The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking to recruit a dynamic and experienced Project Accountant to support its Viable Sweetpotato Technologies in Africa (VISTA) project in Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique and other implementation sites.
The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit International Agricultural Research organization supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) with a global mandate to conduct research on genetic resources of potatoes, sweetpotato, and other Andean roots and tubers, crop genetic enhancement and improvement, integrated crop management and sustainable management of natural resources.
The Position: The position will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi and CIP is seeking an experienced Accountant who will manage all financial processes associated with the VISTA Projects in Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique, according to established standards, policies and procedures of CIP and the donor.
The Center: CIP (www.cipotato.org) is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor.
Duties and Responsibilities: Under the technical supervision of the Regional Finance Manager and administrative supervision of the Country Manager, the selected candidate will be responsible for financial oversight of the USAID Vista projects accounting in the countries mentioned above with specific duties as detailed below:-
Duties and Accountabilities:
- Receive and review monthly field financial reports for consistency, completeness and accuracy of documentation and proper posting to the correct project budget item; this requires briefing assigned home office project staff to go over results of the review, especially in the context of programmatic activities
- Create Journal Entry to post field financial information directly into CIP’s accounting system
- Be familiar with the CIP accounting system and account coding structure
- Staying current with donor regulations and the award requirements identified in the CIP compliance matrix.
- Ensure Time and Efforts Reports are completed on time and in an accurate fashion;
- Ensure that expenditures meet donor compliance plans and regulations
- Ensure Partner or sub-grantee compliance with donor requirements
- Carry on capacity building activities for project partners
- Set up accounts for new projects and amendments to existing projects
- Set up reporting and/or invoices templates for new projects
- Provide advice on ways to improve the field accounting function for multiple projects and multiple donors
- When applicable, review cost share documentation received from the field for compliance, completeness and accuracy; enter information into reporting documents
- When requested, and in conjunction with Program Managers or other staff, provide forms and worksheets to field finance staff as needed to track or document in-kind cost share, travel advances, allocation of costs among programs, payroll reports, etc. Assist staff in developing custom forms or worksheets as needed.
- Assist Program Managers and other project staff in monitoring project spending levels against budget
- Provide feedback to projects on improvements needed in the preparation of field financial reports
- Respond to routine accounting/financial report inquiries from field or home office; resolve issues that arise
- When needed, travel to field sites to conduct mentoring and training of project accounting staff or participate in training new project staff especially during new project start up
- Based on knowledge of expenditure patterns in field offices, review monthly wire transfer requests in coordination with Program Managers
- Assist with preparation for annual audits;
- Set up a close out plan for the project
- Any other duties as may be assigned.
Selection Criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration.
- A minimum of three years of demonstrated experience in the accounting/finance/administrative area.
- Knowledge of the international development funding arena desirable;
- Aptitude for understanding complex regulations and monitoring financial transactions and documentation for compliance;
- Familiarity with USAID projects, FAR and ADS rules and regulations and OMB Circulars
- Excellent oral, written communications, and problem solving ability;
- Excellent computer skills, including advanced Excel skills and experience with automated accounting systems;
- Accuracy and attention to detail;
- Cross cultural sensitivity.
- Strong e-mail communication skills, ability to write in a manner sensitive to cultural differences, and provide clarity to staff where English is not the primary working language of the project
- Ability to train/mentor staff in accounting requirements;
- Ability to be a team player in a busy environment, often with tight deadlines
- A Malawi citizen
Conditions:The employment contract will be for a two year term (with a three months’ probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply by email, sending a letter of motivation, detailed C.V., copies of relevant certificates, and contacts of three referees to: The Human Resources Manager at cip-nbo@cgiar.org with copy toL.Mendes@cgiar.org on or before March 13, 2015. The position title should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
You can learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org.
