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Job Title:  Finance Officer

Organisation: Self Help Africa (SHA)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Head of Finance and Administration

About Organisation:

In late 2021, Self Help Africa (SHA) and United Purpose (UP) merged. The two organisations – one headquartered in Ireland and the other in Wales – implement projects to end extreme hunger and poverty. This merger doubled our size and reach – and means that in 2022 we are implementing poverty eradication projects in 17 countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Collectively, we are also part of a group that includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, TruTrade and Cumo Microfinance. In 2022 our work will reach more than six million people and invest upwards of €45m in more than 100 development programmes designed to improve food systems, facilitate access to markets and financial services, combat climate change, gender inequality, and improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

Job Summary:   Reporting directly to the Head of Finance and Administration, the Finance Officer is responsible for day to day accounting transactions including bookkeeping, cash accounts, monthly financial reports and bank reconciliations. The Finance Officer establishes and maintains efficient financial systems and control mechanisms to support the smooth running of the operations and ensure compliance with financial rules and procedures.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Finance and Accounting:

• Oversee and guide integrated financial management and reporting.
• Assess, review, and ensure application of finance-related policies, instructions, procedures, etc.
• Provide advice to management regarding the application of financial policies and procedures and, when necessary, coordinate with the Head of Finance and Administration, as applicable, regarding the interpretation of such policies and procedures.
• Ensure accounting records are correct and reliable, including and not limited to timely bank reconciliations, maintenance of open items, timely processing of travel financial transactions, clearance of residual requisitions and purchase order balance.
• In close coordination with the Head of Finance and Administration, support the preparation and review of donor financial reports, and endorse such reports before submission to donors.
• Post in PSF Payment vouchers for both Mobile Money and Bank Accounts, Intercompany payments, fuel reconciliation & expenditure, staff accountabilities, Partner accountabilities, petty cash, prepayments schedule allocating costs to budget
• Ensure monthly and yearly closing and other periodic accounting-related processes within his/her scope of responsibilities are executed in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensure the maintenance and on-going validity of the Delegation of Authority Plan.
• Process of payments, ensuring that all relevant documents are attached and duly approved, e.g. invoices, delivery notes, goods received notes, credit notes, purchase order/ contracts, quotation analysis, quotations, demand forms etc.
• Ensure that payments made are timely and accurate, and applicable month-end and year-end cut-off processes are implemented in line with relevant guidance.
• Supervise the preparation of financial performance reports, monitoring expenditures with respect to approved budgets and work plans.
• Ensure that local bank account administration and associated cash management functions are performed in adherence to financial guidelines.
• Perform financial management and control related to Cash-Based Interventions in adherence to financial guidelines.
• Review and certify vouchers and project disbursements.
• Perform project control functions for the implemented activities.
• Perform physical verification of Assets at least once per year to ensure that all assets are accurately recorded.
• Oversee achieving of financial documents to safeguard financial records and audit trials.
• Review monthly payroll and all the related statutory returns; compute staff separation benefits and ensure periodic Statutory returns are done to ensure adherence to the approved SHA policies, Employment and Tax Laws.
• File all relevant statutory deductions before the deadline WHT, PAYE, NSSF, etc.
• Liaise with respective program and project to assess the financial management of specific partners.
• Assist HoFA in conducting financial training programs for partners involved in the implementation of SHA projects.

Support Audit processes

• Coordinate, review and endorse responses to audit queries from internal and external audits and work with the Head of Finance and Administration to ensure the implementation of accounting audit recommendations.
• Support implementation of strategies and initiatives relating to financial management, internal controls and strengthening of financial management capacity at SHA.
• Assist with other finance and accounting related projects / tasks as assigned.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A professional certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA) or related certification is preferred.
• At least five years of experience in a finance or accounting role.
• Strong technical abilities and up to date knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
• Excellent communication abilities to explain financial data.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to bring accounts to at least Trial Balance stage.

Desirable:

• Experience in the preparation and review of management accounts and the critical analysis of a Trial Balance.
• Experience in the preparation of annual financial statements for audit.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally.
• Experience of working with partner organisations.
• Experience of working with donor funds.
• Experience of and supporting staff.

Critical Proficiencies:

• Excellent verbal, analytical, organisational and written skills
• People management skills
• Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to Self Help Africa’s vision, mission and values
• Excellent ICT skills including a good knowledge of MS Office and accounting software
• Attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate financial reports

How to Apply:

Please download the Application Form, Download Here and fill it in. Qualified candidates should upload a completed application form, motivational letter and CV to the SHA Online Recruitment Portal (Click Here).

Deadline: 3rd July 2024

NB: Please note that Self Help Africa Uganda advocates for equal opportunity and does not require applicants to pay any fee at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification. Please note incomplete applications will not be considered for shortlisting.

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