Title:Programme Accountant

Organization:Forum for Education NGOs in UGANDA (FENU)

Reports to:Executive Director

Duty Station:Kampala, Uganda

About FENU:

Forum for education NGO’s in Uganda (FENU) is a national coalition of civil society agencies that demonstrates and stands for education rights for all people in Uganda. Founded in 2001, FENU is guided by the global commitments on education namely; Education for all goals and the Millennium development goals.

Job Summary: The Accountant will offer management accounting support to the designated projects in line with FENUs financial policies and procedures and donor grant agreements. The job holder will ensure effective utilization of project funds according to FENU policies, procedures and donor guidelines.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Prepare annual budgets for projects by determining funds available for the budget, determining activities scheduled for the year and their cost and translating these to operational budgets and in the FENU format.
  • Prepare budgets for new proposals and monitor them against performance.
  • Monitor Cash balances per project.
  • Continuously mentor Assistant Programme Accountants and interns to prepare quality donor reports, guidance in finance policies and procedures and interpretation of the SOP's.
  • On a month by month basis, review the performance of all Cost Centers with a view to improvement and clean ups.
  • Attend and address customer care needs by handling any emerging complaints from programme staff and suppliers.
  • Document Tracker Monitoring on a daily basis to ensure they are processed within the stipulated time .
  • Make sure that all Purchase Requisitions are approved and processed without undue delay and that they fall within budget limits and work plan.
  • Offer operational technical support to the projects especially the Project Managers on expenditure management including: Short-term action plans and expenditure scheduling, Processing, approval and coding of expenditure (claims, imprests, surrenders, field office returns and purchase requisitions) and internal recoveries in accordance with approved work plans and budgets.
  • Organize regular review meetings with Programme and Project staff to resolve and discuss various financial and accounting issues and queries.
  • Prepare periodic budgetary control statements to determine financial performance of the relevant Programme and individual projects within the Programme. Prepare and compile donor financial statements and reports and call down requests as specified in the respective grant agreements and other internal financial reports.
  • Source for funds by identification of project funding needs and gaps and recommendation of action plans regarding the same.
  • Prepare monthly progress report to the management on project funding status and cash management.
  • Assist with systematic and ad-hoc analysis of project costs as a basis for evaluation, budgeting and operational research studies.
  • Seek ways to improve timeliness and quality of service provided by finance and assist in systems improvement.
  • Actively in external audits by providing auditors with accounting documents as requested and providing explanations for audit queries.
  • Review of monthly income and expenditure statements with project staff.
  • Attend Tender committee meeting and Evaluations.
  • Attend Interviews during recruitments.
  • Perform any other duties delegated from time to time by management.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

  • The ideal candidate must hold A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Finance or a closely related area.
  • Possession of a Professional qualification CPA (U), ACCA, finance or closely related area.
  • Practical experience in project, financial and management accounting.
  • Computer literacy skills
  • At least three years’ experience preferably in an NGO setting.
  • Past exposure and experience in Quick Books accounting system
  • Possess the ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
  • Highly flexible in handling work assignments and ability to perform under pressure.
  • Exhibit commitment to quality and thoroughness.
  • High degree of integrity and confidentiality.
  • Empathy.
  • Commitment to quality and thoroughness.
  • Non-judgmental approach in human relations.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and management of Conflict in the workplace, communication skills both written and verbal, influencing, facilitation and negotiation skills and be computer literate.

How to Apply:

If you would like to join a dynamic team and help bring lasting change in the education sector in Uganda, please send a copy of your updated CV, together with a cover note/application letter, which should include evidence of competence against key criteria, remuneration requirements and contact details of three recent work-related referees, addressed to the Executive Director, FENU by email to Emails should not exceed 2MB.

Application should be received not later than 05:00 pm on Thursday 1 May 2014

NB:Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.