Project Accountant At Iita - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
full-time
Duties
Three-Country Financial Coordination and Oversight:
Coordinate the financial management and reporting requirements of I-Youth 2.0 across Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Serve as the central finance focal point for coordination between the project management team and country-level finance/admin personnel.
Establish and maintain mechanisms for the timely collection, review, consolidation, and submission of financial information from the three countries.
Ensure consistency in the application of project financial procedures, reporting requirements, and financial controls across country operations.
Coordinate country-level financial reporting calendars and ensure timely submission of financial information required for project management and donor reporting.
Review country-level financial information and identify discrepancies, unusual expenditure patterns, budget pressures, unsupported costs or other financial management issues requiring corrective action.
Consolidate country-level financial information for program-wide management reporting and financial analysis.
Facilitate cross-country learning and consistency in financial management practices while recognizing applicable country-specific regulatory and institutional requirements.
Budget Management and Financial Analysis:
Monitor project budgets and expenditure across the three countries against approved work plans, budgets, and implementation schedules.
Prepare regular budget-versus-actual analyses and identify significant variances, emerging budget pressures, and under-utilization of funds.
Provide financial analysis to support project management decision-making, work planning, reprogramming, and resource allocation.
Monitor project commitments, obligations, expenditure trends, and available balances across countries and project components.
Prepare cash-flow projections and funding requirements based on approved implementation plans and projected expenditures.
Advise project management on the financial implications of planned activities and proposed changes to implementation schedules or resource allocation.
Support budget revisions and reprogramming exercises by providing accurate financial analysis and supporting information.
Financial Reporting and Donor Accountability:
Lead the consolidation and preparation of periodic project financial reports for management review and submission to the relevant institutional and donor platforms.
Coordinate financial inputs from Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to ensure completeness, accuracy, consistency, and timely reporting.
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including expenditure summaries, budget-versus-actual analyses, cash-flow projections, and other management reports.
Coordinate preparation of financial information required for MasterCard Foundation reporting in accordance with approved reporting formats and timelines.
Ensure alignment between financial reports, approved work plans, implementation progress, and narrative reporting.
Review financial data for accuracy and completeness before submission for management review and approval.
Provide financial information and analysis required for project reviews, management meetings, donor engagements, and other strategic discussions.
Financial Controls and Compliance:
Monitor compliance with IITA financial policies, donor financial requirements, applicable country regulations, and approved project procedures across the three countries.
Review country-level financial submissions, expenditure returns, imprest retirements, and supporting documentation to ensure compliance with applicable requirements.
Identify control weaknesses, financial risks, and compliance gaps and recommend appropriate corrective measures.
Follow up on outstanding financial documentation, unsupported expenditure, and other compliance issues with relevant country teams.
Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and adherence to established financial controls within project operations.
Maintain oversight of project financial documentation and ensure that financial records are complete, accurate, properly authorized, and audit-ready.
Keep abreast of relevant donor and country-specific financial and regulatory requirements affecting project implementation and communicate implications to relevant project personnel.
Fund Management and Disbursement Coordination:
Coordinate timely disbursement of project funds to country teams, implementation locations, and approved project partners in accordance with approved work plans and financial procedures.
Monitor utilization of disbursed funds against approved activities, budgets, and implementation schedules.
Coordinate cash-flow requirements from the three countries and consolidate funding requirements for project management and Finance.
Monitor outstanding advances, imprests, retirements, and financial obligations and ensure timely resolution.
Identify potential cash-flow constraints and communicate them proactively to the Finance Manager and project management.
Ensure that project funding is aligned with implementation priorities and approved financial plans.
Country Finance Coordination:
Provide technical coordination and guidance to country-level finance and finance-facing personnel on project financial procedures and reporting requirements.
Establish clear timelines and reporting expectations for country-level financial submissions.
Review and provide feedback on country financial reports and supporting schedules before consolidation.
Coordinate resolution of financial queries arising from country operations.
Facilitate communication between country teams and the central Finance function on project-specific financial matters.
Support orientation and capacity strengthening of country-level staff on project financial management, donor requirements, and financial controls.
Promote consistent application of project financial procedures across Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Procurement and Contract Financial Interface:
Work closely with the Procurement Officer to ensure that procurement and contracting activities have appropriate budgetary and financial coverage.
Review financial implications of procurement and contractual commitments within the scope of the accountant's responsibilities.
Monitor financial commitments arising from major project contracts and procurement activities and ensure appropriate recording and reporting.
Coordinate with Procurement and project teams to ensure that financial documentation required for payment and accountability is complete.
Provide financial information required for procurement planning and project implementation without assuming the procurement function or procurement decision-making authority.
Audit, Assurance and Risk Management:
Coordinate project financial preparations for internal, external and donor audits across the three countries.
Prepare financial schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to audit queries.
Coordinate with country teams to ensure the timely provision of documentation requested during audits and financial reviews.
Track implementation of financial audit recommendations and report outstanding issues to the Finance Manager and project management.
Identify emerging financial risks and recommend measures to strengthen financial controls and accountability.
Maintain an organized and audit-ready financial documentation system for the overall project.
Management Advisory and Decision Support:
Provide the Finance Manager and project management team with timely analysis of the project's financial position and implementation performance.
Highlight significant financial risks, variances, funding gaps, under-utilization, and emerging financial pressures requiring management attention.
Provide financial inputs to annual work planning, project reviews, forecasts, and implementation decisions.
Participate in project management and planning meetings and provide professional financial advice on proposed activities and operational decisions.
Support management in assessing the financial implications of changes in implementation priorities, activity schedules, and resource allocation.
Contribute to the continuous improvement of financial management systems, processes, and controls across the program.
Financial Systems, Records and Data Management:
Maintain accurate and up-to-date project financial records and supporting documentation in accordance with IITA requirements.
Ensure appropriate electronic and physical filing of financial records, contracts, payment documentation, financial reports, and other accountability documents.
Develop and maintain financial tracking tools, reporting templates, and analytical schedules required for effective program-wide financial management.
Promote accurate, timely, and consistent financial data across the three countries.
Support the effective use of financial management and reporting systems for project monitoring and decision-making.
Perform any other duties assigned by the Financial Manager or Program Manager.
Requirements
Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field.
A professional accounting qualification (ICAN, ACCA or equivalent) is an added advantage.
3-5 years of relevant accounting/finance experience, preferably on donor-funded development or agriculture projects is required.
Competencies
The ideal candidate must have:
Working knowledge of accounting software (e.g., Oracle, SAP, QuickBooks, or similar ERP systems) and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Familiarity with donor financial compliance requirements.
Strong attention to detail, integrity, and ability to manage confidential financial information.
Good organizational and time management skills, with the ability to meet reporting deadlines across multiple locations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong financial management and accounting skills.
Sound knowledge of budgeting, financial reporting, and grant management.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
High attention to detail and accuracy.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Ability to interpret financial data and prepare management reports.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other financial management software.