Finance Officer at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Operations, the Finance Officer will ensure that the processing and recording of financial operations, resources and transactions are done in timely and accurate manner. This includes systems for Cash Flow management, consolidation of accounting information, internal controls, financial reporting, financial record keeping, grant management and compliance.

The Finance Officer supports compliance with GAIN and donor policies and procedures, and the expectation is for strong collaboration with all country office staff members.

Key Responsibilities include;

• Assisting the financial management of all country projects including programme budgeting, forecasting, analysis of grants and expenditure
• Performing financial review of purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests to ensure compliance with GAIN policies and procedures and donor grants and contracts requirements
• Preparing statutory financial statements and returns, cash flow forecast and reparation of monthly reports, ensuring all transactions for the month are recorded accurately
• Providing guidance, training, and consultation on compliance with GAIN policies and procedures as well as donor compliance requirements, to all staff and partners
• Supporting the Head of Operations to improve and enhance the efficiency of existing control systems and developing standard operating procedures for accounting
• Assisting with audit related requirements (timely documents retrieval, filing after audit completion, proving additional assistance as necessary)
• Assist with follow up on subaward compliance issues, audits and document resolutions

About You

• The ideal candidate should have proven experience in accounting, bookkeeping or cashiering, including experience with double-entry accounting preferably in an international NGO.
• Knowledge in major international donor rules and non-profit accounting is highly desirable.
• The postholder should have strong skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel. Good communications skills in English.
• The ideal candidate should have accuracy in the processing of cash transactions, mathematical aptitude and attention to detail. 
• You should be a strong team player, with the ability to work well under pressure and independently within a multi-cultural, international organisation.
• Experience in using Quickbooks, Navison or similar accounting software is required. Candidate should have education background in Accounting, Finance or related fields and minimum CPA 3 or other relevant accounting qualification. Familiarity with Salesforce is a plus.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Work with the Head of Operations to plan and implement financial operations systems in accordance with GAIN policies and procedures while keeping within donor requirements. This includes systems for Cash Flow management, consolidation of accounting information, internal controls, financial reporting, financial record keeping, grant management and compliance.
• Support the Head of Operations to improve and enhance the efficiency of existing control systems and develop standard operating procedures for accounting
• Perform financial review of purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests to ensure compliance with GAIN policies and procedures and donors grants and contracts requirements and promptly process payments.
• Preparing cash flow forecast and ensure adequate funds in the office at all times.
• Preparation of monthly reports, ensuring all transactions for the month are recorded accurately and deadlines set by the global finance team are met.
• Coordinating with local banks and ensuring a timely preparation of bank statements and bank reconciliation.
• Supporting the Head of Operations on preparation of programme budgets, analysis of grants and expenditure.
• Preparing country Office budgets and finalizing them in collaboration with the global finance team
• Support in preparation and availability of statutory financial Statements, Annual Income Tax returns, PAYE returns, NHIF, NITA and NSSF.
• Securing the proper filling and storage of all financial records.
• Fulfill all the external audits processes, providing timely documents and preparing schedules as may be required.

Experience and Education

• A degree in accounting or a relevant business field.
• Minimum CPA 3 or other relevant accounting qualification.
• At least four years’ experience in accounting, bookkeeping or cashiering, including experience with doubleentry accounting preferably in an international NGO