Accountant Job in Kenya

Project Accountant

Job Purpose:

The Project Accountant
will provide financial management to the Cassava Value Chain Programme funded
by the European Union. The overall objective of the Programme is to increase
food and nutrition security, employment and income among 28,000
smallholder-farming households (at least 60% women) in seven Counties (Kisumu,
Homabay, Migori, Siaya, Busia, Kitui and Kilifi).

Under the overall
financial and administrative leadership of Self Help Africa (SHA) Head of
Finance and Administration (HoFA), the Project Accountant will be responsible
for maintaining a high standard of accounting and financial control, providing
guidance and technical financial support to all the Implementing partners
funded under the EU Programme. This will include but not be limited to the
identification of training requirements, provision of training, undertaking risk
assessment and the provision of assistance and advice on financial systems and
procedures for best practice. He/She will also ensure accurate and timely
recording of financial data, processing of transactions and compliance to
reporting as per the EU regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Management

• Responsible for routine financial accounting
  functions including processing and recording all transactions in line with
  organisational policy, EU accounting standards, and compliance to policies
  and Kenyan legislation, ensuring timeliness, efficiency and completeness;


• Responsible for checking the accuracy and validity
  of documents submitted by partners and prepare a schedule to be used for
  posting entries on PS Financials (PSF);


• Review partner’s monthly bank and ledger
  reconciliations, financial templates, reports and other statements;


• Review the monthly payments requests against the
  budget and cash flow projections and follow up on the disbursement of
  funds to partners;


• Prepare monthly wage analysis of all partners
  balances and follow up on overdue liquidations;


• Prepare a month work plan and share with the
  Programme Manager and Head of Finance and Administration.

Partner Management

• Assist partners in developing financial management
  and procurement policy guidelines, where necessary and implementation of
  same;


• Develop a training schedule and undertake the
  training & ongoing mentoring of partners to ensure a stronger
  financial system and structure is in place;


• Coordinate regular internal audit scrutiny of partner
  organisations, ensuring financial systems and controls are of an
  appropriate standard for security and effective management of funds
  advanced by SHA;


• With support from the Head of Finance and
  Administration, lead the coordination of an annual audit of the
  implementing partners.

Financial Planning and
Budgeting

• Liaising with the Programme Manager, finance staff
  and other programme administrators on programme and activity budget
  preparation, spending and realignments, ensuring they are aligned with
  grants agreements;


• Preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual
  budget vs. expenditure;


• Prepare and process financial data necessary for
  budget adjustments as required while ensuring compliance to the grant
  agreement;


• Participate in the preparation and revision of the
  annual budgets.

Donor Reporting and
Compliance

• Prepare partner consolidated reports and donor
  financial reports that comply with donor requirements;



• Coordinate the expenditure verification exercise,
  special audits and respond to internal audit reports

Other Duties

• Any other duty that may be assigned from time to
  time

Key Relationships:

• Internal


• Finance and Administration Team


• Country Management Team


• Programme Manager and other country programme
  staff


• Programme and Finance staff in Dublin HQ


• External


• Officials from partner organisations both finance
  and programme staff


• Service providers

Qualifications/Knowledge
and Experience

Essential

• Internationally recognised accounting
  qualification (CA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA)


• Five years practical experience in finance
  department, three of which should be in grants management


• Strong technical abilities and up to date
  knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles


• Fluency in spoken and written English


• Experience of managing donor funds and contracts


• Experience of managing, training and supporting
  staff

Desirable

• Willingness to travel nationally and
  internationally


• Previous experience of managing USAID, EU or other
  donor funding


• Experience working with partner organisations


• Experience of undertaking risk assessments,
  internal audits and/or assessing internal controls

Role Competencies

• 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


• Attention to detail and ability to produce timely,
  accurate, financial reports

How to Apply

Go
to Self Help Africa on selfhelpafrica.org to apply