Project Accountant - Internal/External

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) Ethiopia Country Office seeks to recruit a Project Accountant to provide support in maintaining project finances, transactions, accounting services to the CIFOR-ICRAF projects in Ethiopia office.

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) is a non-profit, scientific institution that conducts research on the most pressing challenges of forest and landscape management around the world. CIFOR-ICRAF envisions a more equitable world where forestry and landscapes enhance the environment and well-being of all. Its aim to improve human well-being, protect the environment, and increase equity is based on innovative research that help inform decision makers and develop partners’ capacity. To do so CIFOR-ICRAF actively engages in dialogue with all stakeholders to inform policies and practices that affect forests and people. Before its merger with ICRAF, CIFOR has been operating in Ethiopia since 2005 and is expanding its activities to better support its national partners, notably the Ethiopian Forestry Development (EFD). It has been actively working with EFD in the co-design and implementation of various forestry projects in Ethiopia.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in maintaining project finances, transactions, and contracts,
• Plan, implement, monitor, and report on project financial management,
• Monitor project budgets and forecasts, ensuring costs are controlled and deadlines are met,
• Facilitate and process travel advance, and work advances for staff, consultants, and staff from partner institutions, in:
  • preparing Travel Authorization (TAs); follow up and assist in the timely settlement of per diem, and work advances,
  • ensuring that they have complete documentation, accurate, checking for accuracy and compliance with CIFOR-ICRAF regulations.
• Ensure payments are processed within a predetermined time after verifying the requests received have sufficient/appropriate supporting evidence and are mathematically correct, in compliance with policy and procedures, and have proper authorization,
• Facilitate financial arrangements and payments for project activity-related training, workshops, and others,
• Ensure that all project financial activities are conducted with the approval of appropriate project designees for expense approval and technical oversight,
• Provide information to appropriate staff concerning payments, advances, required documentation, and other financial aspects of the project activity,
• Prepare project monthly cash forecast/projection and contribute to compiling the country office cash forecast/projection,
• Assist the project team in the preparation of the activity budgets and modifications and analyzing variances between budgeted and actual performance,
• Ensure that all project financial transactions are recorded accurately into the CIFOR-ICRAF computer accounting system,
• Establish and maintain financial files and ledgers for the project and country office finance.
• Compile monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual financial reports of the project in accordance with the donor agreement,
• Liaise with project managers and stakeholders to understand project financial requirements and deliverables,
• Support the country office in monthly and annual closing processes and the preparation of schedules and relevant reports for the CIFOR-ICRAF country office,
• Prepare and implement management systems for the project’s fixed assets, goods received registry, and vehicle log sheet,
• Support project partners to establish and prepare standard and proper accounting systems including appropriate format in compliance with CIFOR-ICRAF procurement and financial regulation,
• Confirm all the outstanding payments, outstanding advances, and partner advances are cleared before the projects closed,
• Support the country office's internal and external audits by compiling documentation and providing necessary information,
• Any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• Relevant professional certification
• Broad / specialized knowledge of methods, techniques and processes

Experience:

• Five years of professional experience in accounting preferably in a non-profit environment.

Additional Skills:

• Experience in using accounting software or ERP system.
• Ability to work independently driven by a desire to achieve results.
• Excellent computer skills in MS‐office applications (Word, Excel).
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to interact with partners and colleagues in a multi-cultural setting.
• Advanced level in English

Job Grade:   HG 13

Monthly Base Salary: Birr 42,084

Terms of appointment:  This is a National Staff (NS) position, initial appointment is fixed term for one year with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The ILRI remuneration package for nationally recruited staff in Ethiopia includes very competitive salary and benefits such as life and medical insurance, offshore pension plan, etc. The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus in Addis Ababa. Dining and sports facilities are located on site.

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae; names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position and reference number: PA/CIFOR-ICRAF/30/24 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com by clicking on the “Apply Now” tab above before 18 November 2024.

CIFOR-ICRAF/ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training).

To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor.org, www.worldagroforestry.org, https://www.cifor-icraf.org

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/

Suitably qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.

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