Finance Assistant

Description

HPI is an equal-opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Heifer Project International in Uganda is set to implement a 5-year project funded by the Master Card Foundation under its program Young Africa Works. The project seeks to improve the socio-economic wellbeing and resilience of young people in the Busoga sub-region by 2029. The project target is to reach 250,000 young people between 16-35 years (70% females and 3% youth with disabilities). The project will achieve this target by facilitating collaboration with like-minded partners including The Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development Limited (CURAD), The Federation of Small & Medium Enterprises (FSME), Financial Sector Deepening Uganda (FSDU) and ASIGMA group.

FUNCTION

The Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment Project Finance assistant will be based at the project regional office and reporting to the SAYE Project Accountant. The job holder will play a significant role in strengthening of core global systems by ensuring proper accounting and reporting of project resources in project implementation. She/ He will support the project finance team in areas of cashiering, records management and ensuring that financial procedures are accurately implemented in accordance with Heifer’s policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS

Detail-oriented, trustworthy, mathematical and accounting Keenness, well-organized, analytical, enthusiastic, accountable, and values-oriented.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

A. Processing of payments and follow up on all project disbursements to ensure timely execution and effectiveness. (30%)

• All project staff requests for funds processed according to Heifer’s operating procedures.
• All finance documents received and recorded in the register book.
• All duly authorized and complete invoices/requests processed within 2 working days majorly using the online banking and mobile money platform.
• Payment confirmation shared with administrator/ requestor within 2 days of processing the payment.
• Provide updates on payments and ensure proof of payment is duly filed.

B.  Working closely with the SAYE accountant to ensure that project transactions are properly coded and registered in Agresso on a daily basis (35%)

• Receive, record and check all invoices and accountabilities from staff/partners for accuracy and completeness.
• Accurately code and register Account Payables & Accounts, Receivables transactions on a daily basis.
• Participate in month end activities and ensure all transactions are recorded by 7th of every month.
• Check accounting discrepancies and recommend corrective measures.
• Review staff accountability expense submissions.
• Report any practice that is contrary to the approved Heifer financial procedures.

C. Manage a functional and organized office finance filling system to ensure that the project documents and records are appropriately filed and secured for easy retrieval. (10%)

• Financial files created for the project.
• All relevant project documents filed on a daily basis.
• Monthly updated partner and hub personnel and tax file.

D. Scanning and uploading vouchers into Agresso and Laserfiche platform (20%)

• All vouchers are scanned daily as per Heifer policy.
• All scans are checked for accuracy and completeness before submission.
• All scans are uploaded into Agresso every week and for month end, all scans uploaded by 9th of every month.
• Mastercard Foundation scans prepared, labelled and categorized as per the Foundations guidelines by 12th of every month.
• All scans including approved partner monthly reports uploaded to Laserfiche.

May perform other duties as assigned (5%)

Minimum Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business administration or its recognized equivalent with three (3) years of experience working in a similar role. Part II qualification of any professional course ACCA, CPA is a must and (3) years ’experience in a non-profit organization.

Most Critical proficiencies

1. Strong numeracy and analytical skills.
2. Excellent organizational and time management skills.
3. Knowledge of the non-profit sector and the context to which non-profit organizations operate.
4. Strong problem-solving skills.
5. Strong English language skills-oral and written.
6. Computer proficient in word processing, spreadsheets, electronic mail software, and knowledge of accounting software (e.g. MS Office Suite, ERP Accounting packages such as Agresso, Sun Systems,
7. Excellent keyboarding skills.
8. Understanding of donor financial policies and procedures.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

1. Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
2. Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with minimum supervision while sometimes meeting inflexible deadlines.
3. May require constant sitting, working at a computer for extended periods of time.
4. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully and diplomatically witj a culturally diverse group of people.
5. Ability to produce accurate documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.
6. May require occasional bending and lifting of upto 20 ounds (9kgs) floor to waist.
7. Ability to operate all standard office equipment including photocopiers, scanners, fax machines and printers.
8. Ability to establish priorities, achieve deadlines and make sound judgments.
9. Ability to perform as an effective team member and work cooperatively with a diverse staff.
10. Constant telephone, face to face and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public.

NOTE: The Mastercard Foundation adheres to the highest standards of care related to its programs, those involved in carrying out its mission, and the millions of young people it supports in accessing dignified and fulfilling work. The Foundation has a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of misconduct and takes seriously its responsibility to improve the safety and well-being of the young people who participate in its programs. This duty of care is shared by the Foundation’s partners. As such, during recruitment of staff for Foundation supported programs, all necessary mechanisms are put in place to ascertain that candidates under consideration share our commitment to safeguarding.

Deadline for Application: 26th February 2023.

Keywords

Finance Assistant