Program Accountant – West Africa

ABOUT IDLO

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) enables governments and empowers people to reform laws and strengthen institutions to promote peace, justice, sustainable development and economic opportunity. We contribute to creating stable and inclusive societies where every person can live free from fear and want, in dignity and under the rule of law.

To learn more about IDLO, please visit our website www.idlo.int or follow us on Twitter @IDLO.

THE POSITION

The Finance and Support Services Department (FSSD) provides effective delivery of IDLO’s finance, reporting, procurement, and information & communication technology to help deliver IDLO’s activities, thereby contributing to IDLO’s ability to strategically fulfill its mission.  This also encompasses the optimization of IDLO’s internal policies, processes, and extends to its organizational planning, target-setting, and performance measurement.

The Department plays a key role in creating and implementing IDLO’s vision of a networked organization, incorporating the principles of matrix management and promoting an environment of shared resources.  The Department is an essential enabler to support cross-functional teams to coalesce around initiatives and projects.

Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator, Program Accountants, the Program Accountant supports the implementation of programs. The Program Accountant is responsible for overall financial program cycle support. The incumbent interacts with internal as well as external functions.

Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for but not necessarily limited to the following duties:

Accounting & Compliance:

• Review monthly field office financial management reports; monitor and record revenue and expenditure into the accounting system.
• Review and audit field office financial reports and transactions in line with IDLO policies and procedures; ensure that all reports comply with respective donor rules and regulations.
• Perform compliance checks to verify that costs recorded are program related and necessary documentation are available as proof of receipt of services or goods.
• Monitor distribution and allocation of costs between projects ensuring compliance to grant documents and IDLO chart of accounts. Identify misallocations and recommend corrective actions.
• Review monthly field accounting transactions in accordance with IDLO chart of accounts; advise/initiate necessary adjustments to finalize the month-end closing procedures; ensure that the data in HQ financial system (MS Navision) is accurate and verified.
• Prepare monthly consolidated financial management reports documenting the outcome of the financial review, highlighting findings and recommendations proposed. Work closely with the field office finance team to implement corrective action.

Grants, Budgets & Reporting

• Prepare budget proposals for projects and departments incorporating relevant narrative and explanations; provide recommendations for cost allocations between direct and indirect costs and assist with budget re-alignment as necessary.
• Monitor expenditures against budgets and cash flows regularly; identify material issues as they arise and propose appropriate preventative interventions and solutions in a timely fashion.
• Prepare financial reports for donors analyzing program budget vs actual and ensure that expenditures are corresponding to donor regulations and agreed framework.

Treasury & forex management 

• Monitor donor grants and issue invoices to facilitate drawdown of funds as required; administer wire fund requests to the donors in a timely fashion and ensure that necessary funds are available to implement program activities;
• Review and approve consolidated monthly cash request from the field office for processing; ensure that all funds required are properly allocated in line with planned program activities.
• Monitor field office exposure to foreign currency fluctuation and advise appropriate actions to minimize any risk.

Staff guidance and training

• Coach field office finance staff providing necessary technical guidance on accounting issues.
• Provide expert advice and train (where required) all concerned staff on various donor rules and regulations;
• Guide team members, as the focal point for Program Finance, on IDLO financial policies and procedures; lead the implementation of relevant policies as part of the Continuous Improvement Process - CIP.

Audit 

• Focal point for program audit activities and managing the relationship with internal and external auditors by providing the technical input as well as all necessary documentation required during audits.
• Undertake regular field visit (as required) for monitoring and compliance checks; follow up on audit recommendations and provide support in the implementation of proposed improvements.

Other relevant tasks as may be requested by the supervisor.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education & Experience

• Minimum of university degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics and / or Business.
• Part / fully qualified accountant e.g. ACCA, CPA or CIMA is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 4-5 years of financial, project and operational management experience.
• Knowledge/experience of managing projects funded by European Governments (Netherlands, SIDA), Government of the US and UNDP, is a strong asset.
• Progressive experience ideally within an intergovernmental/international non-government organization; specific regional experiences will be an advantage.
• Hands on experience in improving the effectiveness of finance functions and processes.
• Experience supervising teams and developing the capability of team members.

Language

• Fluent oral and writing skills in English and French are required; working knowledge of languages, in particular relevant to the country/region is advantageous.

Specific knowledge, skills and competencies

• Extensive experience in using accounting systems/software and MS Office applications. Experience using MS Navision will be an added advantage.
• Strong client service ethics; solid team-oriented interpersonal skills, including facilitation.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• High degree of accuracy to ensure correctness of financial information.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work against tight deadlines.
• Good communication skills and ability to explain accounting and financial matters to nonfinancial staff; ability to effectively interact with a wide variety of people including senior managers on complex issues.
• Ability and willingness to travel to field offices including unstable contexts.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS   

The annual salary for this affiliate professional, internationally recruited position is in the range of €36,000.- commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus additional admissible allowances and benefits.

The selected candidate will be offered a contract for 12 months, renewable, subject to performance and fund availability. The compensation is net of tax for non-Italian /non-permanent Italian resident. The IDLO benefit package in accordance with IDLO Employee regulations and Rules includes: Provident Fund (IDLO contribution 14%) and subsidized health insurance coverage including life insurance, medical and dental through CIGNA International to the employee and eligible dependents plus other admissible benefits.

Relocation support is available for internationally recruited employees. Selected candidate is expected to start immediately /as soon as possible.

HOW TO APPLY

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply via our website www.idlo.int/jobs and submit the completed IDLO Personal History Form (PHF), resume and cover letter.

IDLO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in all areas of its operations. We welcome and encourage diverse applications.

Applications will be screened on regular basis; qualified applicant might be recruited before the deadline.

DISCLAIMER AND CLOSING DATE 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the staff member assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. 

The Director-General of IDLO reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities or even to cancel the recruitment to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Deadline for application: October 21, 2018 (23:59hrs Rome time).

In the interest of making most effective use of resources, only the short-listed candidates will be contacted during the selection process.