Accountant - USAID DRM Activity at Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

Position: Accountant - USAID DRM Activity

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Addis Abeba - Ethiopia

Posted date: 1 week ago

Deadline: July, 20/2024 (12 days left)

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years of experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 6,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders in the workforce, address climate change, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, build resilience to climate and man-made shock, and engage the next generation of local leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Project Description

The Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Activity is a five-year USAID-funded program implemented by RTI International. The purpose of the USAID DRM Activity is to strengthen DRM planning and preparedness capacity, improve DRM coordination, enhance resource mobilization and management, and enable timely implementation of anticipatory actions to preempt crises and reduce the impacts of shocks. The activity will also strengthen gender in emergencies (GiE) capacity, increase private sector engagement in DRM, and expand local organizations’ capacity to engage in DRM. The Activity will provide strategic support to DRM institutions in the implementation of Ethiopia’s new Disaster Risk Management Policy and Disaster Risk Finance Strategy.

Position Description

RTI is seeking an Accountant for the USAID Ethiopia DRM Activity. The Accountant will be responsible for ensuring appropriate financial management systems and procedures (payroll, cash management, vendor payments, budgeting, and other related items) are in place to properly disburse, account, budget, and report project funds that are cost-effective, timely, and have proper internal controls.

This position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and will report to the Finance Manager.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional support for the activity’s finance and accounting functions.
• Track expenses and other financial transactions, mainly involving expense entry, tracking, and record keeping.
• Prepare monthly expense reports for the RTI home office.
• Coordinate and consolidate the projection of monthly, quarterly, and annual expenditures and prepare pipeline estimates for the project.
• Reviews project expenditures and financial transactions to ensure they comply with RTI policies and procedures, the terms of the agreement, and donor rules and regulations.
• Issue payments promptly and enter data into QuickBooks daily.
• Coordinate and consolidate the projection of biweekly cash requirements, monitor cash flow, and reconcile cash accounts for and from field offices.
• Perform the cash management functions required in maintaining RTI bank accounts and managing petty cash accounts.
• Follow up with regional offices to ensure bi-weekly expense reports are submitted within the deadline.
• Review and submit monthly bank reconciliations for all project countries.
• Flag potential risks and issues to the Finance Manager and recommend process improvements to mitigate risks and improve the quality of reporting.
• Oversees the exhaustiveness of the archiving system, ensuring an appropriate level of audit readiness.
• Maintain well-organized accounting files and performed audits and spot checks.
• Manage advances and payable aging within the allowable time frame by closely following up with requestors.
• Prepare Tax withholding vouchers reconcile them with the ledger and timely declare them to the Ministry of Revenues.
• Manage and Prepare USAID VAT refunds and ensure vendors have declared their VAT every month and submitted to USAID on time.
• Reconcile monthly VAT receivable and VAT requested.
• Preparation of monthly staff payroll.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by his/her supervisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of experience, Master's degree and 3 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Professional Accounting training or a Chartered Accountant/Certified Public Accountant certification required.
• At least two years of experience working in an accountant function for a USAID project is highly preferred.
• Experience working with financial and banking institutions in Ethiopia.
• Strong understanding and knowledge of labor and tax laws in Ethiopia.
• Proven capacity to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and set priorities.
• High level of personal and professional integrity, and motivation to perform at one’s best.
• Proficiency in computer technology and QuickBooks accounting software.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, team player, and ability to maintain confidentiality and compliance.
• Excellent organizational skills (attention to detail is required), flexibility, and capacity to multi-task.
• Verbal and written fluency in English is required.
• Ability to travel and work throughout Ethiopia in difficult terrain/conditions at times.