Programme and Partnership Accountant at Oxfam

Job Purpose:

The role is responsible and accountable for the activities related to the core finance function in the Programme Office which includes but not limited, to report financial transactions to support in managing / controlling financial risks and in making decisions, to ensure full compliance with Oxfam procedures as well as support to Partners in providing complete, timely and accurate financial reports in respect of Oxfam in Ghana programmes. Although the position is based in Accra, the responsibilities involve a significant number of travels to regions where Oxfam in Ghana Partners operate.

Dimensions of The Role

Role:

The following aim to provide a clear sense of the nature and scope of the Programme & Partnership Accountant’s role:

• Contributes to developing and delivering targets and plans within the operating unit and more widely on Partnership support.
• Interprets financial information; provides analyses and advice to country thematic leads and the Country Finance Manager on a range of complex issues including managing legal compliance and financial risk with Partners.
• Manages and/or contributes to project work.
• Produces reviewed procedures for partner capacity building and monitoring.
• Influences managers to work differently / adopt procedures and maintain standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversight responsibility for the effective management of the Accounting and Finance function at the Programme Office in Tamale.
• Make critical input into country programme annual budget and develop financial proposal for national and multi-country programmes.
• Identify and develop new and innovative systems and processes for improving operational efficiency, whilst providing financial management advice to Programme Coordinators.
• Be directly involved with all non-operational partner agreements and arrangements and play key role in directing operational staff to ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Ensure that all financial transactions generated in the Programme Office are accurately, properly, and timely captured in PeopleSoft (General Ledger) and other donor specific reporting systems in accordance with Oxfam and Donor policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Review all end–of–month reconciliations for accuracy and completeness and agree balances with the General Ledger.
• Prepare donor reports per the internal reporting schedule for donor reporting and respond to review comments from donors.
• Review quarterly, half-year and annual financial reports with the associated project accounts, and variance analysis reports submitted to Oxfam in Ghana
• Review quarterly cash forecasts (programme related activities only) as input into quarterly financial reports for donors.
• Spearhead in identifying and flashing out any potential causes at the Programme Office and with Partners, which would make reporting on time and/or compliance impossible, for pre-emptive communication with the donors through the National Funding Coordinator.
• Support the Finance Manager to prepare draft financial statement and projects annual financial reports as part of preparations towards annual audits. Liaise with all Implementing Partners and ensure their readiness for various audits i.e., project audit, statutory audit etc.
• Provide responses to all donor / statutory audit queries on the Programme Office and for all financial reports of past and present programming as they may arise.
• Review findings and recommendations on partners’ financial reports and ensure that they are addressed by partners before funds are transferred to them.
• Lead in the field work for financial reviews as part of the joint monitoring visits to partners per agreed schedule with the MEAL team.
• Acquire a detailed knowledge of all donors’ reporting requirements, changes etc. and support carrying out systematic training and briefing of programme staff in financial, administrative, and logistical procedures.
• Regularly monitor internal controls and procedures on financial and accounting matters.
• In consultation with the Finance Manager, plan capacity building for finance staff in Partner organisations.
• Ensure all partner expenditures are uploaded in box and captured with support documentation into the PeopleSoft system.
• Maintain grant reconciliation between 70000, 72000 and the 49800 to ensure Zero balance at end each financial year.
• Ensure partner basis of apportionments properly are set up and cost-sharing requirements are fulfilled.
• Back-stop for the Finance Manager as and when required as well as take on any other work that may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Role requires professional qualification in accounting with background in finance and logistics, knowledge of Ghana Financial regulatory framework (Company ACT, taxation, pension laws etc.), proposal developments and a strong track record in financial management and external audit. Membership with a recognised Professional Accountancy Body i.e., ICAG, ACCA or CIMA will be an advantage.

Education:

• Master’s degree in a related field is required (business administration, development sector financing, accounting, finance) or equivalent professional qualification i.e., Certified Chartered Accountancy and/or Management qualification is preferred.

Experience:

• The post requires advanced specialist knowledge in Grants and Partnership management. Minimum of 5 years managerial experience in a service organisation is preferred; Knowledge of the development sector financial management requirements; a good understanding of accounting standards and their application in financial reporting for publication.

Desirable

• Knowledge in the use of any accounting software.
• IPSAS Certification.
• Working proficiency in French and Ghanaian languages is highly desirable.

What we are looking for:

• We’re looking for a candidate who cares about Oxfam’s mission to end poverty and is personally aligned to our feminist principles and values of empowerment, accountability and inclusion in all you do.

An ideal candidate for the role will also be / have:

Essential:

• A strong understanding of accounting principles and standards applicable in the services or development sector.
• Quantitative and Analytical Skills with a good working knowledge of MS office suit, advance excel and others, accounting processes and reporting systems and tools.
• Comprehensive understanding of financial reporting, review, and analysis.
• Effective Communications skills (oral and written including presentations and good report writing) in English.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and work independently to deadlines with very minimal supervision.
• External Audit experience with a reputable Practicing Firm.
• Good teamwork, management, and liaison skills.
• Ability to work and train people with differing levels of skills in grant management.
• The capability to work in a way so that one is not restricted by traditional thinking only and the status quo. Thinking out of the box, in a way that promote progress and makes bigger impact.
• Negotiation: The skills to bring about agreement on matters of mutual interest.
• Ability to develop a high degree of self-awareness around our own strengths and weaknesses and our behaviours impact on others.
• Building and naturing relationships: the conscious effort to develop relationships with people with the aim of engaging to deliver on organizational goals. This also involves the ability to engage with people, by pursuing personal relationship that allows leaders to connect with people and build trusting relationships.
• Enabling: The pursuit to work effectively, empower and enable others to deliver the organizations goals through creating conditions of success.