Finance Officer at ActionAid Rwanda (AAR)

Recruitment of ActionAid Rwanda (AAR) Finance Officer

Position: Finance Officer

Reporting To: Finance and Grants Management Coordinator

Grade: A

Duration: Fixed Term (2 years 3months)

AAR Background:

ActionAid Rwanda (AAR) is a local non-Governmental organization and an Affiliate Member of ActionAid Global Federation, an Anti-Poverty Agency working with the poor. AAR has had its operations in Rwanda since 1982, due to effects of the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi, AAR resumed its operations in 1997 as a full Country Program and has contributed towards eradication of Poverty and Injustice with a focus on tackling their root causes. AAR has a very strong commitment to supporting and empowering women and children as well as Promoting their Rights through Campaigns, Sensitizations and Advocacy.

AAR’s vision is a Country without poverty and injustice in which every person enjoys their right to life of dignity and mission is work with people living in poverty with focus on women and girls to eradicate poverty and injustice.

Role Overview

The position exists to ensure the financial management of programme and legal integrity of ActionAid Rwanda (AAR) and local statutory requirements within the framework of the policies and procedures established and the requirements policy and guidelines are adhered to and complied with Under the direction of the Finance and People Management Lead (FPML), the Finance Officer – Programme (FO) will be responsible for overseeing AAR and partner programming compliance - Planning and Budgeting in relation to programme/ projects, Grant Management including EU,FCDO,UNWOMEN funded projects and the monitoring of budgets against activities. The FO is responsible for daily accounting duties including performing all accounting functions related to the role including financial reporting, budgeting/forecasting, planning, grant management, monitoring expenditure, mainly funded projects and other assigned projects; alongside contract management system (CMS) for Finance section related , SUN system and audit participation with partners.

The position holder fully adheres to and comply with ActionAid Code of Conduct and SHEA and Safeguarding policies both on-duty and off-duty.

Areas of Responsibilities

Key Activities

Accounting and Finance

• Work with Programme Team and budget holders in relation to institutional and high value projects to input and support the work of Partner and Programme compliance.
• Verify all supporting documents from staff requests and preparing the payments for the line managers reviews and approval.
• Maintain financial reports and back up records.
• Record and hold all programme/project including funded projects related financial transactions into Sun system.
• Prepare bank reconciliation statements on a monthly basis for review by the Finance manager in a timely manner.
• Submit all internal programme/project financial reports – funded projects and any other assigned projects (monthly, quarterly) in a timely manner.
• Coordinate financial review and proactively address any irregularity in the partners' financial management.
• Consult with Finance and Grant Management Coordinator (F&GMC) to create template of budget/reports if needed to improve finance reporting and budget.
• Preparing fund transferred and expenditure of partners and reconciled in the system.
• Prepare and reconcile fund balance for all programme/projects including funded projects.
• Ensure all procurement is in accordance with ActionAid and donor guidelines.
• Ensure project costs recovery is charged as agreed budget and provide project costs recovery performance on monthly and quarterly basis.
• Working closely with finance team to conduct month-end and yearend closing for programme/project accounting transaction related.

Planning and budgeting

• Provide inputs, coordinate and assist in the annual budget development and consolidation.
• Contribute to the development, review and consolidation of country programme plans and budgets.
• Provide support to budget development for concept note/proposal budget development. Support F&GMC in preparing budget for finance department.

Partner assessment

Participate in the assessment partner's financial system for selection partner to implement project funded.

Reporting and Coordination

• Extract data from sun system, preparing financial reporting, analyze and advise on performance of programme/ project including funded projects spending with variance analysis reports.
• Make adjustment/reconciliation as appropriate.
• Prepare annual budget of programme/project for internal purposes of the CP.
• Monitor expenditure against budget of all programme/projects - funded projects and any other assigned project.
• Create and maintain Finance folder for keeping all Finance document and reports of AAR and its partners.
• Produce monthly, quarterly, half year and the annual project financial report under his/her responsibility and submit to F&GMC and budget holders within the agreed timeframe.
• Provide support to partners on technical issues and reporting problems.
• Conduct and support financial partners for field visit monitoring trips to ensure that all project/programme accounting documents are accurate and follow the financial policies and guidelines.

Internal Controls and Audit

• Assist & provide support for external audit including global audit and funded project audits and internal audits and ensure audit process are running smoothly.
• Follow up audit recommendations. Consolidate all findings and highlight them to related people and inform to others if need.
• Consult the budget holders on financial report or other finance related work when necessary
• Do the finance review partners for funded project related and produce recommendation report to them on quarterly and yearly basis.

Partner Audit

• Oversee the financial review plan and process conducted by FO of each Partner and provide technical support/oversight on financial review to FOs.
• Participate in partner audit where and when required by F&GMC
• Consolidate audit report of relevant partners from relevant FOs and share with the F&GMC, F&PML and/or SMT on the result and audit report.
• Follow up on the audit recommendation and update of process through coordination with various finance and programme departments.

Policies, procedures and Finance Manual

• Assist in developing and updating all Finance policies, procedures and manual in collaboration with the Strategic Management Team, donors and partners.
• Support Partners on following AAC Financial Policy & Procedure Manual or Donor requirements.
• Support the continuous development of programme/project officer’s knowledge in programme/project appraisal and financial reviews.

Other

• Provides training/refresher/induction to all staff and partners on related fields, including grant compliance.
• Other responsibilities as requested by the F&GMC
• Assist and Support F&GMC and other necessary relevant assignment.

Person Specification

Education & Certifications

• Having a Bachelor's degree in finance / accounting
• Having an intermediate level of Professional course like CPA, ACCA etc, will be an advantage.

Essential Experience Knowledge and Skills

• Five years consecutive experience in financial planning, budgeting, and cash management
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Advance Microsoft Excel, and any other financial system like SUN, QuickBooks.
• Advanced and practical experience with Sun System will be an advantage.
• Proven problem-solving skills with ability to create and take initiatives
• Proven ability in assessment and improvement of financial systems and procedures
• Proven experience in developing, implementing and monitoring finance and administration policy, systems and procedures
• Familiarity with auditing, procurement system/procedure with experience/background and knowledge in partner capacity building is an asset
• Working for any other international or local NGO will also add advantage with proven experience in financial management for funded project such as FCDO, EU, UNWOMEN funded projects will be an advantage.
• Financial reporting, analysis and management
• Excellent analytical and risk management skills
• Planning, organization, time management, and coordination
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Kinyarwanda languages, knowing French language will be an advantage.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Proven experience in preparing and analyzing financial reports and plans and drawing insight for use by management and different donors
• Strategic thinking Familiar with development and human right issues in the country
• Excellent analytical and risk management skill
• Work on own initiative with minimum supervision and to stay on task.
• Work under pressure and tight deadlines
• Travel frequently

Personal Qualities

• Result oriented person; ability to manage multiple tasks, work under pressure and meeting deadlines.
• An honest and trustworthy person with attention to details and accuracy
• Excellence inter-personal communication/negotiation skills both in written/oral Kinyarwanda and English with strong sense of team spirit

These responsibilities cover the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs. It is part of every staff member's responsibility to contribute to AAR's mission and comply to AAR’s values, which are: Mutual respect, Equity and justice, Honesty and transparency, Solidarity with the poor, Courage of conviction, Independence, Humility 

How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply here not later than Thursday 8^th August 2024 at 5:00pm. Indicate in the subject line: Finance Officer.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ActionAid is an equal opportunity employer and candidates will be expected to embody ActionAid’s values and adhere to organization policies including the Safeguarding Policy and the Child Protection Policy, among other ActionAid policies.

Qualified Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.