Finance Jobs – Grants and Compliance Specialist at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Organization: Catholic
Relief Services (CRS)
Funding Source: U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID)
Project Name: Sustainable
Outcomes for Children and Youth in Central and Western Uganda
Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda
Reports to: Senior Grants
and Compliance Specialist
About US:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-profit organization
whose commitment is to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas set out by the
Bishops of the United States. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our
mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners
people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our
commitment to serving those in need.
About USAID CRS Project:
CRS will be implementing a “Sustainable Outcomes for Children and
Youth in Central and Western Uganda” project over the next five years. The
Project will improve the health, nutrition, education and psychosocial
wellbeing of vulnerable populations, as well as reduce abuse, exploitation and
neglect to a minimum of 625,000 children and 101,500 households in 17 districts
in central and western Uganda. The consortium partners include Action for
Community Development (ACODEV), African Network for Prevention and Protection
against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), TPO Uganda, and Futures Group. There
will be three project offices: Kampala, Kasese, and Mbarara. Approximately, 30
staff will support this project of $38.5 million through USAID funding.
Job Summary:  The Catholic Relief Services Grants and
Compliance Specialist will be carrying out financial management and accounting
in a professional, efficient, effective, and compliant manner to maintain and
strengthen the effectiveness of the award management life cycle and continue to
earn the confidence of donors. The incumbent will maintain the grant’s files as
required by the donors, responsible for the grant-tracking data base, conducts
monitoring meetings, provides training, oversight and support for the
preparation of reports and documentation required under various grants,
conducts spot checks to ensure that Grants are being tracked correctly; develops
materials to facilitate Grants compliance; reviews fiscal and performance
activities to ensure compliance with statutory, grant and contract
requirements.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities: 
1. Receive and review project monthly reports against the organization
checklist requirements:
  • Regularly check for accuracy, completeness
    and coding of transactions before entering them in the system
  • Review bank reconciliation statements for
    the projects s/he oversees and files them systematically for audit purposes,
  • Provide timely feedback to the concerned
    parties after the review of the accounts received, and advise management
    on compliance issues,
  • Regularly review and post all field data
    for the projects managed under your docket and advice on compliance issues
    and donor requirements.
  • Prepare and submit donor reports on time
    and correctly in conformity with the Donor reporting requirements.
  • Ensure all donor reports are timely
    prepared in their formats and submitted to the Finance and Operations
    Director prior to sending to donors and other stakeholders.
  • Keenly track all donor financial reports
    on their dates for submission and requirements and regularly remind the
    concerned staff about their obligations in reporting,
  • Review and analyse expenditures against
    project budgets.
2. Build staff capacity in Financial and Grant Management:
  • Develop relevant training materials and
    resources.
  • Coach, train and provide technical support
    to partner organizations,
  • Technically support partnership
    identification and identify training needs of partner organizations:
    • Actively monitor partner
      funds disbursements expenditure against approved budgets and transfers
      received
    • Develop and maintain a
      financial database for all partners supported by the project.
  • The incumbent will be supporting both
    Projects and Head Office teams during budget.
    • Support in the preparation of
      country program budgets for head office and field in the formats provided
      and observing budget limits per budget heads.
    • Monitor expenditure against
      the budget.
    • Prepare monthly and quarterly
      reports to monitor expenditure against ; and disseminate this information
      to management and –project
    • Interpret Donor financial
      guidelines to project teams and partner
    • Receive; check the accuracy
      and completeness of project team budgets.
  • Follow up on audit queries and the
    implementation of audit recommendations
    • Periodically follow up with
      project teams on implementation of audit recommendations,
    • Carry out site visits to
      monitor audit implementations,
    • Train and share experiences
      with project and partner teams in areas of weaknesses identified,
    • Actively support the Finance
      Manager in coordination of audits and follow up on their recommendations.
  • Support the M&E Department in
    monitoring projects.
    • Ability to interpret the
      different Log frames (framework)
    • Ability to harmonize the
      individual projects M&E frameworks into the country program.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience: 
  • All suitably qualified and interested
    candidates who so wish to join the CRS USAID Project should hold a Bachelor’s
    Degree in Accountancy or Audit qualification; Proven equivalent experience
    (e.g. from contract compliance management, preferred.
  • At least four years’ experience in
    accounting, finance, grants management or other directly relevant
    experience working with a large NGO, especially USG.
  • Past experience in formulating and
    implementing financial policies and procedures that strengthen grantees’
    internal controls.
  • Providing quality assurance of financial
    management contract compliance.
  • Significant experience of managing
    financial compliance requirements for contracts
  • Sound coordination skills and a
    demonstrated ability to multi-task.
  • Strong personnel management,
    administrative and financial skills.
  • Possess the ability to analyze, interpret
    and communicate clear recommendations in English verbally and in writing
    to decision makers (financial and non-financial).
  • Extremely flexible, and have the ability
    to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, operate within budgets and
    to solve problems.
  • Must be a self-starter, highly organized,
    and able to work well with colleagues at all levels in the organization.
  • Ability to maintain performance
    expectations and strong working relationships in diverse cultural
    contexts, psychologically & physically extreme stressful environments
  • Experience with and enthusiasm for on the
    job training.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
    software (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet) is required.  
  • Desire to work independently and
    effectively in a team oriented environment.
  • All CRS staff should possess the following
    values: Serves with Integrity, Models Stewardship, Cultivates Constructive
    Relationships and Promotes Learning
  • Ability to travel within rural Uganda.
How to Apply: 
All applicants who so wish to join the USAID project should send a
cover letter, updated CV and three work references (names and contact
information only) to ReliefUgJobs@gmail.com
NB: Only selected
candidates that meet the requirements will be contacted.
Deadline: Wednesday, 6th
May, 2015.
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