Project / Grant Accountant job at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Project / Grant Accountant job at Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Please make sure you go through the job requirements before applying for this position.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and nonchurch partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS has worked in Nigeria for more than 25 years.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project / Grant Accountant

Job ID: 2000008X
Location: CARO-NG-Adamawa
Job Type: Full-time
Schedule: Regular
Shift: Standard
Job: Finance
Organization: Catholic Relief Services
Employee Status: Entry Level
Job Level: Day Job

Background
CRS Nigeria has been awarded the Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry Project by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Nigeria. This program seeks to develop and implement interventions that will sustainably increase  women participation and production of poultry in Borno and Adamawa states by addressing challenges to poultry production and contribute to creation of livestock employment opportunities to improve participants’ living conditions. The specific purpose is to enable 7,000 vulnearble families- particularly female-headed households increase their income by producing and selling poultry and poulty products. This effort will contribute to CRS’ agriculture and livelihoods signature program area and ongoing efforts to promote resilience, recovery and development within Nigeria and neighboring countries around the Lake Chad Basin.  Additional project details are contained in the table below:

Job Summary

• The Project Accountant is overall in charge of financial and grant management of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Nigeria-funded  Borno and Adamawa Women Poultry Project in the areas of agriculture- poultry based livelihoods and food security.
• The Project Accountant will ensure that the project project complies with GIZ regulations and CRS Agency’s Finance Policies and Procedures especially focusing on the principle of stewardship.

Job Responsibilities

Financial Management:

• Assist Project Managers in Budget Review and Quarterly Cash Forecasting
• Report Contract-Agreement commitments to be recorded in CRS accounting system.
• Review and process the issuance of project advances in accordance with CRS and GIZ Policies and Procedures.
• Ensure Project Holder advances are liquidated on timely manner and they are within allotted liquidation timeframe as per CRS policy.
• Assist in the Preparation of Detailed Project Budget vs. Actual Comparison Report, including Sub-Recipients Expenditures for Program and Management Review on moyears monthly basis.
• Assist in the preparations of Donor Financial Reports timely, accurately and in accordance with terms and conditions outlined in the grant agreement.

Compliance Management:

• Verify sub-recipient financial reports and associated support documentations and recommend for liquidation and/or reimbursement in accordance with GIZ, CRS policies and procedures and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Report any fraudulent activities, observed as part of the review to the Unit Head immediately.
• Ensure Sub-recipients advances are liquidated on timely manner and they are within allotted liquidation time-frame as per CRS policy.
• Prepare Sub-Recipients Aging Report for Program and Management Review on monthly basis.
• Provide onsite training to sub-recipient’s finance staff when required.
• Travel to the field, to visit sub-recipient when required.
• Ensure Project’s files both in hard and electronic copies are up to date.
• Collaborate with Program Managers to document in project files, a justification for delays in;
• Issuing project advances; and
• Liquidating the advances; to improve partner monitoring and follow up

Sub-recipients Financial Assessment, monitoring and financial support:

• Lead the assessments of all sub-recipients using HQ Finance’s checklists to have a stratification of the sub-recipients for Country Program.
• Assist the sub-recipients in preparing a Corrective Action Plan within sixty calendar days of the assessment or monitoring visit that addresses each of the identified weaknesses in any of the ten assessed areas scored below 75%.
• Assist Project Managers in making sure that the sub recipients address all issues listed in the Corrective Acton Plan on a timely manner.
• Ensure sub-recipients have in place and adheres to a schedule of planned monitoring visits of sub- recipients during each year. The basis for the selection, timing and frequency of its monitoring visits should be properly documented.
• Ensure financial and programming staffs participate in the financial monitoring, including site visits, of sub-recipient activities. The trip reports must indicate the monitoring steps performed, the processes reviewed, and the result of the testing and reviews.
• Ensure all monitors prepare and submit a written trip report for each visit to a sub-recipient.
• Review and analyze monitoring reports on a timely manner and sign off for further follow-up and record for at least three years after the related grant or project has expired.

Background, Experience & Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance or related field plus a qualification in accounting (ICSA/ACCA or equivalent);
• At least 5 years’ experience in financial management for development/humanitarian projects;
• Extensive financial and grant management experience working with non-governmental organization sub-recipients and other sub-grantees
• Familiarity with German Government (GIZ, BMZ, GFFO) financial regulations, policies and practices; OR experience working at a senior level on a DFID/EU/ECHO-funded grant;
• Knowledge of Sun Systems financial accounting package or similar financial management and reporting software;
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook;
• Full professional proficiency in spoken and written English; and Hausa

Personal Skills:

• Ability to work to meet deadlines in multiple tasking environments
• Excellent organization, planning and analytical skills; detail oriented
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated strength in relationship management
• Travel Required 40% to field locations in Borno and Adamawa

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: Program Manager (Mubi)
• Internal: Awards Management Officer – Maiduguri, Program Manager II, Program Manager, GIZ Finance team.
• External: government ministries departments and agencies, local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

What we Offer

• CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Application Closing Date

22nd May, 2020.

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.