Senior Accountant- Partnership at Concern Worldwide

Job Summary:

• The Incumbent will play a key role within the finance department in ensuring all aspects of Concern’s financial procedures and processes with local partners and Consortia members (where Concern is the led agency) are effectively carried out. You will be responsible for the overall oversight of our partners and therefore accountable for partner finances ensuring Concern’s funds are utilized in an appropriate and transparent manner.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Partner Financial Assessment

• Undertakes the financial assessment with existing and potential partners (using CILPAT partner assessment tool) on a timely and comprehensive manner and in compliance with Concern procedures
• Coordinates with programme team for relevant partnership issues when conducting partner assessments and background checks where relevant
• Summarise the findings of potential partners’ assessment and make recommendation in terms of risk, capacity and training needs
• Agree action plan on the findings with the partners and shares with management and relevant managers for review, guidance and necessary action
• Ensures financial assessment is signed off by all the relevant staff members (Country Financial Controller, PD (Programme Implementation), Relevant Programme Teams and Country Director)
• Ensures that all financial assessment documentation is maintained on both the Partner file and Concern Share Point for future reference.

Partner budgets & Accounting

• In consultation with the programme managers and partner staff, design and development and review of partner budgets during proposal stage while giving appropriate feedback
• Review partner budgets during contracting stage
• Review the partner’s periodic financial reports (and supporting documentation) and ensure donor compliance and giving a feedback on variances
• Review journals for correct headings, format and budget codes before being uploaded into GP on a monthly basis
• Review disbursement position and facilitate the timely and appropriate release of funds to the partner.
• Develop/ revise partner budgets according to funding requirements

Partner Monitoring & Compliance

A critical component of the role will be ensuring appropriate partner monitoring and follow up takes place. This will include:

• Carry out planned and ad hoc reviews/audits to support and monitor organizations’ activities on an agreed terms of reference
• Ensure risk assessment is completed at least annually and is signed off by Senior Management
• Using the risk assessment as a basis, draw up a Monitoring Support timetable, in conjunction with the Programme Managers for Partner Field Visits to prioritize organization visits with the resources available
• Ensure Partner’s internal controls are effective by assessing critical processes
• Ensure external audits are conducted by partners in compliance with the partnership agreements and specific donor requirements
• After each field monitoring visit prepare and disseminate the Partner Visit Report including Partner agreed Action Plans
• Represent Concern in partner’s key procurement processes for supplies, services and works
• Ensures that partners comply with their own policies and aware and comply with Concern’s policies and procedures in relation to accountability, reviews the application of and compliance of accountability during support visit to partners operating area

Capacity Building Support

The Senior Accountant - Partnership will be a resource to partner finance officers supporting them on key training, development and financial control and system issues. This will be dependent on the needs of the partner staff and will be initiated by findings in the assessment and, communication and consultation. He/she will draft training plans focussing on:

• Strengthening partner capacities to better comply with Concern and other donor’s requirements when developing proposal budgets and expenditure reviews during project implementation
• Assisting staff in identifying areas to strengthen and develop staff and either provide this training or assist the partner in identifying where such training can be sourced
• Assisting staff in finding the appropriate solutions to any financial control and systems weaknesses identified
• Providing useful materials on a regular basis to relevant staff in partner organisation, including templates, guidelines, updated taxation rules, etc. and providing support to ensure their understanding

Others

• Supervise the Finance assistant, partnership while offering support on their tasks for learning and development
• Maintain the partners files in secure manner
• Adhere to and promote the standards outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies to their team, beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment
• Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary
• Take all possible measure to meet Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)
• Any other duties as assigned by the Line Manager

Person Specification

• A degree in Commerce, Finance, Accounting or related field
• CPA (K) or ACCA professional certification
• At least Five (5) years’ experience of managing finances of NGOs partners with at least two years’ experience in managing a team.
• Familiar with government policies and regulations on taxes
• Proficient in the use of computer accounting/financial software and applications preferably Microsoft Great Plains (MGP)
• Word and Excel applications
• Audit and training skills

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

• High integrity and demonstrated ability to follow standards and policies
• Ability to attend to details and work in a systematic and organized manner
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and values
• Strong communication and negotiations skills
• Team player and able to work with others (internally and externally)
• Analytical and problem solving

Competencies required:

• Managing self
• Communicating and working with others
• Delivering Results
• Planning and Decision Making