Sr Project Officer- Grants and Contracts (4 Positions)

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia’s most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS’ disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS’s humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes equality and inclusion, and mitigates the impact of COVID-19.

As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following position.

Job Title:                     Senior Project Officer- Grants and Contracts

Band:                           VIII

Required number:        Four

Department:                 Programs

Employment Term:      Definite term (i.e., up to September 30, 2028 )

Reports To:                  Chief of Party-Ethiopia Seed Activity

Country/Location:        CRS Ethiopia/Addis Abba

Application Deadline:   August 29, 2023

Job Summary:

You will help coordinate and contribute to the implementation of the USAID Feed the Future-funded Ethiopia Seed Activity policies and procedures in compliance with CRS’ established accounting standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements to support high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will efficiently perform accounting services through documenting the project financial transactions by compiling, analyzing, and verifying account information and delivering grants management and financial reporting services throughout the project life cycle. You will also support the effective and efficient management of the project’s innovation and business acceleration fund (IBAF). You will promote good stewardship of project resources; help ensure principled compliance; proactively identify financial and operational risks; and lead operational improvements.

Job Responsibilities:

• Set and monitor sound accounting and financial reporting procedures for project subrecipients and partners; external consultants; and IBAF recipients following established standards. Ensure setup and maintenance of all data required for processing financial transactions for assigned project accounts in Insight’s financial accounting package.
• Review and validate supporting documentation before processing of financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete and authorizations are in place.
• Record financial transactions following appropriate authorizations. Review and analyze various accounts to detect irregularities. Advise on corrective actions and prepare correcting entries and adjustments, as necessary.
• Assess, evaluate and monitor subrecipient financial management processes in accordance with policy and strengthen capacity of partner in financial accounting and transactions.
• Monitor disbursement/receipt schedules, alert the Chief of Party of due payments/liquidations, and maintain appropriate communication and follow-up to facilitate timeliness of financial resource management and compliance with set deadlines.
• Prepare various periodic and ad hoc financial reports and perform variance analysis to assist ESA project staff with decision-making. Assist with budget maintenance for proper management of financial resources.
• Provide information to project staff, subrecipients, and partners on financial accounting policies and procedural compliance issues and deliver training and other capacity building activities.
• Ensure timely and high-quality preparation of budgets/revisions, cash projections, accruals, expense reports and all other requested financial documentation of the project for internal and donor use.
• Coordinate compliance with agency and donor requirements and local laws and regulations through periodic systems checks, review and assessment of financial/operations policies and procedures. Coordinate response to issues that emerge from internal and external audits and provide guidance to implement improvements

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA or equivalent).
• Minimum of two years experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international or local NGO, or a financial/banking institution.
• Understanding of financial systems, including budgeting and budget/expense analysis experience preferred. Knowledge of accounting software or similar financial reporting software a plus.
• Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations.
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Personal Skills

• Good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

 Required Languages – Professional level proficiency in written and spoken English is required.

 Travel Required – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% of time.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Internal: ESA Chief of Party and project technical staff; CRS Ethiopia program and operations staff, Regional Finance Officer

External: ESA consultants, ESA national and international partners, IBAF recipients

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

·       Trusting Relationships

·       Professional Growth

·       Partnership

·       Accountability

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

·       Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.

·       Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.

·       Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.

·       Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.

·       Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

 Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.