ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE

Job Description and Job SpecificationJob Title:Senior Finance Officer –  Budget & ReportingTerm of Employment:  One year with possibility of extension  Duty Station(s):Addis AbabaRequired number:OneApplication deadline:June 15, 2023

 BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government Institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATI envisions to be the leading center of innovative solutions for the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030.

The Institute focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate the development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects. Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Sidama, South-West, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sector partners across the country.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results. 

At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector.  We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.  We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

 POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Finance Officer is accountable for the specific deliverables of the finance team, pertaining to financial transaction processing, recording, data management, treasury/disbursement management, AR/AP management, reporting, as well as organization-wide budgeting process. The Senior Finance Officer is expected to work closely with and has direct oversight of the activities of the finance officers to ensure the fulfillment of responsibilities. The Senior Finance Officer also acts as a liaison between the Finance Managers and the Finance Officers and the rest of the finance team to ensure the smooth functioning of the team.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Support and ensure a robust and timely budgeting and planning process:

• Organize and Provide training, and closely support the budget holders during the development of the budget formulation process.

• Review the draft budget submitted by Teams, and provide feedback before it is submitted to the DG, to ensure that accurate budget is submitted to the DG.

• Ensure that the approved budgets and subsequent amendments are correctly uploaded into the system.

• Assist the Senior Budget and Reporting Manager in validating the proposed budget is formulated in accordance with established policies, procedures and guidelines.

• Compile periodical Budget utilization status report and submit them for review in a timely manner.

• Follow up and incorporate feedback and action on budget variances in future planning and budget amendments.

• Ensure budget amendment processes are in accordance with ATI policies and procedures.

• Review program and project spending against approved budgets and highlight any variances to budget holders.

• Analyze transactions and investigate any unusual items and take appropriate corrective actions.

• Reconciliation of accounts between the two systems (AGRESSO & IFMIS) and follow-up advances for timely settlements

• Support auditors (Both the IA & External auditors) during the audit and respond to audit queries.

• Put the approved Gov’t budget into IFMIS and perform budget transfer/realignment as required.

• Assist in the coordination of budget preparation and support in the preparation of regular and special budget reports.

• Handle budget-checking tasks of all ATI requests using ERP & IFMIS based on the pre-set threshold.

• Manage year-end closing routines and submit all the required financial reports to MOF and IA per the timeline prescribed by the MOF financial management directive.

• Facilitate and follow up annual OFAG and Quarterly Internal audits, handle audit queries, and provide a response to the audit findings in consultation with the budget and planning manager, and track audit action plans and ensure timely implementation of the audit action plans as per the timeline set in the audit reports.

 Treasury, Disbursement, and Data Management related roles:

• Supervise & directly lead the disbursements, Treasury & Data management officers, Accounts clerks, and assistants (Doc. & Admin.)

• Ensure all financial transactions including disbursement and treasury-related activities and transactions are conducted promptly and efficiently and in accordance with accounting practices and ATI guidelines.

• Assist the Senior Finance Manager in ensuring the application of robust and adequate financial controls and procedures in line with ATI finance policies and good accounting practices.

• Ensure all financial controls are accurately and consistently applied across all aspects of financial transaction processing, financial management, record keeping, and reporting.

• Ensure the timely and accurate completion of all financial transactions and related activities by overseeing and working closely with the finance officers and other team members.

• Ensure data integrity and accurate and timely recording of all financial transactions on ERP accounting systems/ books.

• Ensure internal working procedures and controls on cash, creditor, and debtor management.

• Maintain accrual and prepayment accounts in accordance with ATI policies.

• Ensure financial transactions are processed in accordance with ATI policies and reconciled monthly with the financial records.

• Ensure taxes are deducted from salaries and paid according to government legislation requirements.

• Coordinate the reconciliation process of data between IFMIS and AGRESSO and HQ & ROs on a regular basis and take appropriate corrective actions in a timely manner.

• Ensure accurate cash flow forecasts are completed, and cash and bank balances are managed in the organization to prevent cash overrun.

• Carry out Approval, checking & verifying payment requests/Vouchers before effecting payments in Agresso ERP/IFMIS.

• Ensure that all financial transactions are fully supported, and accurately coded and that they are all captured in Agresso ERP on a timely basis – supporting documentation is properly filed for ease of retrieval.

• Ensure petty cash, banks, floats, and advances are processed in accordance with ATI & Gov’t policies and reconciled monthly.

• Ensure the safe security of cash in the office and coordinate weekly and monthly cash counts, including spot counts.

• Ensure accurate cash flow forecasts from the 4 regional office is received and reviewed, and make the required cash transfers to the field offices on a timely basis;

• Ensure that systems are put in place to assure document security and ease of retrieval for a complete audit trail from the System Accounts records to supporting documentation and vice–versa.

• Ensure that internal financial controls relating to Financial Data, Receivables, cash on hand, and bank are consistently applied e.g., maintaining authorized bank signatories list in accordance with the scheme of delegation.

• Directly lead, manage, and motivate the disbursement officers, accounts clerk & cashiers and ensure that they have clear work plans & performance management is integrated into day-to-work activities.

Yearend routines/Financial reports

• Prepare & submit draft year-end reports for review by the Senior Finance Manager timely, accurate, and efficient financial reporting MGMT.

• Provision of ad-hoc financial management information and analysis from the system for the use of management and budget holder as required.

• Support internal and external audit processes & Assist the Finance Manager in producing Financial Reports.

• Support in ensuring that audit recommendations (internal and external) are implemented.

• Check the financial transactions recorded in the financial system and make adjustments to account for accruals for utilities and other commitments, clear abnormal balances before preparing reports.

• Back up the Senior Finance Manager and perform other duties assigned by the immediate supervisor and or finance Director.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Budget & Reporting-Manager

Job Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University in Accounting or Accounting & Finance.

• Experience: At least 6 years for BA/4 Years for MA professional experience, out of which 2 years’ experience is as Sr. Finance Officer/ Sr. Receivables Officer in Gov’t, Donor Gov’t Bilateral & Multilateral organizations, International/Local NGOs or relevant professional experience

• Special Training- Computer knowledge in MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)

• Prior Knowledge of Integrated Accounting systems like Agresso ERP/Oracle-IFMIS is an asset

• Knowledge of local laws of the country

• Commitment to ATI values

• Flexibility and ability to stay effective and motivated in a fast-changing environment.

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills

• Ability and willingness to work long hours and work with other staffs

• Fluency in English and Amharic and/or other Ethiopian languages is highly desired

• Superior attention to detail; skills such as analytic; critical thinking; problem-solving; multi-tasking abilities are required in addition to integrity, and honesty

How to Apply

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to CLICK HERE

It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter.

Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.