Programme & Partnership Accountant (1455) – CONCERN WORLDWIDE

By Admin Last updated Jan 31, 2022

Job Description

Organization:	Concern Worldwide
Job Title:	Programme & Partnership Accountant
Salary:	€35,087 – €38,986
Based in Country:	Sudan
Contract Type:	Unaccompanied Fixed Term International Contract
Closing Date:	16 February 2022

About the role: This is a 24 month, replacement role with unaccompanied terms based in Khartoum with regular travel to West Darfur, Kordofan and Gaderef, Sudan, on an annual salary of Grade 2, €35,087 – €38,986.

Your purpose:

You will provide support to the Country Finance Controller to ensure the effective functioning of the finance department in Sudan through providing day-to-day technical support and work with national staff and NGO partners. You will coordinate finance issues and build the capacity of national staff for both Concern and partners, and support staff to manage and carry out the work on the finance function. You will report directly to the Country Financial Controller and line manage the Partnership Finance Coordinator.

We would like you to start on 1^st March 2022.

You will be responsible for:

Financial Control:

Guided by Country Financial Controller and his/her team, ensure that the Concern Worldwide financial policies and procedures are adhered to and implemented in a standardized manner.
To support the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by donors and Dublin HQ.
Assist programme managers and teams to follow donors’ (especially USAID, DFID, ECHO, Irish Aid, UNHCR etc.) financial rules for budgeting, spending and reporting.
Closely monitor all financial activities, and keep the CD and Country Financial Controller advised of all situations, which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial management performance.
Assist the Country Financial Controller with external (donor, audit firm, partner organization, government, etc.) and internal control audits as required.
Ensure that steps are taken to mitigate the risks of fraud, including conducting random checks on large payments carried out in the field
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.
In consultation with the CFC Conduct periodic visits to field offices

Training & Staff Management:

Train National Finance Officer/Finance Coordinator in Concern systems and general accounting best practice.
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 in Sudan on the basic internal control procedures.
To develop and implement staff development plan for all Sudanfinance 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 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 CD and Country Financial Controller in ensuring compliance with Concern Worldwide policies and procedures and assume responsibilities in the implementation of country specific policies such as authorization 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 all budget holders in conducting the budget process, 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
Assist CFC in the budget revision process, from budget reviews to consolidations, variance analysis and submission to HQ

Donor Management and Reporting

Assist in preparing donor financial reports and ensure the reports are shared with relevant persons in HQ, CD and CFC
Ensure that donor reports tie back to the general ledger from GP and donor original budgets
Follow up and support on mapping of donor budgets against Concern Chart of Account.

Partnership Accounting:

Undertake the financial assessment with potential Partners on a timely and comprehensive basis.
Summarize financial assessment findings and recommend whether partnership is workable with resources available.
Ensure financial assessment is signed off by all the relevant staff members (Country Financial Controller, PD (Programme Implementation), Project Manager and Country Director).
Ensure that all financial assessment documentation is being maintained on the Partner File for future reference.
Monitoring For each Partner, using assessment and any other available material as a basis, prepare a Partner Monitoring Programme.
Carry out Systems Review visits in accordance with the Partner Monitoring Programme.
Perform regular Transaction Audits in accordance with the Partner Monitoring Programme.
Ensure an updated risk assessment is completed at least annually and is signed off by Senior Management after each field visit. Conduct frequent partner visits in both Khartoum and field locations, and prepare and disseminate a Partner Visit Report after each visit.
Ensure programme staff is aware of their responsibilities in regards to monitoring of partners. Ensure sign off from appropriate senior Programme representatives is obtained on the CILPAT, Partner Monitoring Programme and Annual Risk Review
Ensure Partner Reports and findings are circulated to all interested parties within Concern and the Partner. Ensure all documentation relating to Concern‘s financial relationship with the partner is filed correctly and updated where necessary
Supervise and oversee the staff development of the Partnership Finance Coordinator in all aspects of partnership accounting.

Monthly Management Accounts:

Assist Country Financial Controller to produce accurate and timely monthly management accounts, engaging in necessary review work, posting of journals etc.
Forward monthly management accounts to all budget holders & finance teams on a timely basis and facilitate with programme staff review and follow up of any issues/variances arising. Assist the Country Financial Controller in the process of obtaining explanations of variances between budget and actual spending and income and make necessary adjustments in cases of incorrect accounting entries.
Reconcile balance sheet items on a timely basis, in accordance with Concern Worldwide policies & procedures.

Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies:

Ensure adherence to the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies
Ensure finance staff understanding and adhere to the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies
Ensure the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) are understood by finance staff

Confidentiality

Ensure the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever acquired in the course of duty, relating to the practices and business of Concern Worldwide, to any other person or Organization without authority, except in normal execution of the above duties
Ensure strict guardianship and security of financial data and documents at all times, including secure storage, accurate & complete filing and limiting access to the finance office to authorised personnel only.

Accountability

In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):

Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);
Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;
Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential

University degree with a background in finance, management, administration or a related field
Part or fully qualified Accountant
Three to four years finance experience including donor and management reporting, staff management and some capacity building (coaching, mentoring or training). Some overseas experience in emergency or development contexts a distinct advantage.
Experience in donor budgeting and financial reporting.
Experience working with a diverse range of institutional donors (especially BHA, ECHO, UN Agencies).
Strong analytical skills.

Desirable:

Experience of work in Sudan / Horn of Africa region
Experience in working in a complex emergency context
Experience with Concern systems and programmes
Experience in working with partners
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 organization, 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
Knowledge of accounting software – Knowledge of Microsoft Great Plains will be an added advantage.

All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date. CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.

Please Note: HIV testing and travel restrictions based on HIV status apply in Sudan. This means that in order to obtain a visa or work permit, the government of Sudan impose HIV-related travel restrictions usually involve a mandatory declaration of HIV status and/or testing.Documents

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