Programme Accountant

Trócaire works in partnership with local organisations in developing countries and with people in Ireland to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice. Together, we create positive and lasting change. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Our work is rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and our values of Solidarity, Courage, Participation, Perseverance and Accountability.

In Sierra Leone, Trócaire works to achieve climate and environmental justice; ensure women and girls' protection, voice & influence; and save lives and protect human dignity. Trócaire supports work on the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, women's political participation and leadership, sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment, natural resource management and environmental conservation, and humanitarian preparedness and response.

Trócaire works exclusively with local partners and actively supports localised development and humanitarian aid. Supporting local civil society organisations to strengthen their organisational, institutional, financial, technical, and managerial capacities is core to Trócaire's partnership approach in Sierra Leone. Trócaire's Sierra Leone country programme also works closely with, contributing to and drawing support from, Trócaire's global hub on partnership and localisation based in Nairobi, Kenya.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Reporting to Finance and Admin Manager, this is a fixed-term contract for 1 year (potential to renew) based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

This role is subject to a four-month probation.

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct), which outlines the expected behaviours and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives.

Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire's Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. All offers of employment will be subject to pre-employment checks, including satisfactory references and appropriate screening (e.g., police/Garda vetting, counterterrorism and anti-trafficking). Trócaire also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and all employees will be subject to this as part of the contract of employment.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance and Governance in Partner Organisations

• Lead on reviewing partner financial reports alongside programme team members and ensure that Trócaire and donor requirements are being met.
• Lead on reviewing the partner BVA and budget with the partner on a quarterly basis. Revise forecasts and make adjustments as per need.
• Review Trócaire records ensuring that partner financial reporting is up to date and properly maintained, in accordance with Trócaire and donor requirements.
• Lead an ongoing process to appraise partner organisations financial controls and systems in line with the Trócaire partner governance and finance manual. This will include field visits, desk audits and other methods as appropriate. Ensure recommendations are implemented in agreement with the partner.
• Provide support to the finance and accounts departments of partner organisations to enable them to produce and submit accurate expenditure reports. Support will include design of accounting and reporting systems, design of spreadsheets, training and on-going financial guidance.
• Lead on raising partner payments, ensure the monies are in line with the partner MOUs, partners are paid the correct currency and the payment liabilities exist on the financial accounting software.
• Work with the wider Trócaire team to provide tailored and phased financial capacity building support to each of the needs of the partner.
• Participate in all programme team meetings to ensure a full understanding of all programme work and any financial implications arising.
• Ensure a monthly and annual partner capacity building assessment report is submitted to the country programme manager, Finance and Admin Manager and the international accountant.
• Participate in delivering training to partners on compliance with donors' financial requirements.
• In the event of a major issue in relation to financial management at partner level, especially in the management of donor funds, the programme accountant may be required to be deployed to a partner organisation to ensure that financial management and reporting are carried out in accordance with Trócaire and donor requirements.
• Vet and assess potential new partner financial systems and processes.

Financial Control and Reporting

• Lead in the development of quarterly donor reports for all partners and country office finances. Ensure that donor reporting meets all donor financial reporting requirements.
• Lead in 6 monthly project audit preparations in collaboration with partners and external auditors.
• To ensure that the programme team's finance activities meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines as specified by the Finance and Admin Manager.
• Guided by the Finance and Admin Manager, ensure that the relevant Trócaire organisational financial policies and procedures are adhered to and implemented in a standardised manner across all of the country programmes.
• Closely monitor all finance programme activities, keep the country programme manager and the Finance and Admin Manager advised of all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial management.
• Assist with donor, external and internal control audits as required, and in the implementation of recommendations both internally and with partners.
• Assist with investigations into alleged fraud or irregularities at partner organisations.
• Uploading and saving all partner and donor reports and documentation on the system server, Saleforce and in hard copy form in files

Staff Capacity Building

• Provide technical financial advice and expertise to the country programme teams.
• Facilitate and assist the Finance and Admin Manager in providing basic training and guidance to the country program staff for skills improvement in the areas of budget preparation and monitoring, budget revision, reporting, and internal controls.
• Assist in the induction and orientation of country programme staff.

Internal Systems and Processes

• Assist and suggest improvement of work processes and increase efficiency within the programme function.
• Bring to the attention of the country programme manager and the Finance and Admin Manager and any issues arising from the programme team use of the global accounting package (Agresso Business World).
• Assist in the establishment and maintenance of a donor financial management system in order to ensure efficient & accurate reporting to donors.

Budgeting

• Assist the country programme manager and other budget holders in conducting the budget process for the assigned portfolio of partners, ensuring that appropriate levels of technical support and guidance is provided to all budget holders during the process of preparing the budget and subsequent reviews and revisions.
• Review with all programme budget holders monthly reports as available on Agresso Business World and facilitate with programme staff follow up of any issues or variances arising.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Fulfil all other reasonable duties and responsibilities as requested by the Finance and Admin Manager.

Requirements

• Part or Fully qualified accountant (preferably with final exams pending) and/or Bachelor's Degree in Accounting.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in working in an NGO organisation or similar system with at least one year of partner capacity building (coaching, mentoring or training) experience.
• Experience with international donors such as USAID, FCDO, GIZ, EU, Irish Aid grants and their donor requirements.
• Experience working in large consortium.
• Experience in conducting BVAs with partners and Team Leads
• Excellent communication, analytical, coordination and training/ capacity building skills.
• Proven organisation and planning skills.
• Have strong computer literacy skills in word, excel, internet/email and accountancy packages like Quickbooks.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a participative style within teams.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• A commitment to social justice and the ethos of Trócaire.
• High level of reliability, confidentially and honesty.
• Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Empathy with Trócaire's partnership approach and a commitment to partner capacity building.
• Flexible and adaptable to a changing environment.
• Strong interpersonal and team work skills.
• Previous experience of Donor Audits.
• Previous experience of working with multi-donor funded projects.
• Proven record of meeting demanding deadlines.

Benefits

Transport, Rent & Leave Allowances.

Medical, Accident & Life Insurances.

The successful applicant will be expected to sign up to and adhere to Trócaire's Safeguarding Policy.

You can apply for this position online until Friday 14th of April 2023.