The Ugandan Jobline

Job
Title:         Financial Analyst (Several
Job Placements)

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US
Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary Grade: UGX 145,734,783 – 214,194,284 per
annum (FSN 11)

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed
diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years.  Ambassador Deborah R.
Malac currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda.  The Mission is composed
of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the
Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda
are:

• United
  States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Centers
  for Disease Control (CDC)
• Peace
  Corps

Job Summary:  The Financial Analyst (FA) is
part of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and reports to the Supervisory
Financial Analyst. S/he provides professional financial management advice on a
broad range of financial management issues to the Controller, Mission
Management, Development Objective (DO) teams, and various governmental and
non-governmental partner institutions, as well as to potential partner
institutions which implement an array of complex development activities. As OFM
representative to the DO team to which s/he is assigned, the FA performs
necessary analyses and provides appropriate advice on financial, accountability
and risk management issues related to planning and implementation of
USAID/Uganda’s program funded activities with an estimated annual program
budget of $450 Million in one of the most corrupt countries in the world. The
FA will provide financial tracking and analysis of USAID resources to ensure
better financial monitoring and minimize fraud risk. The FA will specifically
be responsible for audits, financial reviews, pre-award assessments, control
environment and risk assessments, cost effectiveness assessments, and closeout
reviews, all of which have been less rigorous than necessary due to staffing
shortages in OFM. The FA will assist in assessing Government of Uganda (GoU)
public financial management and procurement systems and provide oversight of
third party monitoring services.

The FA acts as the “one stop” customer service
representative between OFM and numerous internal and external customers,
including Senior Mission Management; Host Country agency representatives,
private sector service providers; implementing partner organizations; and other
international donor agencies regarding financial analysis and accounting for projects
implemented by the Mission.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

Portfolio Financial Management, Analysis, Monitoring
and Advisory Services – (60%)

• Provide
  professional financial advice to USAID/Uganda Mission management personnel
  on a range of issues related to the financial management aspects of
  proposed activities, such as estimated costs and required budgets;
  internal controls; fiduciary risk management and compliance; and other
  issues.
• Contribute
  to USAID’s decision and policy making process by providing recommendations
  and suggestions for improving operational efficiencies, financial
  management practices, and the accuracy of financial reporting.
• Provide
  technical guidance on U.S. federal government and USAID rules and
  regulations to the technical DO teams, implementing partners,
  non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and host government officials.
• Prepare
  the financial aspects of project design and procurement planning
  documents, such as budgets and financial plans for Implementation Letters,
  Grant Agreements, and other relevant implementing mechanisms.
• Participate
  in the performance of financial reviews, pre-award assessments,
  organizational capacity assessments and compliance reviews. This includes
  control environment and risk assessments, cost effectiveness assessments,
  disbursement reviews, indirect cost rate reviews, pre-closeout and
  closeout reviews on USAID funded organizations to determine the levels of
  accountability and adequacy of control environments within those entities.
  Prepare reports on their detailed findings and issue these reports both to
  internal and external stakeholders. Subsequent to these reviews,
  consistently follow up on the findings until they are closed.
• Perform
  reviews of financial terms and conditions on project agreements, project
  implementation orders, GLAAS requisitions, contracts, purchase and
  delivery orders, and lease and grant agreements for compliance with
  applicable rules, regulations, and procedures relating to accounting and
  fund controls. Monitor the execution of such documents to ensure
  compliance with financial plans and report on the financial status of
  those instruments to the Controller, the DO teams and Team Leaders.
• Serve
  on the DO team, representing the Controller in accordance with delegated
  authorities, and providing the full range of advisory services, including
  periodic portfolio and/or project implementation reviews, procurement
  planning exercises and other such activities.
• Prepare
  and present the quarterly financial reviews to the DO teams, providing in
  depth analysis and insight to ensure DO team leaders and team members are
  aware of any issues related to pipeline positions, spend plans and
  obligation plans.
• Guide
  and coach the A/COR on the development of accruals. Prepare and present
  the quarterly financial reviews bringing to light areas of concern to the
  technical teams; identifies and recommends adjusting entries to the
  accountants to bring the project/program pipelines into accurate levels;
  investigates any variances between projections and actual disbursements or
  accrued expenditure; and provides the results to Activity Managers.
• Conduct
  financial management training for USAID implementing partners and
  recipients as part of capacity building, and hold workshops where specific
  challenges faced in financial implementation are shared by implementing
  partners and action plans developed to mitigate or address the challenges.
• Provide
  training to senior project staff responsible for financial implementation
  of USAID-funded programs.

