To provide a complete financial and management accounting service to enable the ASCEND project to meet the financial requirements required by DFID for nine Southern & Eastern Africa countries, while adhering to Crown Agents internal processes. Duties may also require occasional cover for project work, as well as other regional activities in Southern & Eastern Africa. The project operates in Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
ASCEND Project Work
Inception
- Support Country Leads with the development of costed workplans for each country which will inform the quarterly financial report in line with Terms of Reference for ASCEND
- Support the PA and PM with the development and finalization of milestone payment schedule for the first year of the programme (linked to the detailed country work-plans) and a draft schedule for the remainder of the duration of the contract.
- Support the roll out of the Grant Management System and troubleshoot as needed to ensure that the system is fit for purpose
- Any other tasks as may be required during the inception phase period.
- Line manage the Grants Manager.
- Implementation
- Work directly with Crown Agents Home Office (CA HO) on programme implementation, financial reporting and budget issues
- Consolidate financial data from individual countries in order to create a regional finance report.
- Prepare high quality monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports using approved reporting template on a resource accounting basis and broken down by key cost drivers
- Prepare monthly forecast using approved template by DFID
- Ensure programme financial practices and administrative management are in compliance with Crown Agents and DFID contractual rules and regulations
- Present finance updates at the monthly donor meetings, quarterly Steering Committees and SAB
- Ensure that IP forecasts are accurate and realistic, adjusting for risk if needed so that variance against monthly forecasts are minimal
- Work with the Grants Manger to oversee IP contracts start-up, on-going management and close-out procedures and provide training and capacity building support as necessary on financial systems and planning Finance
- Lead start-up and close-down procedures for Implementing Partners and the programme operations personnel
- Develop templates for monthly BvA analysis by team managers and support non-finance staff as needed to improve capacity for monitoring of their respective budgets
- Alongside the Grants Manager monitor IPs’ financial performance and resolve any arising issues.
- Prepare monthly cash & bank reconciliations for ASCEND related balances in line with Group Reporting timetables.
- Carry out disbursement/cash advance checks, ensuring all supporting documentation is in order
General Financial Management
- Assume overall responsibility for programme finance and administration
- Work with the CA Kenya Finance Manager and ASCNED Team Leader to prepare monthly cash flow statements for fund advances from the UK in line with strict reporting deadlines
- Ensure systems and processes are in place for effective quality assurance of the programme finances (financial monitoring and reporting, procurement processes, etc.)
- Facilitate programme audits as needed
- Ensure that requirements of any relevant countries’ legislation are met, bringing these to the attention of CA HO and implement relevant changes in procedures
- Work with the CA Kenya FM to ensure ASCEND finance and tax requirements are factored into the wider CA Kenya compliance requirements
Any other duties as appropriate to the position, as requested
More Information
- Job City Central African Republic
