The Project Accountant is responsible for ensuring effective and efficient coordination of project related activities towards the implementation of the Team Up Project. Under the direction of the Project Manager, the position holder would assist in the day-to-day activities of planning, managing, coordinating, and superintending operations, support, monitoring and reporting tasks. The post-holder will be based in the Tamale office and the role will involve travel to project communities where the project operates for approximately 40% of her/his time.
Accountabilities:
Financial control:
Ensures that project transactions are reviewed and correctly entered into SAP on a timely basis;
Provides quarterly, year-end, and other grants financial reports and analyses as per required instructions for management decision making;
Ensures proper filing (electronic and hard copy) of grants financial reports;
Assists the Project Manager in the preparation of quarterly and year-end financial schedules of the project;
Consolidates and submits monthly community and partner visits reports received from Project Staff;
Reviews project sub-ledger for all advances and prepaid expenses and follow up on outstanding advances;
Monitors and reviews advance liquidation.
Budget management:
Be In charge of the preparation of the project budget and subsequent modifications
Monitor project budget and modify when necessary;
Consolidate monthly project budget and Financial Report;
Maintain a budgetary control system to monitor grant budget vs. Expenditure and advise management on variances and corrective actions required to be taken;
Respond to grants financial queries in liaison with the Head of Finance and Operations, Business Development Manager, and the Project Manager;
Train/coach partner finance staff in the delivery of job requirements to support grants compliance and financial reporting;
Ensure Partner liquidations and financial reports are properly reviewed before further funds are advanced;
Create standard report template for Plan’s partners to ensure consistency in reporting;
Ensure compliance with best practices and donor-specific requirements by Partners/Sub-grantees.
Cashflow management:
Promptly transfer funds to Project bank accounts and ensure effective cash flow management;
Ensure project bank accounts and cash balances never go negative by following up promptly.
Operates the Plan International operation software to meet Plan’s/Donor spending and financial reporting requirements. To do this, the role will:
Submit monthly cash forecast to the Country Accountant;
Ensure that all approved Project budget account lines - donor account lines together with subsequent modifications are accurate in SAP;
Undertake checks to ensure that all transactions are accurately entered into the SAP;
Ensure the SAP monthly reports are reconciles printed and signed off;
Analyse project balance especially expense accounts after system closure and effect the necessary corrections with the support of the Project Manager.
Internal financial controls and payments:
Prepare the weekly payment list based on the Cash forecast requirement approved
Project payments are made as per approved policies and procedures.
Review all the vouchers for completeness and documentation and arithmetic accuracy.
Prepare project financial audit action list after each audit and ensure compliance.
Follow up on Audit recommendations to ensure that they are fully implemented
Monitor and submit quarterly reports on project financial risk.
Others:
Visits districts at least once a quarter to provide needed technical support to the project team.
Keeps Head of Finance and Operations informed of any initiative or difficulties relating to the job’s responsibilities.
Fulfils Plan’s Child Protection Policy at all times to protect children from all forms of abuse
Performs any other duties that may be assigned from time to time to support the achievement of organizational goals.
Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded following the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed following the appropriate procedures.
Responsibilities:
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility.
This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
Qualifications & Experience:
University degree in Accounting plus ICA Ghana Part 2 or ACCA Foundation Level (Part 1 and Part 2), or equivalent.
At least 5 years experience in a similar role.
Fair knowledge of project management.
Key skills & Competencies:
Good management skills
Sound problem-solving skills
Good team player
Good negotiating, facilitating, and influencing skills
Proficient in Microsoft applications especially excel and pivot tables.