Lead Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform
Initiatives and Capacity Building – (30%)

• Participate
  and advise Mission senior management and staff in the efforts set forth by
  the Agency related to Public Financial Management (PFM) System reforms to
  use local partners. This includes advising Mission management on the
  reliability and/or weaknesses of host country systems, the effectiveness
  of the underlying internal controls, and providing possible recommendations.
  He/she identifies or coordinates the capacity building needs endorsed
  and/or determined from assessments conducted on the Host Government
  Agencies, both at the National and Local Levels, develops an Action Plan
  or a SOW to address those, and oversees implementation.
• Through
  agreements between the Government of Uganda and USAID/Uganda, design and
  implement reforms to create independent and transparent public finance
  institutions, budgetary and treasury processes, audit and performance
  evaluations of public finances and unbiased data and information
  dissemination.
• Manage
  USAID/Uganda’s assistance and investments on PFM-related activities,
  working directly with the Host Country Government Officials, including
  Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI), Ministry of Finance, Treasury,
  Judiciary, Internal Audit Institutions, civil societies and the private
  sector associations.
• Advise
  and assist USAID/Uganda’s Mission Office Chiefs and the Front Office on
  all cross-cutting PFM issues impacting the Mission’s assistance portfolio
  and program implementation.
• Coordinate
  with the DO team to design, procure, implement and manage USAID/Uganda’s
  authorized government to government (G2G) activities in compliance with
  ADS 220. Responsible for developing the activity scope to provide
  reasonable assurance that identified fiduciary risk(s) that might result
  from the use of GoU systems are low or can be mitigated appropriately. The
  FA will specifically be responsible for:

• Developing
  the scope of work to ensure that the PFMRAF Stage 2 Risk Assessment will
  cover the key areas such as the Budgetary System and Budget Execution,
  External Audit, Procurement Human Resources and Payroll, Ordering
  goods/services & payment of invoices, Control Environment and the
  Information Technology.
• Selecting,
  coaching, and preparing the in-house Stage 2 risk assessment team if
  authorized by the Mission, guiding the team throughout the process, and
  coordinating the risk assessment program with the counterpart agencies and
  GoU officials.
• Devise
  technical specification to engage an outside contractor, assisting
  contracting officer with procurement details including the subsequent
  technical evaluation of the cost proposals submitted, and performing A/COR
  duties of all outsourced assessments.
• Formulating
  risk mitigation and capacity building frameworks and plans to address
  identified fiduciary risks and control weaknesses.
• Perform
  Government Agreement Technical Representative (GATR) duties in relation to
  G2G activity implementation.
• May
  be seconded to the host country government relevant ministry for capacity
  development activities.

Manage the Mission’s Enterprise Risk Management,
Internal Control and Audit Management (10%)

In line with the Agency’s Audit Management and Resolution
Program and accountability requirements, the FA acts as the Audit Management
Officer’s designee for the assigned portfolios and assists Technical Offices in
meeting their audit management responsibilities. This includes responsibility
for planning, executing and coordinating the annual financial and performance
audits of USAID/Uganda assistance programs and projects in consultation with
the Regional Inspector General’s office in Pretoria, South Africa as needed per
the ADS.

Ensure compliance with USAID audit requirements for all
contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements. S/he formulates and maintains
the Mission’s annual audit management plan and audit inventory, which includes
following-up on the receipt of audits from contracted audit firms, and also
involves tracking the progress of open recommendations. The FA will be
responsible for:

• Providing
  guidance to auditees and audit firms in consultation with RIG/Pretoria to
  ensure full compliance with USAID audit requirements. Follows up on the
  audit process until the final audit report is accepted and issued by
  RIG/Pretoria. This involves working closely with implementing partners,
  auditors and RIG/Pretoria to provide required support and guidance.
• Serving
  as the contracting officer representative (COR) with the Certified Public
  Accounting Firms, supervising the coordination of pre-audit surveys,
  performed by the CPAs and the subsequent technical evaluation of the cost
  proposals submitted by the CPA firms. This also entails: drafting the
  scopes of work; reviewing final reports for each audit; conducting initial
  desk reviews draft audit reports; chairing and coordinating the entrance
  and exit conferences for all financial audits, and being directly accountable
  to the Audit Manager Officer (Controller) and MCRC; supervising and
  coordinating audit field work and reviewing audits for adequacy and
  compliance with requirements as specified in OMB-Circulars.

