Project Accountant

Project Accountant

Organizational Background:

Bright Future Initiative (BFI) is a legally registered Ethiopian Civil Society Organization (CSO) operating in full compliance with the laws and regulations of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia. Originally established in 1999 as a non-profit, non-partisan development organization, BFI is registered with the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) under registration number 0114. BFI’s core objective is to empower marginalized communities, especially persons with disabilities, women, youth, and smallholder farmers, through inclusive, rights-based development programs. BFI’s priority thematic focus areas include Inclusive Education; Inclusive Health and Rehabilitation; Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment; Advocacy, Rights, and Social Protection; and Inclusive Humanitarian Aid. Geographically, BFI operates across the Amhara and Oromia regions. Currently, Bright Future Initiative (BFI) is launching a five-year project co-funded by CBM and its back-donor, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), titled "Improving the resilience and food security of vulnerable groups in the Oromia Region."

Project Summary:

The project is a five-year (01/07/2026–30/04/2031) integrated, climate-resilient, and rights-based initiative implemented by BFI in partnership with CBM and funded by BMZ. Operating across Kembibit, Aleltu, and Abichuna Gne’a woredas in the North Shewa Zone of Oromia Region, the project pursues four sub-objectives: (1) access to diversified income through Village Economic and Social Associations (VESAs) and inclusive farmer cooperatives; (2) improved agricultural practices through climate-smart ‘mixed farming’ methods spanning both crop and livestock production; (3) the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices and inclusive disaster risk reduction; and (4) strengthened participation of women and persons with disabilities in local socio-economic and community development. The project specifically prioritizes women-headed households and persons with disabilities across all four sub-objectives. It adopts a dual approach of delivering direct agricultural and asset interventions while simultaneously strengthening local systems, civil society actors (such as OPDs and Women’s Associations), and municipal policies to ensure long-term, disability-inclusive, and gender-sensitive localized development.

Job Summary:

The Project Accountant manages all field-level financial operations, treasury workflows, and accounting structures for the project. The position ensures absolute financial compliance with BFI’s organizational policies, local statutory laws, and strict donor regulations (BMZ/CBM). S/he is responsible for routine budget tracking, regular expenditure monitoring, processing localized transactions, and preparing high-quality monthly financial reports and variance analyses. Operating with a high degree of transparency and fiduciary accuracy, the staff member safeguards project funds, manages field liquidity, and directly supports internal and external audit processes to guarantee uncompromised financial integrity across all field operations.

Job Responsibilities:

Field Financial Operations & Cash Flow Management

• Manage day-to-day field financial transactions, petty cash allocations, and bank account reconciliations for the project field office.
• Process all authorized payments to suppliers, service providers, training participants, and local community structures in strict compliance with internal control protocols.
• Monitor field liquidity levels and prepare monthly cash forecast requests to ensure uninterrupted financing of scheduled field activities across target woredas.

Accounting, Ledger Management & Software Entry

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date, and verified financial ledgers, journals, and transaction records.
• Record all field expenditures into the organization’s accounting software with correct budget-line coding.
• File, index, and securely preserve all financial documents including receipts, vouchers, and invoices.

Budget Tracking, Compliance & Financial Reporting

• Track expenditures against approved project budgets to prevent overruns or misallocations.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports with variance analysis.
• Ensure compliance with Ethiopian tax laws, ACSO regulations, and BMZ/CBM donor requirements.

Audit Support & Internal Controls

• Support internal, external, and donor audits by preparing required financial documents.
• Provide ledger sheets, vouchers, and reconciliation statements for audit review.
• Strengthen internal control systems and address identified gaps.

Reports Directly To: Project Manager

Works Technically With: Finance and Administration Manager and Program Manager (Head Office)

Works Directly With:

• Project Monitoring and Evaluation Expert
• Communication and Inclusion Expert
• Field Project Officers
• Procurement Staff
• Local banking partners
• Government line-bureau representatives

Required Education & Qualifications:

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Accounting and Finance, Business Administration, or related financial discipline.
• Professional accounting certifications are advantageous.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (Master’s) or 6 years (Bachelor’s) of NGO financial management experience.
• At least 3 years as a project accountant in donor-funded rural development or social inclusion projects.
• Experience with international donor financial compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in ERP or accounting software such as Peachtree, QuickBooks, or Agresso.
• Experience managing community-level financial systems such as VESAs is an advantage.

Skills & Personal Qualities Required:

• Strong knowledge of NGO accounting standards, GAAP/IFRS, and Ethiopian CSO regulations.
• Strong analytical and budgeting skills.
• High integrity, transparency, and professionalism.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and office software proficiency.

Skills Required:

• Accounting / Finance
• Economics / Statistics