Finance Officer at Project Hope

Finance Officer:

• The Finance Officer is responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulations, grant specific requirements, reporting mechanisms, and Project HOPE policies and procedures. S/he is responsible for oversight and ensuring compliance and development of all financial and accounting activities for the project as well as HR responsibilities as assigned.  S/he ensures availability of financial resources for local payments of the team, review and account for procurement transactions to ensure adequate supporting documentation, accuracy of amounts and control over payments. Ensure the accuracy of financial transactions on the project using Quickbooks, and meet the financial reporting requirement including preparation, submission for review by HQ and final submission to donor within the deadline. The Finance officer prepares the required budgets, realignment and manages the same through regular review of budgeted against actual expenditure.  

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES  

Accounting and Finance Management  

• Ensure compliance with the organization and donor regulations and procedures; establishing finance and supporting function policies, systems and procedures, and directing or performing their development, documentation, and implementation  
• Responsible for ensuring financial resources availability for local payments of the team, in coordination with International Finance Desk  
• Supervise and ensure that the day-to-day accounting operations and financial management functions in field offices are performed in accordance with internal policy and procedures  
• Review and account for procurement transactions to ensure adequate supporting documentation, accuracy of amounts and control overpayments  
• Suggest formats for financial reporting to aid financial statement users to better understand the contents of the reports for decision-making and strategic planning purposes  
• Ensure the maintenance of accurate records of financial transactions of the mission (main and field sites in order to monitor financial status of all  activities  
• Manage the finance activities of the mission to meet the financial reporting requirements of field and senior management team, ensuring that all financial reports are submitted on or before the deadlines set and contain relevant information for all the users of the financial reports  
• Direct the preparation of all financial reports for external purposes in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements
• Maintain the organization’s system of accounts ensuring all accounting data are updated, reconciled and fully supported
• Provide technical support to mission program and logistics  
• Supervise or prepare activity budgets in collaboration with the technical team 
• Present and facilitate review of actual to budget expenditures with direct line manager, senior management, and field teams  
• Provide recommendations for budget realignments as required  

Working Relationships  

• Maintain frequent communication with Senior Accountant HQ, Program and Operations Manager to ensure finance activities and objectives are communicated  
• Work with direct line manager, senior management and field teams to ensure the coordination of programs are within budgeted targets  
• Attend coordination meetings which are relevant to country activities  
• Interface with national government and relevant agencies to ensure compliance with varying government regulations  

Representation  

• Participate in donor meetings and communicate relevant information to Project Manager and/or HQ  
• Work with key staff to develop and maintain optimum financial and programmatic relationship  
• Ensure maximum visibility of the agency among the NGO community  
• Lead the production of reports and ensure the timeliness and accuracy of information provided, as well ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information.  
• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the organization's Code of Conduct, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to internal and external actors.  

Qualifications:  

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Social Sciences, Business Administration and/or in a relevant field of study 
• Chartered Accountant
• Preferably has a Master’s degree 
• Prior Grant Management training/experience 

Experience  

• Minimum of five (5) years of managerial experience in a non-profit organization or equivalent experience, training and education  
• Extensive experience in the administrative and financial management of overseas programs at the management level  
• Extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems  
• Comprehensive knowledge and working experience with USAID, World Bank, EU, DfID and other donors preferred
• Experience in developing and managing procurement and logistical procedures and policies  

OTHER ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS  

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse  

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within Project HOPE and among beneficiaries served by Project HOPE  

Compliance & Ethics  

• Promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout Project HOPE.  
• As applicable to the position, maintain a clear understanding of Project HOPE' and donor compliance and ethics standards and adhere to those standards.  
• Conduct work with the highest level of integrity  

Competency  

• Strong writing and presentation skills  
• Proven capabilities in leadership  
• Strong negotiation, interpersonal and organization skills  
• Ability to read, writes, analyze and interpret, technical and non-technical in the English language  
• Ability to effectively present information and respond appropriately to questions from senior managers in the field and HQ, counterparts, senior government and rebel leaders and other related regional players