Job Description

Duration of work:   1 year with possible extension 

Tentative Start Date:  Immediately 

Number of posts: 1

REPORTS TO: Principal Investigator 

Background

Addis Ababa University in partnership with Emory, Hawassa, and Mekelle Universities and the ministry of health, Oromia, Amhara, SNNP, Sidama and Tigray regional health bureaus, is finalizing preparation to start implementation of the Saving Little Lives (SLL) project in Ethiopia. The SLL project is funded by the Global Financing Facility and managed by UNICEF Ethiopia Office. The Saving Little Lives (SLL) program is outcome and impact-oriented initiative. The primary goal of SLL is to reduce neonatal mortality by 35% at the population level at the scale-up sites using SLL’s synergistic interventions that target the primary drivers of perinatal and neonatal mortality. The SLL interventions will be systematically expanded at the regions’ 290 hospitals (15 specialized, 69 general and 206 primary) and 1,499 health centers in the aforementioned regions. The target facilities are estimated to manage 1.27 million births annually which is 45% of total births expected in the four regions.

Job Summary:  

The Project Accountant will work closely with the PI and Addis Ababa University finance staff to proactively request payment, effect payment on time and liquidate expenses based on the financial management, accounting and reporting procedures of the donor and Addis Ababa University. S/He will also work with the Evaluation Coordinator to develop financial reports to be submitted to UNICEF along with programmatic reports.

Specific roles and responsibilities include

• Follow with Addis Ababa University finance and grant management office to ensure budget transfers are made from the donor and to project ledger account
• Maintaining proper financial records and files in accordance with prevailing procedures;
• Preparing draft financial reports for the project team and advising them accordingly;
• Monitoring and supervising expenditures by project;
• Monitoring and analyzing project expenditures with respect to approved budgets and work-plans;
• Assisting the PI and Evaluation Coordinator to prepare work plan, budgets and estimates of project quarterly expenditure; and
• Realizing, on a monthly basis, bank, and expenditures reconciliations against project budget;
• Compiling monthly, quarterly and annual expenditure reports for the PI, Evaluation Coordinator and project team and providing expenditure updates as required;
• Preparing analytical review between actual expenditure versus actual budget plan
• Preparing requests for direct payment and requests for advance to project operating account;
• Preparing and maintaining updated ledgers and inventories of supplies and non-expendable property;
• Liaising with UNICEF Ethiopia Finance and SLL Project Focal Persons as required;
• Briefing people or organizations in receipt of payments from the project on financial procedures and required documentation and overseeing payments of payments from the project including daily living and travel allowances for training participants etc.;
• Briefing and assisting newly arriving international and local consultants on basic financial procedures and requirements with respect to payments, entitlements, banking, currency provision and other issues related to finance;
• Ensuring financial guidelines are followed and best practices maintained during the implementation of all project activities;
• Performing administrative duties related to routine project management activities
• Performing other relevant duties as required.

Job Requirements

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in accounting or business administration or related field with at least four years of experience with progressive responsibility in large-scale research finance and admin management
• Familiarity with the university and UNICEF finance management process.
• Demonstrated experience in finance, procurement and administrative management of research projects.
• Knowledge of relevant financial management applications
• Written and verbal fluency in English required. Strong writing skills and exceptional oral and written communication skills required.  

Additional Qualifications:

• Excellent problem-solving, communication, supervisory, and organizational skills necessary. Ability to handle and prioritize multiple project activities, balance conflicting priorities, and handle confidential information appropriately. Must exhibit tact and diplomacy in inter-cultural settings.
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to prioritize multiple tasks, and careful attention to detail.
• Prior experience working with electronic data collection and online databases, and demonstrated experience managing databases.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates for the positions stated above are requested to submit their letter specifying for the position they are applying, updated CV, and other relevant credentials (such as Degree, Transcript, recommendation letters, evidence of relevant experience, and other relevant documents) to the Human Resource Administration Office of Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) first floor Room #118 within 10 days from the date of announcement. Female applicants are highly encouraged.