Project Accountant  – SHE LEADS

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  – SHE LEADS
Functional Area	Finance
Reports to	Senior Grants Accountant
Location	Country Office	Travel required	Frequent across the Project areas of operation including Kamuli and Buyende
Effective Date	February 2021	Grade	C1

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years and are now active in more than 70 countries.

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

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

1. 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 Manager.
• Support accurate project cash forecast process as per donor requirement

1. 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 Manager 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

1. Grants and Compliance:

• Manage all project audits and also implement all audit recommendations
• Ensure adherence by partners 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

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Education

• A degree in Finance and Accounting, Business Administration, Accounting and other related discipline
• Professional qualification in accountancy (CPA, ACCA)

Knowledge & Experience

• At least 3 years’ experience in finance and accounting position with an International Non-Governmental Organisation – INGO.
• Experience in grants management

Skills

• Strong analytical skills
• Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant accounting software package such SAP, QuickBooks, SUN systems, etc.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent knowledge in financial Reporting,
• Pays Attention to Detail and Deadline-Oriented.
• Financial compliance management
• Training and capacity building skills

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Project Manager
• Country Finance Manager
• Senior Grants Accountant
• Project coordinators of the partner organisations

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• Typical office environment

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.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

This position has been classified as “Mid contact”: Occasional interaction with children.

Safeguarding Children & Young Peoples Policy (mandatory for all staff)

• Adhere to the Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and reporting any CPP issues.

• Responsible for the implementation of the CPP standards as they apply to area of responsibility plus the development of actions to address identified gaps and monitoring their effectiveness.
• Ensure that all Plan International partners, visitors and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with, are made aware of and have signed and returned a copy of the child protection policy. Inform the partners, visitors and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Children and Young People Safeguarding (CYPS) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 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.

Location: Kampala

Type of Role: 1 year fixed term  contract ( Renewable)

Reports to: Senior Grants Accountant

Grade: C1

Closing Date: 8th February 2021

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

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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