Current Vacancies at RTI International

Overview

• The Accountant position will be responsible to support the Finance Director in implementing the financial obligations of the Empowering East & Central Africa (EECA) program including financial management, budgets, accounting, treasury and financial reporting to ensure delivery of financial support to the EECA operations in Kenya and within the region.

Responsibilities
The accountant is responsible for the day-to-day accounting functions of the project. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, he/ she is expected to utilize appropriate systems and follow proper accounting procedures to disburse, account for, and report source and usage of funds. The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

• Internal Control System and Compliance management - To ensure ICS for financial management is adhered to by:
• Assisting in overseeing the implementation of SOPs and manuals and continuously engaging the stakeholders on the requirements of the procedure
• Review all purchase and payment documentation for consistency and alignment with approved charge codes and set procedures.
• Develop relevant SOPs to support the finance activities.
• Assist in the provision of input to compliance related issues and help address such issues.
• Accounts Management - Ensure production of accurate, complete and timely accounts on a monthly basis in compliance to RTI internal accounting principles:
• Posting of accounting data in QuickBooks
• Check, correct and review the accounting information in QuickBooks within the stipulated timelines.
• Manage advance accounts, petty cash, reconcile periodically and report status as per agreed timelines.
• Carry out necessary accounting controls such as quality of accounts, completeness of accounting documentation.
• Reconcile and present the end month accounting package to the Finance Director for review, closure and approval.
• Manage the presentation, circulation, filling and archiving of accounting and financial documents as directed by the regional finance control.
• Treasury Management - To ensure availability and proper utilization of funds for EECA program through:
• Preparing periodic cash forecast requesting for cash from home office (CMR)
• Manage the banking and cash activities ensuring periodic and frequent reconciliations and checks on balances.
• Under direction of the Finance Director pay contractors according to contractual obligations
• Budget Management - To ensure financial operations are in line with approved EECA budgets and Activity Approvals in compliance with client budget requirements achieved through:
• Assisting the Finance Director in calculating monthly communication costs of each base (Phone, internet) in coordination with the project administration and the logisticians
• Assist the Finance Director in drafting financial reports (monthly, semi-annually and annually) as required by project and organizational contractual obligations and timelines in assessing burn rates.
• Financial Audits - To participate as directed by the Finance Director in audits both internal and external ensuring availability of financial obligations and data for the audit ensuring accomplishment in a timely manner.
• Training and Support - To ensure that both regional finance and technical staff are equipped with relevant skills to support the project:
• To train periodically finance staff to ensure finance obligations are adhered to.
• To offer support both remotely and on-site finance and technical staff to further their knowledge on the implementation of the program with respect to project, organizational and client financial rules and regulations.
• Conduct any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or accounting and at least 5 years of experience (or master’s plus 1 year of experience) in the management of financial systems and budgets, financial reporting, auditing, and/or taxation for a USAID-funded project.
• Professional Accounting Designation (CPA, ACCA), or significant progress toward obtainment of designation preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and/or experiences in accounting, financial planning and management, accounting transactions, budgeting, reporting and ensuring compliance of internal control systems.
• Knowledge of accepted accounting practices and principles.
• Significant experience using QuickBooks highly desirable.
• Advanced working knowledge of Excel and strong database skills.

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Position Description

• The Kenya On-Grid Specialist will be based in the Nairobi and will work with government institutions, relevant energy sector entities, donor community, private sector, and relevant civil society groups and NGOs. This position will oversee and manage on-grid activities for the program in assigned countries. The Kenya On-Grid Specialist is expected to provide energy sector technical support and serve as coordinator and champion for project activities in close coordination with EECA technical and cross-cutting team leadership. Key to success in this role requires the ability to engage senior decision-makers (including country government counterparts) and understand the unique political economy of the countries’ energy sectors. The Specialist will support capacity building, legal, financial, and other technical assistance activities that integrate on-grid development priorities, private sector growth strategies, and U.S. government development initiatives. The specialist will report to East Africa/Kenya Technical Lead.

Responsibilities

• Support changes to energy sector planning that aligns with planned or existing energy sector strategic development, economic growth goals, and climate change adaptation and mitigation targets.
• Support planning of generation, distribution and transmission expansion, particularly those infrastructure projects essential to regional integration.
• Support implementation of potential development of overall integrated resources and resilience planning or other high-level planning deliverables (including management of consultancy teams with effective deliverable organization, scheduling, and budgeting)
• Support the government in understanding and building capacity for competitive procurement practices in energy infrastructure growth or other host-country sector identified strategic growth initiatives.
• Support the government in its dealings with the project developer community working with the EECA Community mobilization Specialist.
• Provide technical assistance to utilities as they establish IPP units, build staff capacity to evaluate bids, review project designs, build shadow financial models, and review PPAs. Provide support as they densify their grid connections and facilitate faster, cheaper utility connections.
• Strengthen the capacity of the Energy Regulator to develop and establish fair and robust regulatory processes.
• Provide technical assistance to IPPs to advance transactions towards financial close.
• Work closely with the Kenya off-grid specialist, EECA technical teams and cross-cutting teams across the project to integrate learnings in your practice area.
• Provide weekly progress reports and contribute to overall routine reporting to the client.
• Work with other development partners ensuring up-to-date knowledge of the sector and its activities to ensure harmonized support.
• Maintain and update a database of on-grid energy company transactions and provide updates on transactions to Power Africa.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience, master’s degree and 6 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the power sector with a focus on public policy, sector regulation, utility turnaround or improvement, and IPPs.
• Significant project management experience with excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Demonstrated strong connections with the local government energy sector institutions.
• Ability to work in a team-of-teams environment that value collaboration and integrated activity development in a multi-cultural setting.
• Good writing and communication skills in English.