Project Background
Feed the Future Resilience in Northern Ghana Systems Strengthening will strengthen service delivery systems to attain measurable improvements in the nutrition and resilience of vulnerable populations in northern Ghana, particularly for reproductive-aged women and children under five years old. The activity will work to achieve three main objectives: 1) Local governments plan, finance, and deliver services that respond to the population’s needs, 2) Local government, non-governmental, and private entities collectively implement solutions to attain measurable improvements in nutrition and resilience, and 3) Citizens influence local service delivery to respond to their needs.
Over five years, across 17 districts in the Northern, Upper West, North East, and Upper East regions of Northern Ghana, Feed the Future Resilience in Northern Ghana Systems Strengthening will improve the nutritional status and resilience of vulnerable populations through the health; agriculture; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and education sectors by enhancing local governance systems, optimizing resources to catalyze greater access to social services, and transforming the capacities of institutions to scale service delivery. The Activity includes a grant program that will catalyze investment, expand sustainable multisectoral nutrition and resilience programming, and mobilize communities to demand quality services and participate in local planning processes in northern Ghana.
Job Summary
Resilience in Northern Ghana System Strengthening activity seeks to strengthen service delivery systems to attain measurable improvements in the nutrition and resilience of vulnerable populations in northern Ghana, particularly for women in their reproductive-ages and children under five years. The Finance and Administration Officer will report to the Finance and Administrative Director (F&A Director) to deliver on the objects of the F&A department. Specifically, the Finance and Administrative Officer will be responsible for accounting activities including bank reconciliations, general ledger entries, liquidating staff expense reports, and other general accounting functions. He/she will also ensure field-based adherence to donor and Abt Associate financial policies and procedures, regulations, controls, and reporting systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform accounting activities to include financial, bank reconciliations, general ledger entries, and other general accounting functions.
- Assist F&A Director in implementing and maintaining in-country policies, procedures, Templates/forms, and record maintenance systems that adhere to Abt Associates, donor, and Government of Ghana standards and requirements.
- Assist the F&A Director set up strong internal controls and ensure that it is maintained across the project.
- Assist F&A Director to generate, record, execute and reconcile payments through all stages, including preparation of purchase orders, generation of check and wire requests, data input into financial management software (QuickBooks, Excel, etc.) and bank statement reconciliation.
- Help review all expense supporting documentation for accuracy, relevance, and legitimacy in line with Abt Associate policies and ensure that expenses are reasonable, allocable and necessary before processing for payment.
- Provide support to procurement functions across the operational area.
- Assist to prepare monthly payroll for staff, including calculating all salaries, income tax obligations; and recording all relevant accruals, including fringe, bonuses, etc. in compliance with signed employee agreements.
- Help reconcile all banks accounts and petty cash on a regular basis and report any discrepancies to F&A Director
- Reconcile liability and asset accounts monthly and ensure advance ageing account is reduced or cleared monthly.
- Organize and maintain all project financial and accounting records and files in accordance with Abt Associate policies, general audit standards (GAAP), and donor requirements.
- Remote Office Voucher (ROV): Assist F&A Director to upload soft copy of the monthly ROV in Quick Books.
- Support the finance team to review and process grantees invoices base on their milestone’s deliverable.
- Assist to monitor the performance of grantees to ensure compliance with grant terms and obligations.
- Support in tracking grantees payment to
- Work with the Grants team to ensure the submission of timely financial and activity reports and other deliverables.
- Support the grants and Finance team to tracking grantees spending based on the total obligated award for activity implementation.
- Assists in updating and tracking project inventory.
- Support in tracking staff timecards manually and reconciling their time balance on a monthly basis.
- Other duties may be assigned.
- Support the procurement and logistics manager with logistics arrangement.
- Assists the Finance and Administration Director in updating the project inventory list.
- Assist the Procurement and logistics manager with some procurement duties.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge and experience with financial management and reporting requirements.
- Knowledge of and familiarity with accounting systems/packages.
- Knowledge and understanding of tax laws and compliance.
- Ability to use good judgment and professionalism, experience in decision-making.
- Excellent analytical skills.
- Excellent Microsoft Excel skills and experience with accounting software (QuickBooks preferred)
- Accuracy and attention to detail.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to interact with international employees.
- Strong skills in internal controls and accounting standards.
- Experience with international donor regulations preferred.
Minimum Qualifications
High School Diploma + Four years of relevant experience, or Associates Degree + Two years of relevant experience
Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.
Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.
Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.