Nafasi ya Ajira kutoka Catholic Relief Services - CRS Tanzania

Position Title: Project Accountant

Dept/Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Department: Finance

Project SOYA NI PESA Project

Reports To: Country Finance Manager - Projects

Length of Assignment: TEMPORARY (Six Months)

Background:

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. With funding from the United States Department of Agriculture CRS Tanzania will be implementing the SNP Program aim to improve the production and marketing of soya beans in Tanzania. The SNP Project will be implemented through a local organization in Iringa, southern part of Tanzania.

Key Responsibilities:

The Project Accountant will assist the Country Finance Manager - Projects on all finance matters relating to Local Partners of SNP 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 underlying requirements.

Specific Responsibilities:

Partner Accompaniment to Strengthen Financial Systems Management:

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

2.  Conduct regular visits to partner organizations to review Financial Management Systems: review books of accounts of projects, internal control systems and financial management practices and recommend areas for improvement.

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 budgets.

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 before the last two (2) months of the last quarter, and no advances 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.  Keep a file of copies of donor agreements.

Grants management:

1.  Ensure timely and compliant processing of advances/disbursements to all local partners for operational needs. Ensure partners do not reach zero level bank balance, and that they have uninterrupted cash flow within their cash forecast and budget for program activities.

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

3.  Maintain and update a control file for partners’ liquidations.

4.  Ensure all expenses are allowable per the donor agreement and regulations and question costs are resolved as quickly as possible.

5.  Ensure that all partners maintain separate records for each project.

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

7.  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.

Reporting:

1.  Write a trip report identifying major issues for follow-up and recommendations, follow-up on the matters raised and close them.

2.  Ensure SUN system financial data matches the partners’ records, and reconcile any differences on a monthly basis for review by the Country Finance Manager - Projects.

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.  Ensure that risk mitigation strategies are in place for major risks at partner level. Report immediately and in writing any noted risks at partner level and submit such reports to the –Country Finance Manager - Projects.

4.  Participate on the identification of audit eligible partners annually and lead partner preparation efforts

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Finance Manager – Projects, Country Finance Manager - Operations, Other Finance Staff, Head of Finance, Program staff (SNP Project) and Project Director (SNP Project).

JD – Project Accountant-SNP PROJECT - 3 -External: Local partners, field auditors and other local as well international bodies (e.g. donors)

Personal Competencies:

−Demonstrated strengths in financial management with a strong client service focus; able to work with diverse groups of people and team oriented environment

−Skilled in obtaining information necessary to accomplish duties

−Ability to prioritize work, multi-task and meet deadlines

−Problem analysis and problem resolution skills

−Ability to express technical ideas and concerns in a non-technical environment

−Strong customer/client orientation

−Ability to follow direction and work independently

−Ability to adapt and learn

−Strong organization and planning skills, detail oriented

−Maturity and discretion, able to work with, and maintain confidential information

Qualifications/education, Experience and Competencies/other skills:

University degree in Accounting

Foreign Language Required: Fluency in English both oral and written skills. Fluency in

Swahili

Minimum of two years work experience or fresh CPA holders.

Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word and any accounting package.  

Ability to communicate technical information to non technical audiences.

Analytical Review skills

Deadline is 4^th January 2013

Please send only the CV and application letter to:

Human Resource Manager

P.O. Box 34701

Catholic Relief Services

Dar es Salaam.

Email address: tz_hr@global.crs.org