Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.
Job Title: Programme Accountant
Reports to: The Assistant Country Director or delegate, West Darfur. A technical reporting line also to the Country Accountant.
Direct reports: Approx. three finance personnel
Liaises with: Field Coordinator and Assistant Area coordinators and other budget holders in Darfur and Country Accountant.
Job Location:El Geneina with frequent travel to the field locations in West Darfur, and Khartoum.
Contract Details: Unaccompanied Grade A 1 year
Job Purpose: To ensure the effective functioning of the finance department in West Darfur through providing day to day technical support and build the capacity of national staff to manage and carry out the work on the finance function. The post holder will report directly to the ACD-West-Darfur, with a technical reporting line to the country accountant as well.
Main duties & Responsibilities: Controllership: •Guided by Country Accountant and his/her team, ensure that the Concern worldwide financial policies and procedures are adhered to and implemented in a standardised manner across the Darfur programme. •To manage the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by the field office in Khartoum. •Assist programme managers and teams to follow donors’ (especially USAID, ECHO, Irish Aid, UNHCR etc) financial rules while budgeting, spending and reporting. •Forward to all budget holders monthly management accounts as prepared by the Country Accountant & his/her finance team on a timely basis and facilitate with programme staff review and follow up of any issues/variances arising. •Closely monitor all financial activities, and keep the ACD and Country Accountant advised of all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial management performance. •Assist the Country Accountant with external (donor, audit firm, partner organisation, government, etc.) and internal control audits as required. •In collaboration with all relevant staff, ensure the protection of all programme assets (cash, inventory, etc.) through the enforcement of internal controls and procedures, including regular updating of fixed asset inventories. •Maintain up-to date knowledge of and implement local government requirements and regulations related to financial matters including statutory deductions from national staff salaries such as income tax, social security, etc.
Training & Staff Management: •Train National Finance Officer/Finance Manager so that s/he can take programme accountant role upon completion of the international assignee’s contract period. •Ensure training to non-financial managers and budget holders so that they can manage donor/Concern budgets as per Concern’s standard practices. •Lead in orienting budget holders and field finance staff on the basic internal control procedures. •To develop and implement staff development plan for the finance department staff. •In collaboration with the HR Manager, ensure that job descriptions of the finance department staff are up-to date and staff are clear with their roles and responsibilities. •To carry out timely Performance and Development Reviews (PDR) of all finance department staff. •To facilitate and provide basic training, technical support and guidance to the country program staff, particularly budget holders, for skills improvement in the areas of budget preparation and monitoring, budget revision, reporting, and internal control.
Treasury: •To supervise all programme office bank relations and bank account activities. •To oversee the timely preparation, review and approval of all bank account and cash reconciliations on as regular a basis as necessary for effective financial control. •Assist the ACD and country accountant in ensuring compliance with Concern Worldwide policies and procedures and assume responsibilities in the implementation of country specific policies such as authorisation limits, cash holding limits, cash movements, credit terms, advance payments, use of bank payment instruments. •To be responsible for timely preparation and follow-up/handling of Cash Transfer Requests to Khartoum to ensure that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate programme implementation.
Budget: •Assist ACD and other budget holders in conducting the budget process for the Darfur programme, ensuring that appropriate levels of technical support and guidance is provided to all budget holders during the process of preparing the annual country operating budget and subsequent revisions.
•Assist budget holders with preparation of donor budgets; ensure compliance with donor regulations and to ensure their incorporation into the country annual operating budget & revisions.
Monthly Management Accounts: •Participate in preparing monthly management accounts and month end process. •Assist Country accountant to produce accurate monthly management accounts, engaging in necessary review work, etc. as regards the West Darfur programme. •Assist the Country Accountant in the process of obtaining explanations of variances between budget and actual spending, income etc. as regards the West Darfur programme.
Person specification:
Essential: •Part or fully qualified Accountant •Three years finance with staff management and some capacity building (coaching, mentoring or training) experience.
•At least one to two years overseas experiences in emergency or development context. •Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity •Empathy with Concern’s goals and a commitment to capacity building, protection and participation •Excellent communication and training / capacity building skills •Proven organisation, planning and management skills •Ability to work on own initiative and lead diverse teams •Flexible and adaptable to a changing environment •Strong interpersonal and team work skills •Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines •Knowledge of computer applications i.e. Microsoft word, Excel, communications systems.
Desirable: •Experience of work in Sudan / Horn of Africa region •Experience in support security management plans •Experience in working in a complex emergency context •Familiarity with humanitarian law and principles of humanitarian action (international code of conduct and humanitarian charter). Familiarity with Sphere guidelines and people in aid, code of best practice.
To apply: All applications should be submitted through our website at www.concern.net/jobs
Application deadline ongoing
Please note that due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed and interviewed on a regular basis until the position is filled.
Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.
Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).
Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.
Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
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