Programme Accountant
Trócaire, Ethiopia
Job Description
About CST
CST Ethiopia represents the overseas development and humanitarian agencies of the Catholic Church from England and Wales (CAFOD), Scotland (SCIAF), and Ireland (Trócaire) in Ethiopia. The three agencies have over 40 years’ of experience in international development and humanitarian response and are each members of worldwide networks, including Caritas Internationalis. Currently, the three agencies jointly operate a single, integrated country programme in Ethiopia through the legal entity CST Ethiopia. CST Ethiopia works in partnership with local church and non-church organisations, supporting communities in Addis Ababa, Afar, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray regions.
The CST Ethiopia main country office based in office Addis Ababa assumes overall responsibility for implementing the CST Ethiopia country programme, which currently focuses on resilient communities (sustainable livelihoods, humanitarian preparedness amp; response, and women empowerment). CST Ethiopia works with a portfolio of approximately 20 local partner organisations throughout Ethiopia.
Due to ongoing growth and expansion of the CST Ethiopia country program, CST Ethiopia is currently recruiting two Programme Accountants - based in the CST Ethiopia -Mekelle Field Office. The Program Accountant reports administratively to relevant Manager in Mekelle office and functionally report to Head of Finance amp; Compliance (HoFamp;C) of CST Ethiopia. The Program Accountant will coordinate and manage the donor funded project to deliver the intended results in collaboration with other team.
Key Responsibility
Program Finances (20%)
- Guided by the Head of Finance amp; Compliance, ensure that the programme complies with all relevant CST and donor policies and regulations.
- In collaboration with the relevant manager, CST Ethiopia Finance Team, partners, as well as other programme staff, ensure timely transfers of funds are made to partners.
- Prepare all the necessary financial documents/financial reports pertaining to the Institutional funding.
- Ensure all the costs incurred are as per the approved budget of the Projects and in compliance with the financial guidelines of the donor and CST;
- Make sure that all payments are accompanied with the necessary supporting documents and are coded accordingly.
- Provide appropriate technical support and guidance to the programme team in the preparation of donor and programme budgets, revisions and donor consolidated financial reports.
- Coordinate regular financial analysis with Programme Managers, Head of Program and Head of Finance amp; Compliance on programme expenditure, including budgets held by CST-Ethiopia.
- Assist programme team in preparing and maintaining an accurate record of grant agreements, amendments and receipts of grants and ensure timely dispersal of grant payments.
- Maintain accurate records of all programme payments and ensure appropriate information is uploaded on Trócaire’s application like sales Force
- Participate in programme and partner meetings to stay informed of programme strategies, approaches and challenges.
- Ensure the Partner budgets/finances correct on Financial accounting system (Agresso-Unit 4)
- Review the Program and project reports on Financial accounting system (Agresso-Unit 4) regularly and update Head of Finance amp; Compliance for any issues.
- Monitor budget utilization and advise the HoF and relevant PM whenever there is under or over spend in each of the budget lines in Partner or in CST budgets.
- Lead with, donor external and internal CST audits as required and in the implementation of recommendations both internally and with partners
Partner Finances (60 %)
- Ensure that appropriate technical support and guidance is provided to partners in the preparation of budgets, revisions and financial reports.
- Conduct frequent joint field visits to partner offices to verify expenditure, test internal controls and assess governance, and provide feedback to partners and Programme Managers on key concerns and monitor implementation of recommendations.
- Provide technical support on financial management to the partners whenever the need arises.
- Be actively involved in Partner procurement processes and ensure they are carried out in compliance with the donor’s as well as the CST and Partner policies and highlight any deviation from donor procedures to the Project manager/Head of Finance amp; Compliance for immediate action.
- Lead on reviewing partner Financial Reports (including other projects implemented by partners) alongside programme team members and ensure that CST and donor requirements are being met
- Lead with, external and internal control audits as required and in the implementation of recommendations bot