The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) was established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify systemic bottlenecks, conduct studies, and provide recommendations, provide implementation support, manage projects, create linkages and coordination among activities and agricultural development programs. The Institute 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 that, to be the leading centre of innovative solutions to catalyze and contribute to the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030 where smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

ATI provides a unique 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 teams with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

The programmatic focus of the Institute responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and other sectors along commodity value chains. Across the programs, the ATI engages public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models. Currently, ATI is tasked to coordinate the revised Agriculture and Rural Development policy agendas of the sector and such sectoral level delegation requires high level expertise in the policy areas and skillsets in coordination and networking with multiple stakeholders.

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 teamwork 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 Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has made the transformation and commercialization of the agriculture sector a key tenet of its Transformation Plan. At the very core of the strategy to achieve this transformation is the transition of smallholder farmers from subsistence orientation to market focused production systems and activities that better integrate them into domestic and global supply chains. The full development and competitiveness of the entire agricultural value chain is thus critical to ensure that smallholder farmers can make the necessary market linkages that allow such supply chain integrations to happen. 

Along the agricultural value chain, agriculture-oriented enterprises play critical roles in developing infrastructure, producing and distributing inputs, processing, marketing, retailing and exporting products, among others. However, these businesses are predominantly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that remain largely underdeveloped due to a number of barriers, particularly access to appropriate and timely financial products and services, talent and skill development, and supply chain and market linkages. There is thus a need for targeted support for agricultural SMEs as they are a catalyst to increasing rural incomes, improving food security, and are the building blocks to form larger enterprises spurring Ethiopia’s future economic growth.

SPO I, Accounting and Finance Mentor Agri-hub will work on regional Agri-hub project and responsible for supporting and developing Agribusiness Enterprises in assessing identing financial management gaps by reviewing existing practices, investment needs, analyse financial statements and recommend appropriate solutions. He/she is responsible for facilitating access to finance and build capacity of enterprises through training, mentoring and introducing improved financial systems and software.  SPO I, Accounting and Finance Mentor will directly report to Regional Agribusiness and Systems Team Lead and closely work with Business Advisor and Head Office Agri-finance team. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Review and understand the existing practices of capturing and recording data and preparing financial statements and reporting of the enterprise and recommends 

• corrective measures based on international and domestic acceptable financial accounting principles.

• Review and understand the financing and investment needs of the enterprise and recommend appropriate solutions that enhance its performance.

• Analyze, appraise and evaluate the financial statements and audit reports of the enterprise and validate their accuracy in regard to whether they meet modern accounting principles and standards.

• Review the capital structure (debt-equity) and financial health/position of the enterprise and forward appropriate financial mix solutions.

• Guide and assist the enterprise’s existing financial/accounting staff to prepare financial statements of the enterprise reflecting its past performance and future operations

• Identify, create linkages and further strengthen its relationships with financial institutions in consultation with the Management of the enterprise and its Advisory Board, and AGRIHUB  project team.

• Support regional Agrihub teams in guiding and providing orientation on banking services, documentation and organization of financial recording as to make the Agri MSMEs bankable.

• Engage and negotiate with local and international financial institutions to secure loans and meet the enterprise’s financing needs in consultation with the management team and Advisory Board of the enterprise.

• Guide and support the enterprise in loan application, disbursement and payment schedules when needed.

• Introduce, install and provide training on modern data capturing, processing, costing and financial analysis templates and reporting systems.

• Assist in preparing budgeting, financial forecasting and cash flow requirements of the enterprise and recommend mode of financing based on the strategic/business plan.

• Assess, analyse and produce reports with recommended techniques of improving the internal control system of the enterprise.

• Report performance and brief progress updates about his/her duties to the enterprise and the project team regularly.

Job Requirements

Required Qualification, Competencies, and Experience: 

• Master’s degree in finance, Accounting, Financial Management, Management, or other relevant fields.

• At least 6 years of experience in Agriculture and/or agro-processing companies with proven track record of preparing national and internationally acceptable financial statements, developing financial and cost accounting standards & manuals.  

• Thorough academic understanding of business topics (i.e. finance, marketing, strategy) as well as practical work experience

• Outstanding interpersonal skills; ability to effectively engage and influence mentees as well as influence financing institutions like MFIs and Commercial Banks

• Fluency in English and Afan Oromo, written and spoken, is essential; knowledge of other local Ethiopian languages preferred

• Self-driven individual with ability to drive work with minimal supervision; demonstrated track record of organization, multi-tasking, and time management skills

• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools

How To Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

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