Project Accountant

at Plan International
Location Nebbi, Uganda
Date Posted July 8, 2020
Category Accounting
Audit
Finance
Management
NGO
Job Type Contract
Currency UGX

Description

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Role Purpose

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian not for profit organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected.
Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, Plan International aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalized with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively.
The Project Accountant works together with the finance team in the program area to support the achievement of finance roles on a timely basis. S/he performs project budgeting and expenditure monitoring in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and donor contractual requirements and as per Plan policy. S/he serves as financial management and compliance resource to the project staff.

Dimensions of the Role

Budget management, expenditure monitoring, financial reporting and contract matters to ensure timel and effective implementation of project activities.

Accountabilities/roles and responsibilities

Budget management and monitoring
• Support in the annual budget preparations for the project.
• Participate in annual work planning process with a focus on budget preparation ensuring that all allowable costs are captured, have appropriate unit costing and that the budget aligns to activity plans
• Develop monthly tracking tool to facilitate checking of donor compliance with respect to budget utilization and ensure the threshold is adhered to
• Reconcile the project finance and grants modules and ensure that all WBSs , to the grant
Cash disbursements:
• Ensure that proper cash disbursement processes and all authorizations are completed and posted in the system
• Review all payment requests and ensure the budget is sufficient to allow completion of the payment.
• Ensure timely journals are prepared in the system for cash receipts, bank charges, prepayments, and accruals, reversals
• Periodic Monitoring of project transactions and flag any possible overruns to the Project Manager
• Monitor and follow up on advance payments at all levels.
• Provide accurate project cash forecast on a monthly basis
Financial Reporting
• Prepare and submit timely and accurate financial reports in accordance with donor reporting requirements
• Analyse financial reports and provide a recommendation to the Project Coordinator on future forecasts and planning.
• Reconcile the finance and grants module reports to ensure that no NRGRANT transactions remain outstanding at the end of the period
• Ensure that all apportioned and PU operational costs are recovered by the end of the period
Grants and Compliance:
• Coordinate all project audits and implement any audit recommendations
• Ensure adherence to financial controls, donor compliance, processes and procedures
• Provide training and other financial management & compliance capacity building initiatives to Project team and local partners as necessary to ensure compliance and audit readiness
Dealing with Problems:
• Managing a budget that is utilized by staff he/she doesn’t directly supervise
Key relationships
The Project Accountant closely works with:
• Senior Grants Accountant: Consultation on grants reporting and any system reporting issues
• Program Area Finance Manager: Support the department on other finance work
• Country Finance Manager: sharing of financial reports and budget changes and performance
• Project Manager to follow up on budget implementation/management and any inquiry/ input on the financial reports and about finance and budget management
• Grants compliance specialist: to ensure grants compliance requirements are adhered to and any other grants related matters
Close collaboration and strong working relationship with consortium partner, Strømme Foundation.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce or Business administration majoring in accounting
• Previous experience in grants management.
• Professional qualification in accountancy (CPA, ACCA) at intermediate or affiliate level.
• 2-3 years’ experience in a similar role working in a computerized accounting office in an NGO set up.
• NGO experience is an added advantage
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant accounting software packages such SAP, QuickBooks, SUN systems, etc.

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