Serve in a rotating role of coordinator for all Mission
Control Review Committee (MCRC) related issues and findings by tracking and
monitoring actions required to strengthen internal controls in the Mission.
He/she is the Controller’s delegated leader of the annual Mission’s Enterprise
Risk Management (ERM) review exercise and the review of internal control
systems as required by the Federal Manager’s Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA).
This includes:

• Implementing
  appropriate Mission internal control framework to prevent waste, fraud and
  abuse of USG resources and safeguarding of all USG investments in
  Mozambique and assets at the Mission’s disposal.
• Managing
  Mission FMFIA process (risk assessment and deficiency identification) by
  utilizing Agency supported URIC A tool and any future updates. Training
  technical and other support offices staff on using the URICA tool and
  documenting the results of the risk assessment and deficiency Corrective
  Action Plans (CAPs), and monitoring CAPs completion and closure
• Organizing
  the Mission MCRC meetings, acting as the secretary of the MCRC board, and
  keeping minutes of meetings/discussions.
• Coordinating
  with the Mission Director to provide FMFIA certification and reporting the
  results of Mission’s FMFIA and CAPs to the Office of the Chief Financial
  Officer (CFO) in Washington.
• Responsible
  for maintaining and updating the list of approved and eligible audit
  firms, leading the process to add new firms.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

NOTE:  All applicants must address
each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive
information supporting each item.

• The
  applicants for the United States US Embassy Financial Analyst job
  opportunity should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or
  Business Administration 
• At
  least five (5) to eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience
  in professional financial analysis, accounting or auditing is required.
• A
  thorough knowledge and understanding of generally accepted accounting
  principles (GAAP) and generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS);
  principles and accepted practices of Ugandan governmental and business
  institutions with regards to finance, accounting, budgeting and reporting;
  as well as governmental and not-for-profit accounting, budgeting and
  reporting;
• In-depth
  professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts and
  practices, especially as they relate to performing audits of development
  programs and projects;
• A
  thorough knowledge of USAID activity design, development, implementation
  and evaluation processes is essential for full performance level;
• Knowledge
  of Public Financial Management systems, Committee of Sponsoring
  Organizations Internal Control Framework, International auditing standards
  and related areas.
• Excellent
  skills and abilities in performing audits (financial and programmatic),
  internal control assessments, financial reviews, compliance reviews, etc.;
• Ability
  to perform sophisticated analysis of management controls and capabilities
  of partner/beneficiary organizations;
• Ability
  to evaluate financial aspects of activities and programs, institutional
  capacities and capabilities;
• Ability
  to present results and recommendations to a broad audience, both orally
  and in writing;
• Excellent
  interpersonal skills are required, as incumbent will frequently be working
  with the officials and staff of the Host government, Contractors,
  Grantees, and others who may be unfamiliar with USAID’s programming and
  budgeting process;
• Exceptional
  verbal communication skills to be able to explain and interpret GoU
  attitudes, priorities and concerns to USAID officials, and to negotiate
  financial management and audit issues with appropriate GoU organizations
  and/or USAID implementing partners, technical advisors, counterparts, and
  peers;
• Excellent
  writing skills to prepare regular audit reports to the Regional Inspector
  General of USAID;
• Ability
  to work effectively in a Team environment, and to achieve consensus on
  policy, program/project, and administrative matters;
• Strong
  computer skills including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as capacity
  to effectively understand financial management and tracking systems, and
  to process data that form the heart of the tasks performed in this
  position.
• Language
  Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) English language proficiency
  in speaking and writing is required.

How to Apply:

All those interested in working with the US mission in
Kampala should send their applications and strictly adhere to the following:

• A
  signed DS-174 Employment Application for Locally Employed Staff or Family
  Member, Click
  Here
• Cover
  letter clearly indicating the position for which you are applying and
  describing how you meet the minimum requirements
• A
  Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• Copies
  of Academic Transcripts
• Names,
  contact numbers, and e-mail addresses of three (3) professional
  references. At least one of the references must be a prior or current
  direct supervisor.

Submit Application To:

Human Resources Office

By email at KampalaHR@state.gov

NB: Your application will be reviewed
if you have fulfilled all the requirements including submission of standard
file types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) in a single
attachment (No Zipped files, Links or Multiple Attachments) and should not
exceed 10MB. Please clearly indicate the position number and title you are
applying for on the DS-174 form.

Deadline: 24^th January 2020

The US Mission in Kampala provides equal opportunity and
fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to
race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political
affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.  The Department of
State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel
operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or
find us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Related Jobs