Head of the Accounting & Finance Department | Addis Ababa

Under the direct supervision of CISP Deputy Country Representative, the Head of the Accounting & Finance Department is responsible and accountable for carrying out administrative, finance and Human Resource related tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the Finance team to deliver timely, high quality finance support across the Organization, including all the field offices.

• Lead the Finance team by providing clear objectives setting, and regular feedback, in line with CISP’s policies and procedures, to drive strong engagement and delivery.
• Be responsible for CISP’s day-to-day banking arrangements. This includes ensuring the effective management of CISP’s cash flows so that all field offices have sufficient cash on hand or in bank to always meet their requirements for a smooth project implementation.
• Supervises the preparation of Cash Transfer Requests to HQ and ensures that appropriate cash balances are maintained to facilitate project implementation.
• Supervises the register and entering income and expenditure in the computerized software Peachtree or other provided accounting applications in compliance with CISP’s accounting policies, the Civil Society Organization (CSO) and other regulations and statutory requirements.
• Give instructions, supervise, organize and follow-up workflow of all finance team and accountants in the field offices.
•  Follows up and facilitates the timely delivery of reports from field offices.
• Checks payment requests against adequate budget coverage and verifies correctness of arithmetic accuracy for approval.
• Prepare monthly bank account reconciliation statement that shows recorded bank account balance matches the balance the bank lists for all bank accounts across all field offices and identify accounting errors, discrepancies, and fraud.
• Prepare timely and accurate financial information, analysis, and insight across the organization, including income, expenditure, balance sheet, cash flow and budget holder information.
• Ensures balance sheet reconciliations are completed monthly and on a timely basis and review final reconciliations and trial balances with the Deputy Country Representative.
• Deliver efficient and effective financial processes and controls, including income processing, general ledger, fixed assets, payroll, and multi-currency cash management.
• Directs the preparation of and approval of all CISP financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Deputy Country Representative prior to submission.
• Enforces internal control policies and procedures at the head office and field offices. Make sure that no receivables and payables are outstanding at the end of the year.
• Be responsible for ensuing financial regulatory submissions are delivered within deadlines and manage all aspects of tax and pension compliance for the Organization.
• Prepares quarterly accounting reports, expenditure reporting, and quarterly expenditure projections consolidated for all project field offices.
• Manage the annual closing of accounts, year-end audit process and preparation of the statutory financial statements for the organization including managing the relationship with CISP’s external auditors.
• To review all control accounts, reconciliations, provisions, and write-offs to ensure that provisions and write-offs have been correctly authorized. This includes agreeing all year-end balances.
• Produce budget projections and reports for submission to the donor through the HQ in accordance with donors and CSO reporting requirements.
• In collaboration with the Logistics department check the financial aspects of purchasing items before payment is decided according to CISP’s financial manuals.
• Ensure CISP assets and equipment book value is properly maintained in the financial records.
• Ensures that license and other required government formalities are fulfilled on time by field and country office.
• To review all prepayments (including accrued income) and accruals (including deferred income) to ensure they are complete and accurate.
• To establish and document all year-end journals and procedures to ensure no omissions.
• Work in partnership with the Senior Management Staff to ensure effective fund tracking, cost management and reporting to donors.
• Leads of interviewing and selection process for all new finance staff at the head office and field offices.
• Ensures that all finance staff are trained on and compliant with CISP anti-fraud and corruption requirements and escalate any allegations of suspected mismanagement of funds.
• Regularly reviews project financial management manual in line with laws and proclamations and ensures that all staff are compliant with the requirements by arranging training as necessary during induction.
• Guide the Human Resources team in policy procedure establishment, interpretation, and maintenance and ensure employment and compensation practices are competitive and compliant with the labor proclamation.
• Provision of financial report and support to Budget Control Officer and others with financial responsibilities within the Organization
• Perform any other duties as assigned by an immediate supervisor.

Behavioral & Accountability

• Accepts and gives constructive criticism
• Follows all relevant procedures, processes, and policies
• Meets deadline, cost, and quality requirements for outputs
• Monitors own work to correct errors
• Takes responsibility for meeting commitments and for any shortcomings

Continuous Learning

• Demonstrates interest in improving relevant skills
• Demonstrates interest in acquiring skills relevant to other functional areas
• Keeps abreast of developments in own professional area

Communication

• Actively shares relevant information
• Clearly communicates, and listens to feedback on, changing priorities and procedures
• Writes clearly and effectively, adapting wording and style to the intended audience
• Listens effectively and communicates clearly,

Creativity and Initiative

• Actively seeks new ways of improving programs or services

Planning and Organizing

• Identifies priority activities and assignments for self
• Organizes and documents work to allow for planned and unplanned handovers
• Identifies risks and makes contingency plans
• Adjusts priorities and plans to achieve goals
• Allocates appropriate times and resources for own work

Professionalism

• Identifies issues, opportunities, and risks central to responsibilities
• Treats all colleagues with respect and dignity
• Works effectively with people from different cultures by adapting to relevant cultural contexts
• Knowledgeable about and promotes CISP’s core mandate.

Teamwork

• Actively contributes to an effective, collegial, and agreeable team environment
• Contributes to, and follows team objectives
• Seeks input and feedback from others
• Actively supports and implements final group decisions
• Takes joint responsibility for team’s work

III. Requirements

• B.Sc. or MSc. in Accounting &/or Finance, Economics, and related field;
• Minimum of 6 years relevant experience for B.Sc. and 4 years for MSc. with a thorough understanding of non-governmental international cooperation.
• Experience in finance of international funded program or relief effort of similar size and scope of different donors such as AICS, ECHO, EHF, BHA ecc…
• Experience in complex emergencies, including humanitarian emergency response and understanding of relevant local laws, regulations and policies is required. Knowledge of IFRS and IPSASA accounting standards is commendable.
• Evidence of strong budgeting, reporting, and organizational skills required.
•  Proficient in Amharic and English Language. Knowledge of Italian language would be a plus.

IV Competencies/Technical Skills

• Good knowledge of Development project Management/Coordination.
• Track record of successful work experience and results in project management in NGOs setting
• Result oriented and team player,
• Knowledge and understanding of Project Cycle Management (PCM),
• Excellent computer skills: Microsoft Office, MS Project,
• Proficiency of English, Somali and Amharic,
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality
• Commitment to values and working styles of CISP
• Excellent interpersonal skills – builds good relationships with internal and external stakeholders and maintain effective collaboration with all staff,
• Ability to manage a complex and demanding workload,
•  Ability to travel within the country whenever required