Senior Accountant

Job Description

Background

The Government of Ethiopia has received funding from the World Bank through IDA credit and grant to implement a multi-sectoral project “Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict-Affected Communities in Ethiopia”. Overall, the project is led and coordinated by the Federal Project Coordination Unit (FPCU) to be housed in the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The proposed project is structured in four (4) components namely: (i) improvement of access to basic services and economic opportunities for conflict-affected communities (II) strengthening of GBV service delivery and prevention (iii) learning and project management and (iv) and a Zero-dollar Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC). From this, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs has given lead the implementation of one of the project components “Improving Access to GBV Response Services’’ in the period from 2022 to 2026. The aim of this component is the strengthening of short and medium-term GBV response services for survivors of conflict-related GBV within targeted Woredas; the piloting of innovative GBV prevention programming, both as a mechanism to address underlying norms and dynamics that contribute to violence, and to address factors that prevent GBV survivors from seeking care; and strengthening of institutional capacity for coordination, policymaking, and delivery of quality, confidential, and survivor-centered care across the country.

Objective

The objective of the assignment is to obtain the services of a highly qualified Senior Accountant who will undertake the overall financial works of the project at MoWSA.

Scope of the Assignment

Specific duties and responsibilities are:

• In collaboration with the Financial Management Specialist, take part in support the preparation of training materials and provision of training to the accountants at the Federal, Regional, and Woreda levels regarding the proper financial management of the project.
• Ensure that adequate financial management arrangements including (i) budgeting, (ii) flow of funds; (iii) accounting; (iv) computerized accounting systems; (v) chart of accounts; (vi) internal controls (vii) reporting mechanism; (viii) auditing arrangements; and (ix) staffing requirements aimed at producing accurate and reliable information regarding project resources are maintained at MoWSA for the project.
• Support a Financial Management Specialist in the Preparation of MoWSA’s quarterly project Interim Financial Reports (IFRS) in a timely manner and with the required quality to be submitted to MoF for consolidation and submission to the World Bank. Also, manage IFMIS monthly Government reporting as per the requirements.
• Support to ensure that the project budget and disbursement schedules are regularly updated and maintained. Engage in the annual project budget preparation and follow-up execution closely. Provide budget variance analysis in the quarterly IFRs.
• Ensure that proper financial records through IFMIS are maintained at the MoWSA FPIU and implementing regions and woredas.
• Support to produce regular budget monitoring reports with required timeliness and quality.
• Assist the Women and Social Affairs Bureaus/offices in the targeted regions and woredas to submit interim financial reports to the respective regional BoFEDs on time and with the required quality.
• For project audit findings related to MoWSA, provide status reports for actions taken on the findings to MoF for consolidation and submission to the World Bank.  
• Assist Women and Social Affairs Bureaus/offices in project regions in following up and addressing audit findings/queries.
• Monitor compliance of MoWSA with the POM/ Financial Management Manual in regard to financial management issues;
• Perform any other duties assigned by the FPIU Coordinator on financial management issues.

No of post: 1

Type of employment: 1 year with possibility of extension

Salary: As per the MoFs Harmonized project Salary scale

Place of Work: Addis Ababa

Job Requirement

Qualifications and Skills Required

The assignment will require a high level of competence, knowledge, and understanding of project finance issues. The Consultant should therefore possess the following qualifications:

• A minimum of BA Degree in Economics, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Business Management, Public Financial Management or related with a minimum of 6/8 years general experience for Masters and Bachelor degree respectively of which 4 years specific experience in project financing (taxes, charges, levies, fees).
• Excellent command of computer programs and applications with significant capabilities in a computerized database, spreadsheet constructions.
• Excellent change management skills and a strong commitment to sharing expertise and experience in order to develop others (helping others to achieve goals), resolving conflict successfully.
• Knowledge and experience in World Bank Financial Management policies & other donors’ program is an advantage.
• IFMIS Certificate is desired

Management Procedures

• Contractually, the accountant will be accountable to the FPIU Coordinator to whom all reports and deliverables as per the TOR should be submitted. The MoWSA through the FPIU will be responsible to effect all payments to the accountant on a monthly basis based on the accomplishment of planned and expected deliverables with the submission of a comprehensive monthly report.

Level of Effort and Timing

• The assignment is expected to start at the end of November, 2023. The accountant will be based at MoWSA offices in Addis Ababa with occasional travel to woredas and regions.