to strengthen Financial Management Systems.

2.  Project Financial Management Systems review, internal control systems and financial management practices

Planning & Budget Administration:

1. Participate in the development of partner budgets and ensure that they are accurate before final approval. 2 Ensure that partner project expenses are booked only against valid budget.

3.  Ensure that partners remain within budget flexibility and total obligated amount, and promptly report overspending per line item to the program officer/manager.

4.  Ensure partners receive advances as outlined in the signed agreement and as per CRS finance policy and make sure no advances are given in the last month of a project year. This will involve review of project advances to ensure that, no advances are issued above the obligated amount(s).

5.  Maintain a file containing copies of donors’ agreements.

Grants management:

1.  Timely processing of advances/disbursements local partners.

2.  Ensure integrity and quality of partner submitted data, processing of advances and liquidations for accurate reporting and information sharing.

3.  Ensure that partner financial reports are processed accurately and a feedback report sent on an approved template to the partners indicating accepted expenses, questioned costs and detailing extra support documents needed. In addition, all reported expenses must be allowable per the donor regulations and other underlying requirements.

4.  Monitor currency exchange rates and alert the Finance Manager-Projects when/if unusual or unexpected changes occur and impact on local partner budgets.

6.  Participate in grant closure activities at partner level with the respective project office/grant manager and ensure that expired grants are fully closed out within 30 days limit and final reports are submitted within 45 days to CRS/Tanzania.

Processing of Transactions and Other Finance Duties:

1.  Review travel advances for project staff, enforcing internal controls for all payments

2.  Monitor cash balances of the GSF/UMATA project and ensure availability of cash to meet project needs per approved forecasts.

4.  Prepare journal vouchers for all project transactions, accurately and on time.

5.  Prepare cash forecast for the project activities.

6.  Prepare Sun and Q&A transactions reports upon request.

Reporting:

1.  Support the process of preparing donor reports for SG 5, 6 and 7 of the GSF/UMATA project

2.  Prepare and submit trip report identifying major issues for follow-up and recommendations, follow-up on the matters raised and close them.

3.  Ensure SUN system financial data matches partners’ records, resolve differences on a monthly basis.

4.  Submit reconciliation report should be sent to the Finance Manager – Projects for review on a monthly basis.

Risk management:

1.  As a basis for risk management, ensure that the Agency financial policies and procedures are followed and donors’ and other underlying requirements are met to standards by local partners.

2.  Closely monitor local partner inventory records to ensure that assets are fully recorded and updated, and that disposal meets donor requirements.

3.  Report immediately and in writing any noted risks at that level and submit such reports to the –Country Finance Manager-Projects.

Qualifications:

1.       University degree/Diploma in Accounting/Finance/ Economics or Business Management.

2.       A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in Accounting and or Finance management;

3.       Excellent computer skills, including MS software: Word, Excel, and Outlook.

4.       Excellent team-building skills and the ability to interact well with staff, collaborating agencies, and local partners.

5.       English and Swahili spoken and Written.

Application submission deadline is 10 December 2013, if you are interested and meet these minimum qualifications, please submit your cover letter and resume to  tz_hr@global.crs.org ,