FINANCE OFFICER - AFRICA ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROGRAMME

Diakonia is a Swedish faith-based development organization that works to change unfair structures that generate poverty, inequality, oppression and violence. Diakonia works with around 400 partner organizations in 25 country offices and four regional offices in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the MENA (Middle East and Northern Africa) region and Sweden.   

The Africa Economic Justice (AEJ) is a regional programme of Diakonia in Africa which supports regional civil society organizations working in Sub-Saharan Africa. The AEJ is hosted at the Africa Regional Office of Diakonia in Nairobi, Kenya. A platform has been set up facilitating the exchange of best practice and where innovative ideas on economic justice, including the economic empowerment of women and young people (men and women), are tested, and developed. The AEJ programme collaborates with regional civil society organizations to complement the work of national and local actors by providing linkages to regional and global authorities, including intergovernmental and non-state international actors.

The AEJ is currently implementing a sub-programme on Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) that contributes to strengthened capacity to foster increased domestic resource mobilization in the EAC, ECOWAS and SADC member states. The programme is implemented in collaboration with six partners organisations based in Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

We are looking for a Finance Officer to provide support in financial management and monitoring, audit and risk management, budgeting and grant management and compliance to ensure transparent and efficient utilization of organizational resources in compliance with approved policies, procedures and donor requirements.

 Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Financial Management and Reporting

·   Contribute to preparation of the programme operating budget, including specific projects, ensuring it is up to date for all funding sources and is participative involving all programme staff

·   Ensure strict adherence and compliance to financial control systems, policies and procedures

·   Monitor Programs budget implementation and expenditures and process request for budget revisions

·   Contribute to developing and maintaining proper financial records and archiving system

·   Prepare and submit monthly/quarterly programs budget monitoring reports ensuring they are complete, accurate and timely

·   Provide oversight for the preparation of the grant financial report and audit in compliance to donor requirements.

 Grant Management

·   Review budgets from partner organizations and ensure compliance with policy guidelines

·   Receive and assess financial reports from partners ensuring compliance with PME handbook requirement on reporting, invoicing, procurement and asset management

·   Ensure disbursement receipts, financial reports, completed assessment tools and audited financial statements are uploaded to Diakonia’s project handling system (FixIT)

·   Facilitate partner institutional capacity strengthening strategy to ensure that partner organizations implement programmes effectively, efficiently and sustainably

·   Coordinate proposal writing in relation to budgets with regard to grants

·   Act as the focal person for finance and administration to backstop donors in relation to grants.

·   Prepare contractual agreements for partners in line with to donor requirements.

 Audit and Risk Management

·   Support preparation for audit process and ensure a complete audit trail is in place to facilitate audits

·   Support in sourcing the services of a professional audit firm in accordance with approved policy and procedures

·   Coordinate audit processes in relation to audited financial statements, including the management letter the Regional Programme and ensure compliance with Diakonia and donor requirements.

·   Receive and assess audited financial statements, including management letter from partners and ensure compliance with Diakonia’s PME handbook requirements.

·   Follow up on issues raised by auditors in the management letter in relation to Regional Programme

·   Put in place measures to properly address audit findings and recommendations

·   Submit reports and audited financial statements as per the required deadlines

·   Upload the audit reports and management letters to the project handling system (FixIT)

Monitoring

·   Track partner grants disbursement and expenditure and provide internal reporting schedules

·   Monitor partner compliance, conducts field office site visits to ensure consistency with grant terms and conditions, timelines, budgets, and performance measures.

·   Conduct financial assessment of partners, identify and mitigate risks in situations where contractual obligations may not be met

·   Establish and maintain electronic and hard copy files for each grant-funded project to be used for tracking and reporting purposes

·   Ensure monitoring log for the respective partner organization is updated in respect to financial information

·   Review and assess partner procurement processes to ensure purchases comply with policy guidelines

·   Review partner records and archiving system to ensure compliance with policy guidelines

 Procurement and Logistics

·   Review partner procurement processes and ensure that purchases comply with policy guidelines

·   Liaise with personnel in charge of procurement to provide sound advice on procurement actions

·   Review partner records and archiving system to ensure compliance with policy guidelines

 Education, Training & Professional Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Commerce, Economics or equivalent qualification

Professional Training

Computer training in accounting software and MS Word, Excel, etc.

Training in Audit, risk management and financial control

Certification/Licensing

Fully qualified accountant from recognized accountancy body CPA/ACCA

 Job Competencies & Experience

Competencies

·  Demonstrates consistency in upholding integrity and ethics

·  Acting as a team player and facilitating team work

·  Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and accounting software

·  Effective communications and interpersonal skills

·  Consistently approaches work with energy and positive attitude;

·  Remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;

·  Respond positively to critical feedback and differing points of views.

Language Requirement

·  Proficiency in English language (knowledge of any other African Union official language would be an added advantage_

Relevant Experience

·  At least 5 years finance and administration experience gained from a non-profit organization handling donor funds for regional programmes.

 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.