Job family: Roles within this job family develop, manage and support delivering financial aspects of the programme at a local level, through both direct delivery and coordination with external organisations, supported by colleagues who provide the necessary professional, technical and operational services required for the effective and sustainable delivery of Ripple Effect’s programme within Africa.
Dept./Team: Programmes
Reporting to: Project Manager, with a technical reporting line to the Project Finance Officer
Location: Mbarara

Job purpose:
Make payments in response to a variety of different types of requests. Enter all financial data into the main accounting system. Co-ordinate the procurement function. Generally, provide support to all financial transactions at the at the project field offices. Support project staff and partners with understanding and complying with financial policies and procedures

Responsbilities
• Raising payment vouchers in response to various types of requests including invoices and requisitions from vendors and Project staff
• Uploading payments to the online banking platform, and extracting proofs of payment for staff and vendors
• Ensure timely preparation of payment documents
• Receive, receipt and bank all organisation income.
• Posting all transactions to main accounting system
Update entries in accounting system upon receipt of documentation to support initial cash advances
• Ensure filing and safety of all financial records
• Recording transactions in cashbooks
• Facilitation of internal and external auditing, and of any financial review processes
• Support monthly bank reconciliation
• Maintain petty cash and ensure timely replenishment
• Organize for the purchase and delivery of goods to support the office and its work.
• Occasionally attend project field activities
• Provide support to staff and project partners in understanding and complying with SACU and donor’s financial policies and procedures
• Oversee the stores and inventory for the project field office.
Ensure that all procurement and stores paperwork is properly completed and stored.
• Any other assignment by the Supervisor.
• Documentation of learning and best practices
• Contribute to the development of grant proposals as required.

Learning & skills
An advanced diploma in accounting or a degree with a major in accounting. A full/partial professional qualification in ACCA, CPA or equivalent is desirable.
Creativity & reasoning
The role requires a good understanding of the programme activities and how these relate with the accounting and budgeting function.
Communication & interaction
The role requires clear communication skills. One should be able to clearly communicate to the staff on financial matters and to support staff in understanding financial policies and procedures. The role also will involve communicating with other stakeholders including donors, partners and vendors and service providers.
Stewardship
The role should have good level of computer literacy and demonstrated ability to capture data/information using different advanced computer software, produce computer-based reports, read and interpret financial information and interact and respond appropriately to the head office and other Ripple Effect countries through IT media
Judgements & actions
The role works within broad guidelines that include facilitating the project staff and coordinating with the head office, and thus should be able to plan their time accordingly to ensure all areas are supported. The role involves high level of interaction with staff and other project actors for effective technical and advisory role.

One should clearly understand the relationship between the project activities and the budget, and the variances that arise from this relationship, and to ensure that expenditure is within budget, and to be able to relate any variances to future activity and budget reforecasts.
Working environment
To enhance close supervision, the role requires presence in the field, support the Mbarara office and staff located in the other project district sites on financial matters. The role will involve occasional field trips to better understand the programme activities, but also to ensure that financial policies are being followed by staff and partners.
Occasionally, the role may involve traveling to the head office to interact with other finance staff, and support in the preparation of the project’s financial reports.

Personal competencies and talents Status
Education/Qualifications
An advanced diploma in accounting or a degree with a major in accounting or full professional qualification in ACCA, CPA or equivalent.

Experience
• A minimum of 2 years post qualification experience, preferably with an NGO with national presence.
• Experience in petty cash management

• Skills/Abilities
• Computer skills and knowledge in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and any accounting packages
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and internal control procedures.
• Good interpersonal skills
• Full understanding of all technical aspects of the Ripple Effect programme
• Strong people management ability
• Numerate
• Good communication and presentation skills
• Team player
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Able to communicate basic financial matters, especially to non-finance staff

Personal Qualities
• Have empathy with Ripple Effect’s Christian foundation and core values
• An initiator and self-driven
• A team leader, builder and developer
• A broad and mature thinker
• A strategic thinker with an eye for detail
• Creative and innovative
• A team player. Flexible.
• Understands the importance of confidentiality especially for data.

Essential
• Postgraduate training in related field is an added advantage
• Experience in NGO work.
• Experience in using PS Financials
• Experience in use of online banking
• Experience working in a role that supports other (field) offices