Project Accountant-WISE Project at Plan International

The Project Accountant will be responsible for the management of the project budget (over 5.5 million EUR), providing oversight, reporting and analysis on the financial health of the WISE project. The Project Accountant will also be responsible for ensuring compliance to donor requirements, government requirements, and Plan International Ghana financial management and compliance standards.
The post-holder will be based in Tamale but travel to the project districts where the WISE project operates for approximately 40% of her/his time, as well as to the Plan International Ghana Country Office in Accra.

Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:

• Prepares financial and other reports to present the overall financial health of the WISE project for decision making.  To do this, the position holder will:
• Ensure that project transactions are reviewed and correctly entered into SAP on timely basis;
• Review project sub-ledger for all advances and prepaid expenses and follows up on outstanding advances;
• Monitor and review advance liquidation;
• Create standard report template for project team and Plan’s partners to ensure consistency in reporting;
• Prepare quarterly, semi-annual, year-end and other grants financial reports and analyses as per required instructions for management decision making;
• Assist the Project Lead in the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual and year-end financial schedules of the project;
• Consolidate and submit monthly community and partner visit reports received from Project Staff;
• Ensure proper filing (electronic and hard copy) of grants financial reports;
• Budget preparation and budgetary control support for the effective implementation of the WISE project financial plan. To do this, the position holder will:
• Lead the preparation of the Project annual budget in collaboration with the project team and implementing partners;
• Monitor project budget on a monthly basis and modify when necessary;
• Consolidate monthly project budget and financial report;
• Maintain a budgetary control system to monitor grant budget vs. expenditure and advise management on variances and corrective actions required to be taken;
• Respond to grants financial queries in liaison with the Country Finance Manager (CFM), Business Development Manager and the Project Lead;
• Train/coach partner finance staff in the delivery of job requirements to support grants compliance, budget preparation and control and financial reporting;
• Ensure Partner liquidation and financial reports are properly reviewed and validated before further funds are advanced;
• Ensure compliance with best practices and donor specific requirements by partner organisations.
• Coordinates Cash Forecasting for the WISE project to ensure the availability of funds for project operations. To do this, the position holder will:
• Promptly transfer funds to project bank account and ensure effective cash flow management;
• Ensure the Project bank account and cash balances remain with positive balances and following up on any queries in a timely manner.
• Operates the Plan International Operations accounting software (SAP) to meet Plan’s and Donor spending and financial reporting requirements. To do this, the position holder will:
• Submit monthly cash forecast to the Country Accountant;
• Ensure that all approved project budget account lines and Donor account lines, together with subsequent modifications, are accurate in SAP
• Undertake checks to ensure that all transactions are accurately entered into SAP.
• Review and manage recharges within country project budgets
• Ensure that SAP Monthly reports are printed and signed off.
• Analyse project balance, especially expenses account after monthly closure, and effect the necessary corrections with the support of the Project Lead
• Implement Internal Financial Controls and Payment Processes for the attainment of value for money at all times. To do this, the position holder will:
• Prepare the weekly payment list based on the approved cash forecast requirements;
• Project payments made as per approved policies and procedures;
• Review all the vouchers for completeness and documentation and arithmetic accuracy.
• Ensure cheques are not issued if they do not form part of the weekly payment list, exceptions should be approved by the Country Finance Manager
• Prepare Project Financial audit action list after each audit ensure its compliance
• Monitor and submit quarterly report on project financial risks
• Ensure Partner Organizations are prepared for donor financial audit.