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Job Title:   Finance  Assistant   

Organisation: Finn Church Aid (FCA)

Duty Station:  Mityana, Uganda

Reports to: Project Manager

About US:

Finn Church Aid (FCA) is the largest Finnish international aid organization. We operate in 13 countries, where the needs are most dire. We work with the poorest people, regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic background or political convictions. FCA work is based on promotion of human dignity and fundamental human rights and freedom, and FCA’s operations are guided by equality, non-discrimination and responsibility.

In 2021, Finn Church Aid (FCA) with funding from Women’s Bank (WB) established a project ‘Promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Poultry Value Chain in Mityana, Uganda’.  The project aims to enhance economic self-reliance of 600 smallholder women maize farmers by engaging them in the maize/poultry value chain. The project will support 600 farmers with maize farming, initiate structures for maize producer organizations, savings and credit system (VSLA), and upgrade the capacities of the 600 women farmers in both production and business management

Job Summary:  The Finance  Assistant supports the finance section of the project ensuring that accounting systems are maintained to provide the information required for planning and monitoring and reporting for project operations, for safeguarding asset and discharging liabilities in accordance with the FCA Uganda policies and budget provisions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports in overseeing the financial and accounting activities of the project, prepares financial projections in consultation with the Project Manager, Section heads, Project Officers and computes budget/expenditure estimates, and submits bi weekly financial monitoring statements as per available budget.
• Assists in maintaining and enforcing compliance with internal control systems and accounts records for all project financial transactions, and updates all project records in accordance with FCA financial policies, guidelines and procedures;
• Guides the preparation of all project office transaction summaries and ledger entries for posting in the FCA accounting system.
• Ensures that established internal control systems for receipts and expenditures of funds are in place, adhered to and maintained at the project office.
• Reviews periodically existing internal finance and accounts control systems, and where necessary consults Kampala finance team as well as procurement with a view to improving efficiency and effectiveness of current policies and procedures;
• Controls expenditures at project level in consultation with the project Managers, Section heads, Project Officers to ensure that they are made in line with donor requirements and established FCA Uganda guidelines, procedures, cash flow projections, requests, and availability of funds;
• Assist the Preparation of the financial project monitoring reports for submission to donors through Kampala Country Office.
• Prepares and submits realistic and timely cash flow projections to the Senior Finance Officer in consultation with the Project Manager, Section heads, Project Officers and notifies the Senior Finance Officer of impending cash flow shortages;
• Facilitates and coordinates spot checks, verifications and audits, readily avails relevant documents, ensures prompt responses in consultation with the, Project Manager, and Senior Finance Officer and follows-up and implement recommendations made by both internal and external auditors;
• Ascertains that payment vouchers and claims are correct, with appropriate supporting documents attached before submitting them for authorization or endorsement by the Project Manager;
• Prepares budgets and verifies their accuracy and suitability with Project Manager, other project Staff.
• Prepares regular financial updates to guide the project office implementation and expenditure, and checks the monthly financial monitoring statements .
• Checks all supplies requisitions before the project Manager’s authorization, ensures that coding of all financial transactions is correct, and that purchases are carried out in accordance with the FCA policies and guidelines on procurement;
• Liaises with banks, tax authorities, and other financial institutions to ensure that financial position and legal obligations and liabilities are in good standing;
• Ensures that all project staff settle outstanding advances in time, and that staff accounts are settled at termination of service;
• In Consultation with FCA country office, Ensures that all balance sheet items (i.e. cash accounts, bank accounts, personal accounts, debtors, creditors, payroll accounts, etc.) have been reconciled, and a report shared;
• Ensures that any cases of fraud, deceit, scams, financial discrepancies, or errors are promptly reported and dealt with accordingly.
• Ensures that relevant documents for impending audits are readily available, that prompt responses to audit queries are made, and together with the project manager and Area Manager, follows up and implements recommendations made by the auditors and audit management letters in liaison with the Finance Manager;
• Produces a monthly summary of supply requisition notes and purchase orders completed, in-process and outstanding;

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal candidate for the Finn Church Aid (FCA) Finance Assistant job placement should hold a University degree in business administration or commerce with accounting bias is essential.
• Full professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CPA, etc) is desirable.
• Computer literacy and proficiency in accounting software package(s).
• Certificate in supervisory skills, people management and/or leadership skills is an added advantage
• At least three (3) years working in accounts and/or finance field in a reputable firm, public body or NGO.
• High integrity, self-driven and able to set own work schedule with rigorous deadlines.
• Ability to initiate and complete assignments and to work under demanding circumstances with minimal supervision.
• Strong organization, supervisory, problem-solving, interpersonal, communication as well as team building and negotiation skills.
• Fluent in Luganda.
• Ability to initiate and complete assignments and to work under demanding circumstances with minimal supervision.
• Strong organization, supervisory, problem-solving, interpersonal, communication as well as team building and negotiation skills

How to Apply:

Please attach a cover letter and a CV (not more than 5 pages) with at least three referees and a daytime telephone contact, addressed to: The Human Resource and Administration Manager, Finn Church AID, Uganda Country Office. P.O. Box 21826 Kampala, Roche Close – Tank Hill Rd, Plot 1495 Muyenga, Uganda. Ugaco.hr@kua.fi Email applications should be in one file attachment (Ms Word or PDF) mentioning the position title in the subject. Please do not attach academic documents when you apply online

Deadline: 10th February 2022.

N.B:

• Finn Church Aid is committed to keeping children safe at all times & all levels of its program operations, so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from all forms of abuses.
• Employment is subject to our Child protection standards, adherence to Child Safeguarding Policy including background checks.
• FCA does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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