Senior Business Support Officer I (Senior Accountant) at icipe - International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

Job Purpose

To undertake financial due diligence, capacity building through training, and other financial management activities for partners, manage Rsif student payroll. Reporting to the RCU Financial Management Specialist, the position holder will provide support in financial management services to ensure financial probity.

Overall, Purpose of the Job

Support the daily financial management of the Rsif Programme including Scholars’ payroll, partners’ financial compliance, and cash flow projections.

Specific Duties

• Conduct financial due diligence exercises for prospective partners.
• Implement the capacity building of new and existing partners on financial reporting and compliance.
• Review partner financial reports from Rsif Country offices (currently Mozambique and Benin and any other countries in the future) for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Coordinate funds disbursement to partners.
• Track partners' budget performance, prepare reports, and follow up on underperforming burn rates.
• Prepare the monthly payroll for Rsif scholars and ensure accuracy before forwarding it for final review and processing.
• Review and monitor budgets for Rsif scholars’ university fees, medical, and travel expenses before payment processing.
• Participate in resource mobilisation i.e. proposal development and budget preparation.
• Deputize the Finance Specialist in donor relations and communications e.g. in the World Bank support missions.
• Prepare the monthly cashflow requirements for Rsif and AGriDI and ensure accuracy before forwarding for final review.
• Review and analyse financial statements during the Rsif Programme tendering processes.
• Provide financial management support to the Benin Country Office.
• Create new projects in the institutional financial systems.
• Coordinate periodic project audits.
• Train, support, and guide project teams in budget monitoring, analyzing project financial performance, and interpreting financial reports.
• Support the Finance Specialist in identifying and evaluating new financial strategies.
• Ensure compliance with icipe financial policies and donor requirements in the implementation of projects.
• Maintain meticulous financial records.
• Other related tasks as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance related discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience with a reputable organisation.
• CPA(K) or its equivalent.
• Ability to work independently.
• Demonstrate attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze financial data.
• Ability to organize paperwork and archive efficiently.
• Dynamic and enjoys challenges.
• Demonstrated capacity to question one’s work, and seek continual improvement in the services, systems, or one’s knowledge.
• Reconciliation and analytical skills.

Other Desirable Attributes

• Expected to make decisions for his/her work or section. Direction is sought when solutions are not within the established guidelines. Requires approval from the supervisor.
• Supervise finance assistants.
• Provide support to research and development activities by ensuring adequate financial implementation and management of financial resources in line with icipe financial policies and donor regulations.
• Exchange orally and in writing complex and contentious information with a range of audiences, including non-specialists. i.e., Rsif universities’ staff, and International Partner Institutions.
• Provide support to project leaders in the development of budgets during proposal development.
• Undertake financial and administrative capacity assessments for new partners and financial management supervision for ongoing partners.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Financial Management Specialist.