Senior Project Accountant

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Senior Project Accountant
Ref: GSS/07/DFCS/2024/41

The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) is seeking a highly qualified Senior Project Accountant who will be based at AfricaRice station M’bé-Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire. S/He will work under the supervision of the Planning and Budget Manager.

About AfricaRice
The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) is a leading pan-African rice research organization committed to improving livelihoods in Africa through strong science and effective partnerships. AfricaRice is a CGIAR Research Center. It is also an intergovernmental association of 28 African member countries, with headquarters in Côte d’Ivoire.

Position purpose
Under the supervision of the Planning and Budget Manager, the Senior Project Accountant is responsible for the overall financial management of projects’ finance component as assigned from the Center’s pool of restricted grants. Depending on the timing, staff will be temporarily based in Abidjan while is the Corporate Services division is in transition from Abidjan to Bouake.

Position responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Planning and Budget Manager, the Senior Project Accountant will undertake activities with specific tasks that include, but are not limited to:
• Maintaining complete record of project documents such as project contract, Letter of Agreement (LOA), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), sub-agreement, and other materials relevant to the project and coordinating with Project Coordinators to ensure adherence to the financial implementation aspects of the project agreements;
• Reviewing requests for official mission authorizations, purchase requests, staff recruitment requests (regular, temporary, and consultant), fund transfers, and other transactions to ensure consistency with the work plan, availability of funds, and correct utilization of account to charge;
• Ensuring valid transactions are timely and properly recorded during month-end and year-end closing of books;
• Systematically reconciling accounts on a regular basis through review and verification of expenditures of projects to ensure adherence to budgetary requirements;
• Monitoring of funds utilization of grants and schedule of installments to ensure readily available up to date funding status information necessary for management consideration;
• Analyzing the variances against approved budgets on a monthly basis and determine the main
reasons for major variations and discuss corrective steps with the Project Coordinators in close liaison with the supervisor;
• Maintaining record of sub-agreements and pertinent documents related to NARS partners and/or collaborators; facilitating transfer of funds according to the terms of the subcontract; assisting NARS partners/collaborators’ counterparts in preparing financial reports and monitoring compliance to reporting requirements as set forth in the sub-agreements;
• Preparing, releasing, and following up on invoices as needed and monitoring receipts;
• Producing timely and accurate financial reports, statement of expenditures, financing plan and forecasts, required by donors and/or stakeholders as may be assigned;
• Organizing and retrieving of documents required to support the financial report for submission or as requested by donor or other internal/external reviewers;
• Interacting with Project Coordinators to clarify issues on the financial reports and verification of its consistency with the technical report, proposing answers to queries, providing updates on the financial status such as over/under spending of the projects, and ensuring compliance to donor requirements;
• Calculating overhead and CG Cost Sharing Percentage (CSP) for period closing and prepare reports on CSP collections ;
• Supporting the institutional and project audits, internal or external, through organizing sample documents as requested, analyzing and providing responses to audit observations or follow-up, and other tasks necessary to complete the audit process.
• Providing information on new and existing grants for consideration in the Annual Budget Preparation process;
• Ensuring uploading of project budgets in AfricaRice’s financial system. ;
• Performing other relevant tasks that may be assigned by the supervisors.

Qualifications/Selection Criteria
Education: Master’s degree in business with a major in Accounting or Finance or Certified or Chartered
Accountant or with equivalent accountancy professional qualification Work experience and key competencies required:
• Minimum of six (6) years of progressive experience in accounting, financial management, and/or administrative works or related fields at least two (2) years of which in a senior/supervisory position. Experience in international non-profit organization or international NGO, is an advantage.
• Capacity to pay attention to details and accuracy
• Capacity to plan and organize, information, and task monitoring
• Capacity to analyze problems, judgment and problem solving
• Ability to work in a multicultural setting.
• Ability to work in a stressful environment and under pressure.
• Strong motivation to deliver accurate and timely reports.
• Strong knowledge of ERP systems (knowledge of AGRESSO will be a major advantage).
• The candidate should communicate fluently (orally and in writing) in English or French with a
good working knowledge of the other language.

Terms and Conditions
• This is a regionally recruited position.
• AfricaRice provides an attractive salary and benefits package and a collegial and gender-sensitive work environment.
• The initial contract duration is for two (2) years with the possibility for renewal based on performance and availability of funding.

How to apply
1. To apply, click on the following link: https://jobs.africarice.org/
2. Create an account if you are a new user, if not log on with your credentials to access active
vacancies select “Senior Project Accountant”
3. Follow the step-by-step application procedure.
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Only online applications will be considered (If you encounter any technical issue on the career
site during your application, or you are prevented to proceed with your application until its
final completion: Please kindly revert to us along with the screenshot of the issue through
this email: africariceHR@cgiar.org ). Applications are not allowed through this email.
Not later than 12 July 2024
AfricaRice promotes equal opportunities and believes that the diversity of its staff contributes to excellence.
We thank all candidates, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For more information on
AfricaRice, please visit our website at: www.AfricaRice.org