Finance and Budget Officer

POSITION: FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER
LOCATION: KAMPALA, UGANDA
DURATION: INITIAL DURATION OF SIX MONTHS CONTRACT WITH POSSIBILITY OF EXTENSION
REPORTS TO: REGIONAL HEAD OF FINANCE AND ADMIN MANAGER

A) SIHA Background

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) is a network of civil society organizations from Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Uganda. SIHA’s Regional Office in Kampala provides programme and service support, guidance to active country programmes in Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia in additional to carrying out regional programming and advocacy work.
As a regional platform for activists on gender equality and women’s human rights in the Horn of Africa, we have a unique role of being one of the few indigenous networks run by Civil Society from across the region. www.sihanet.org

B) POSITION SUMMARY

The Finance and Budget officer under the direct supervision of the Regional Head of Finance and admin Manager will perform various accounting and finance tasks according to SIHA work standard operating procedures.
The ‘F&BO’ should have an understanding of the principles of accounting and financing, working knowledge of account payables, receivables, budgets, and expenditure control is essential. Ability to perform financial analyses and to record financial data and budget items, regularly and accurately. Have proven experience in NGOs financial management and familiarity with utilizing QuickBooks accounting system, and good experience in NGOs project’s budget management and reporting.

C) PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review, analyze and finalize the projects financial plans and contracts, budget requests, whilst working closely with SIHA program teams to facilitate and ease the process of budget allocations.
• Prepare and review SIHA projects financial updates, reports and share them regularly with SIHA program team, and Senior Management Unit.
• Review and approve invoices and other SIHA financial support documents against budget in line with the financial report.
• Supports budget discussions with Senior Management, with special emphasis on the link between resources, outputs, performance indicators.
• Prepare documentations and budget spending clarifications in collaboration with SIHA finance and program teams.
• Support SIHA Finance team to improve their documentation and filing system in line with standard accounting principles
• Review project contracts and ensure that financial reporting is in line with projects format and donor requirements.
• Provides support on best financial management practices: budgeting standards, costing methodologies, resource projections, variance analysis, cost allocation and performance reporting.
• Continuously monitor budget implementation, cost drivers, financial projections and prepares comparative analysis.
• Work with the Regional Senior Finance Officer to enhance budget and financial management systems and processes, and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering the organizational mandate and project’s work.
• Pays particular attention to financial management and reporting, cost allocation and activity/output-based performance indicators.
• Oversee, in conjunction with the finance team; preparation of annual audit.
• Carries out other tasks assigned by the supervisor that are related to the job function.

D) IDEAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Under graduate degree on financial management, accounting and /or finance with least 5 years of work experience with NGOs or donors agency on project finance management. Or post graduate degree in accounting and/or financial management with 3 years of work experience on NGOs budgets and finance.
• Abel to review and clearly projects agreements and financial reporting requests
• Affiliation to a body of professionals or CPA certification
• Proficiency in numeracy skills and experience using a computerized financial management information systems preferably Pastel and good computer skills (Excel especially, Word)
• Ability to prioritize work issues to meet deadlines with minimal supervision and adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through
• Good analytical and conceptual thinking skills with a proven proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems and suggesting improvements that continuously seek to provide a better service to SIHA.
• Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English
• A high level of self-awareness, personal energy, stamina and flexibility. Ability to work creatively, effectively and under own initiative
• Pays attention to detail
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to relate well with co-workers and other stake holders