Project / Grant Accountant - (Nigerian Nationals Only) at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Ref No: 2100008J
Location: CARO-NG-Federal Capital Territory
Job: Finance
Schedule: Regular
Shift: Standard
Employee Status: Individual Contributor
Job Type: Full-time
Job Level: Day Job

Project Background

• The CORE Group Partnership Project (CGPP) is a multi-country, multi-partner initiative providing financial support, on-the-ground technical guidance and support to strengthen host country efforts to eradicate polio.
• The premise of this project is to work through existing networks of international and local NGOs with established child survival activities in high-risk areas of priority countries. A country-level Secretariat coordinates the work of CORE group members in a manner that complements the work of other implementing partners.
• The work of all CORE members is in support of the national action plan for polio eradication, 5-year health plans and consistent with national MDG goals.
• The CGPP harmonizes its work with other implementing partners by coordinating at the national, state and LGA/ward level in Yobe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Borno states.

Job Summary

• The Grant Accountant, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party (Deputy Secretariat Director) and working in close collaboration with the Head of Finance and Grants, will coordinate and contribute to the implementation of the project’s funding policies and procedures in compliance with CRS’ established accounting standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements to support high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable.
• The Project Accountant will perform sub-awardee/partner risk assessment and capacity building visits and manage partner financial management related to the project. This position is overall in charge of financial management on the CGPP project in Nigeria which include CRS and the Secretariat.
• Note: Depending on the project/grant portfolio (scope and complexity), the Project/Grant Accountant can be assigned responsibility for delivery of accounting and financial reporting services for either payable or receivable transactions.

Roles and Key Responsibilities
Financial Management:

• Assist the DCoP in Budget Review and Quarterly Cash Forecasting.
• Report Sub-Agreement commitments to be recorded in CRS accounting system.
• Review and process the issuance of project advances in accordance with CRS and Donor Policies and Procedures.
• Ensure Project Holder advances are liquidated on timely manner and they are within allotted liquidation time frame as per CRS policy.
• Assist in the Preparation of Detailed Project Budget vs. Actual Comparison Report, including Sub-recipients Expenditures for Program and Management Review on monthly basis.
• Assist in the preparations of Donor Financial Reports timely, accurately and in accordance with terms and conditions outlined in the grant agreement.
• Provide information to project staff, subrecipients, and partners on financial accounting policies and procedural compliance issues and deliver training and other capacity building activities.

Compliance Management:

• Verify sub-recipients’ financial reports and associated support documentations and recommend for liquidation and/or reimbursement in accordance with Donor, CRS policies and procedures and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Report any fraudulent activities, observed as part of the review to the DCoP and Head of Finance and Grants immediately.
• Ensure Sub-recipients advances are liquidated on timely manner and they are within allotted liquidation timeframe as per CRS policy.
• Prepare Sub-recipients Aging Report for Program and Management Review on monthly basis.
• Provide onsite training to sub-recipient’s finance staff when required.
• Travel to the field, to visit sub-recipient when required.
• Ensure Project’s files both in hard and electronic copies are up to date.
• Work with the DCoP to document project files, a justification for delays in; Issuing project advances; and Liquidating the advances; so as to improve partner monitoring and follow up processes.

Sub-recipients Financial Assessment, monitoring, and financial support:

• Lead the assessments of all sub-recipients using HQ Finance’s checklists to have a stratification of the sub-recipients for Country Program. An A-133 sub-recipient can be rated as high risk by CRS MPI, based upon its A-133 audit results, even if it fares well during the assessment.
• Assist the sub-recipients in preparing a Corrective Action Plan within sixty calendar days of the assessment or monitoring visit that addresses each of the identified weaknesses in any of the ten assessed areas scored below 75%.
• Assist the DCoP in making sure that the sub recipients address all issues listed in the Corrective Acton Plan on a timely manner.
• Ensure sub-recipients have in place and adheres to a schedule of planned monitoring visits of sub-recipients during each year. The basis for the selection, timing and frequency of its monitoring visits should be properly documented.
• Work with the DCoP to ensure financial monitoring, including site visits, of sub-recipient activities. The trip reports must indicate the monitoring steps performed, the processes reviewed, and the result of the testing and reviews.
• Analyze monitoring reports on a timely manner for further follow-up and record for at least three years after the related grant or project has expired.
• Archive sub-receipts reports and contracts to CRS system.

Financial Reporting:

• In collaboration with the Head of Finance and Grants, play active part during monthly/annual financial reporting closure.
• Liaise with the project team on deliverables required to meet month/year end closure timelines.
• Liaise with the Administration department on deliverables require to meet month end closure timelines such as review of VMS and Insight reconciliation, monthly personal vehicle usage computation and preparing the facility allocation table.

Audit:

• Ensure Project documents both Programming and Financial Records are readily available for internal/external reviewers.
• Attend and facilitate Donor Representatives, especially Financial Reviewers when required.
• Assist the DCoP in the follow up and closure of the CP internal and external audit findings associated with local partners.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal Deputy Chief of Party, Head of Finance and Grants, CGPP Secretariat Director - Chief of Party, Deputy Country Representative – Programs, Deputy Country Representative – Operations, Program Officers and Finance Assistant, Supply chain Manager, Administrative Officer, HR Officer, IT Officer, Internal Auditors.
• External Sub-recipients, Suppliers, External Auditors and Donor

Basic Qualifications

• B.A. Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA or equivalent).
• Minimum of four years’ experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international or local NGO, or a financial/banking institution.
• Demonstrated ability in building capacity and providing training and technical assistance, and experience working with church partners.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of Oracle accounting system, QuickBooks financial accounting package or similar financial reporting software preferred.
• Good command of spoken and written English.

Required Languages:

• English is required, Hause an added advantage.

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to detect and report inconsistencies
• Conscientious, accurate and thorough with great attention to detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship