JOB ADVERT: Project Accountant

Location: Maroua, EN, CM

Company: Plan International

Plan International is an independent non-profit development and humanitarian organization 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 is 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 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Cameroon is seeking to recruit interested candidates to fulfill the position of Project Accountant that will provide support to the country's accounting and the grant project Coordinators/Managers in the field and Country Office and ensure the cost recovery from grants and capacity building of non-accounting staff are performed.

Please to note that this is a local contract under Cameroon Labour Law.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Country Finance Manager or the Business Analyst, the Project Accountant will have to perform the below main activities:

• Business planning processes
• Accounting and treasury.
• Financial reporting and analysis.
• Capacity building.

Accountabilities
[This section is critical for clarifying expectations of the role, providing the framework for its relationship with colleagues and providing areas of accountability against which performance can be managed.
This should include a series of brief statements that define the end results required. E.g. drive, contribute, identify, manage, responsible for, advise/coach, build, develop, provide, conduct, oversee, establish, participate etc.
Statements should ideally be worded so that they will lead to thoughts of measurement.  For example, it is better to state something like "achieve maintenance standards" than "undertake maintenance".  The former leads to a measure against the maintenance standards.]

• Participates in the budgeting process and ensures that the budget to be recovered from grants is highlighted and insert in the grant portion of the budget.
• Participate in the review of the grant proposal to ensure that part of the budget is allocated to cover regular Plan expenditures (salaries, rent, utilities...)
• Support the Project Coordinator/Manager in the budget follow up by ensuring that there is no under/over expenditures in the course of the project implementation and all expenditures are processed in   compliance with the donor regulations.
• Produce or retrieve from Plan Software (SAP BI) a monthly Budget Vs Actual and share with the Project team to analyse and correct any inconsistencies before the month is closed.
• Ensure that  journal entries have been prepared in a monthly basis for the salary cost recovery
• Ensure that all the requests related to the project have correct account lines matching with correct activities as mentioned in the mapping sheet ( to map donor lines with Plan International Account lines)
• Ensure that all payments related to the projects are processed on time with accurate data and complete package.
• Prepare the bank reconciliation in case the Project has a specific bank account and point out any irregularity to share with the Country Finance Manager.
• Ensure that grants reports are prepared in compliance with the donor requirements with data matching with Plan International software (SAP)
• Prepare the cost recovery report in a monthly basis based on the approved budget before recording to Plan International software ( SAP)
• Always update the Project Coordinator/Manager on the status of the  cost to be recovered in the project and work with them to propose the use of the budget for Management approval
• Carry out regular field visits to project sites and partners to supervise the implementation of activities in the field and access the internal control systems in place
• Build the capacity of Account Assistant and non-Accounting staff of the project.
• Participate in the annual external audit and liaise with audit team on site to provide responses to their queries.
• Follow up Finance-related audit recommendations.
• Supervise, coach and evaluate performance of a team under her/his supervision.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) 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.

Key relationships

[This section refers to people inside and/or outside of the organisation that the post-holder needs to have contact with, and why. This should include virtual presence.]
Internal

• Grants Project/program Coordinator and managers – High
• Program Technical Advisors - Medium
• P&C Manager – Medium
• Program Support Manager - Medium
• Country Finance Manager – High
• Grants Accountant – High
• Grants Support Manager - Meduim
• Country Accountant – High
• Business Analyst- High
• PUMs- Low

External

• Partners (Medium)
• Service providers (Medium)

High:
High contact with the Country Finance manager, Project team members, Business Analyst and Grant Accountant, for overall grants financial

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

[This section details the skills, knowledge and expertise the postholder will be required to demonstrate in doing the job well.
This should include clear levels of technical expertise and skills that support our work at national, international, and global level.]

Qualification and Experience

• University degree in Accounting/Finance
• At least 3 years’ experience in a similar role or in grants/projects management.
• Fair knowledge of project management
• Good experience and knowledge of accounting and grant funds management regulations and procedures;
• Good experience and knowledge on internal financial controls and procedures.
• Good experience in project reporting requirements and knowledge of Plan’s financial systems and procedures.
• Good team player (ability to work in a team)
• Proficient in Microsoft applications especially spread sheets (excel)
• Good communication skills both oral and written
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver to tight deadlines
• Good in English and French
• Independent minded, objective and demonstrate a sense of integrity.
• Organized, methodical and meticulous
• Innovation and willingness to learn at a faster rate
• Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations
• Aware of impact on others and adjusting own behaviour accordingly
• Tolerant of difference - cultural sensitivity in relation to its impact on HR
• Monthly feedback on time
• Monthly Reporting on time.

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.

NEXT STEP:

To apply for this job, kindly click on "Apply". Your application should include:

• A cover letter
• A comprehensive CV including details of two referees, one of whom should be your current of most recent supervisor

Location: Maroua / Yaounde – Cameroon

Closing date: September 30th, 2018

Plan International Cameroon operates in an equal opportunity environment and actively encourages diversity.  Only applications received in French or English will be treated and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Plan international has a child protection and gender equality policies that are integral part of the recruitment process.