Project Accountant- Lego Playful Futures Project

The Organisation

 

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

 

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

 

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

 

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

 

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

Title	Project Accountant (Playful Futures)
Functional Area	Finance
Reports to	Senior Grant Accountant
Location	Kampala	Travel required	Yes
Effective Date	1st October 2021	Grade	C2

ROLE PURPOSE

The Project Accountant works together with the finance team in the program area to support achievement of finance roles on a timely basis. S/he performs project budgeting and expenditure monitoring in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and donor contractual requirements and as per Plan policy.  S/he serves as both financial management and compliance resource to the project staffs.

Dimensions of the Role

• Playful future project Budget management, expenditure monitoring, financial reporting and contract matters to ensure timely and effective implementation of project activities.

Accountabilities

1. Budget management and monitoring

• Support in the annual budget preparations for the project.
• Participate in annual work planning process with a focus on budget preparation ensuring that all allowable costs are captured, have appropriate unit costing and that the budget aligns to activity plans
• Develop monthly tracking tool to facilitate checking of donor compliance in respect to budget utilization and ensure the threshold is adhered to
• Reconcile the project finance and grants modules and ensure that all WBSs are linked to the grant

 

2. Cash disbursements:

• Process cash disbursements upon completion of authorization and post in the system
• Create internal orders for partner advance disbursements
• Carry out partner expenditure verifications and liquidate costs that are in line with the guidelines
• Prepare journals in the system for cash receipts, bank charges, prepayments and accruals
• Periodic Monitoring of project transactions and flag any possible over runs to the Project Coordinator/Manager.
• Support accurate project cash forecast process as per donor requirement

 

3. Financial Reporting

• Prepare and submit timely and accurate financial reports in accordance with donor reporting requirements
• Analyse financial reports and provide recommendation to the Project Coordinator on future forecasts and planning.
• Reconcile the finance and grants module reports to ensure that no NRGRANT transactions remain outstanding at end of period
• Ensure that all apportioned and PU operational costs are recovered by end of period

 

4. Grants and Compliance:

• Manage all project audits and also implement all audit recommendations
• Ensure adherence to financial controls, donor compliance, processes and procedures
• Provide training and other financial management & compliance capacity building initiatives to project team and local partners as necessary to ensure compliance and audit readiness

Dealing with Problems:

• Managing a budget that is utilized by staff he/she doesn’t directly supervise

 

Child Protection and Gender Equality & Inclusion

 

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

 

Key relationships

The Project Accountant closely works with:

• Senior Grants Accountant: Consultation on grants reporting and any system reporting issues
• Program Area Finance Manager: Support the department on other finance work
• Country Finance Manager: sharing of financial reports and budget changes and performance
• Project Director: to follow up on budget implementation/management and any inquiry/ input on the financial reports and also in regard to finance and budget management
• Grants compliance specialist: to ensure grants compliance requirements are adhered to and any other grants related matters.

LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

 

Leadership Competencies

 

• Set and communicate ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to Plan International’s purpose.
• Set high standards for self and others’ behaviour, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out.
• Hold self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively.
• Create a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do.
• Collaborate with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.
• Motivate and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them utilize their potential.
• Accept change and support others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

 

Business Management Competencies

 

• Understand relevant sectorial context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, and global strategy
• Manage legal and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection, Gender equality and inclusion, Counter Fraud, Safety and Security
• Manage Playful futures project activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organising, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management
• Manage people and information including skills in assessment and coaching, evidence-based management, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills.

 

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree (hons) in Commerce or Business administration majoring in accounting
• Previous experience in grants management.
• Part professional qualification in accountancy (CPA, ACCA) at intermediate or affiliate level.

Skills

• 3 – 5 years’ experience in a similar role working in a computerized accounting office in an NGO set up.
• NGO experience is an added advantage
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant accounting software package such SAP, QuickBooks, SUN systems, etc.

 

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

 

We are inclusive and empowering

 

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment

• Typical office environment

Level of contact with children

 

• Occasional interaction with children

 

Location: Lira

Type of Role:  1year Fixed Term

Reports to: Senior Grant Accountant

Salary:  C1

Closing Date:10TH SEPTEMBER 2021

 

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

 

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

 

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

 

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

 

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

 

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

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