Internal/External

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 is implementing a country strategic plan focused on two programmes – Women’s Empowerment and Resilient Communities, which integrates sustainable livelihoods, humanitarian and other (e.g. peacebuilding) programming.

Due to ongoing growth and expansion of the CST Ethiopia country program, CST Ethiopia is currently recruiting for a position of programme Accountant -EUTF Project based in the CST Ethiopia Mekelle Field Office in Mekelle.  The Program Accountant reports to Consortium Manager and functionally reported to Finance & Administration Manager of CST Ethiopia.  The Program Accountant will coordinate and manage the EU funded project to deliver the intended results in collaboration with other EUTF team.

Key Responsibility

Financial Control and Bookkeeping (20%)

• In collaboration with the Consortium Manager, CST Ethiopia Finance Team, and partners, as well as other programme staff, ensure timely transfers of funds are made to partners. 

• Prepare all the necessary financial documents pertaining to the Project. 

• Ensure all the costs incurred are as per the approved budget of the Project 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.

• Work with the Financial Accountant to ensure all the floats taken from CST for the Project are settled in a timely manner and are as per the guidelines of the donor and the Office, providing guidance to partners on the same. 

• Follow up the tax exemption or reimbursement process of items purchased under the Project when applicable. 

• Work with the Financial Accountant to ensure all the internal transactions into Agresso in a timely manner. 

• Ensure all the grants to partner’s transactions are entered into Agresso in a timely manner and that a report is generated at end of each month. 

Financial Monitoring and Capacity building (30 %)

• Undertake financial monitoring visits with the Project Coordinator on a regular basis, including visits to the Project field locations, so as to check partners’ compliance with the donor’s financial management guidelines at field and head office levels; 

• Provide technical support on financial management to the partners whenever the need arises; 

• Be actively involved in procurement processes and ensure they are carried out in compliance with the donor’s as well as the Joint Office procurement policies and highlight any deviation from EC procedures to the Project Coordinator for immediate action. 

• Assess, maintain, monitor and evaluate an awareness creation training / briefing on Financial and Procurement compliance of partners to the back donor requirements.

• 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 both internally and with partners.

• Assist with investigations into alleged fraud or irregularities at partner organisations

• Support Programme team in programme budget monitoring, review and reporting process

• In collaboration with the Programme accountant of partners Provide comprehensive reports on major financial monitoring visits to Finance & Administration Manager and Programme Manager on quarterly bases

Reporting and budget monitoring (30%)

• Ensure a monthly financial report is prepared for those costs incurred by the Joint Office;

• Provide financial technical support to partners of the Project in the preparation of financial reports; 

• Compile financial reports received from each partner into a monthly consolidated report to be submitted to the  FAM, Business Development & Compliance Advisor(BDCA) and Consortium Manager (CM), and consolidated quarterly and annual reports to be submitted to the EC, in the EC format;

• Incorporate feedback given by the Consortium Manager, FAM and BDCA and others into the report and file the final version in the appropriate place;  

• Monitor budget utilization and advise the Project Coordinator whenever there is under or over spend in each of the budget lines; 

• Analyse exchange rate loss or gain and present the analysis to FAM, BDCA and CM on a quarterly basis, proposing possible ways to minimize the effects (especially any loss);   

• Prepare cash flow statements and present to the Consortium Manager along with sound analysis; 

• In collaboration with the Consortium Manager, and partners’ concerned staff and CST Ethiopia staff, prepare budget revisions (rider) whenever the need arises and ensure it is approved by the Country Director and the donor before the change is effected;  

• Facilitate the mid-term and final audits as per the EC requirements and ensure all partners are ready for the same.

• Assist the programme team in the preparation of donor reports. Ensure that donor reporting meets all donor financial reporting requirements.

• In collaboration with the finance team & BDCA, assist the preparation of donor reports as required.

Provide Technical Support to Partners (10%)

• Provide support to partners in preparation of financial proposals and reports with specific reference to institutionally funded projects.

• In the event of a major issue in relation to financial management at partner level, especially in the management of donor funds, the programme accountant may be required to be deployed to a partner organisation to ensure that financial management and reporting are carried out in accordance with Trocaire and donor requirements.

Internal Systems and Processes (5%)

• Review with all programme budget holders monthly reports as available on Agresso Business World and facilitate with programme staff follow up of any issues or variances arising.

• Assist in the preparation of donor budgets; ensure compliance with donor regulations and ensure that donor budgets are incorporated into the country budget & budget revisions. 

Budgeting (5%)

• In collaboration with Finance & Administration Manager, support the programme staff in annual budgeting process.

• Support Programme team in programme budget monitoring, review and reporting process.

• In consultation with Finance & Administration Manager, provide technical advice to the BDCA to in Institutional Fund budget proposal.

• Any other assignment assigned by the country management team or Finance & Administration Manager.

Job Requirements

Essential Requirements: 

• 1st Degree in Accounting, Business Administration

•  Minimum of 5 years’ experience in Grant Management in INGO

• At least two years’ experience of working with and building the capacity of local partner organisations

•  Demonstrates knowledge of report writing and good English knowledge

•  Good knowledge of accounting software like Agresso  

Desirable Requirements

• Significant familiar experience in EC/EU grant Projects 

• Sound experience of budgetary and financial management

• In-depth understanding of financial management inn a partnership model, working in a partnership-based INGO-

• Experience with EU rules, systems, and procedures

• Experience of working with management information systems

How to Apply

Register using this LINK