The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is seeking to recruit a Program Accountant.The Program Accountant will be responsible for the overall management of the EiA program budget with full oversight on all aspects of the budget management including partner allocations; staffing plans / FTE’s; chargebacks, while ensuring that CG Systems Office and Center guidelines and policies are respected. The position reports to the Program Manager, EiA.

Main duties and responsibilities include:

• Budget Management & Cost control Across the Initiative working closely with CG Centers and Partners
• Develop annual project budgets representative of planned activities and available resources.
• Lead the development of project budgets for new EiA proposals adhering to donor requirements and CG System Office guidelines.
• Undertake monthly budget reviews on burn rates, budget utilization and staff allocation and prepare routine financial reports for discussion with EiA leadership and participating centers; and for donor reporting as required.
• Custodian on the overall EiA budget, ensuring it is always up to date with an accurate system for version control.  Support EiA staff who directly engage with the budget to understand it and apply it in their work.
• Work closely with the CG Centers finance focal points and representatives on EiA budget/financial matters.
• Establish and document the various Center policies that affect EiA budget utilization and reporting and ensure these are adhered to.
• Review participating centers financial reporting and ensure accurate and complete reporting, correct utilization of EiA resources, burn rate levels are logical and resolve any discrepancies with the centers while bringing issues of concern to the attention of EiA leadership and respective Centers.
• Accounting and Programme Finance Management
• Administering and coordinating all financial operations  of the project ensuring CG and IITA policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Maintain and update EiA program asset register at IITA as well as coordinate with all CG participating centers and prepare quarterly EiA asset reports.
• Prepare for all internal and external audits and ensure successful completion of all audits; Ensure timely and successful closure of all audit recommendations.
• Prepare agreed routine internal financial reports for EiA program incorporating financial reports from participating CG Centers and develop consolidated reporting as required to aid project management as well as decision-making (monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports).
• Develop timely and complete financial reports for donor reporting routines in compliance with the donor financial reporting requirements.  Comprehensively respond to all donor follow up questions in a timely manner.
• Work closely with the IITA Finance Directorate, FSI-TTT and CG systems office to ensure policies and procedures are respected, correct allocation of EiA funds within IITA and across centers.
• Accurate and timely communication to IITA and EiA participating CG centers on financial related policies and deliverables and support financial teams to achieve these.
• Ensure proper project / program close out financial reporting to cover the Incubation Phase and subsequent EiA Program cycles for IITA and participating partners.
• Develop the project financial risk register to be included in the overall EiA risk register and provide a monthly update on the same with a clear mitigation plan.

Capacity Building of EiA Program Teams and Implementing

• Capacity building on financial matters to EiA CG teams and implementing partners.
• Core Team Engagement (this position is a member of the Program Core Team)
• Actively participate in all core team meetings and highlight finance related concerns while providing solutions.
• Prepare and present quarterly EiA program financial reports; identify key performance indicators for EiA leadership to use to assess the financial health of the program; highlight areas of concern for IITA and / or participating CG centers to pay attention to.
• Provide financial support in the planning of all /EiA routine engagements such as the annual learning event, planned summits etc.
• Support to General Accounting at the IITA Nairobi at ICIPE Office (~5%)
• Provide support to financial accounting operations of projects as may be delegated such as ETH hosting in Nairobi, SOM, etc
• Act as back up to accounting staff on duties including (but not limited to) bank agency, review of transactions as required.
• Any other duties that may be assigned

Requirements

• Bachelors Degree in Accounting or related field from a reputable University, MSc/MBA will be an added advantage.  Professional Accounting certificate or qualification e.g. ACCA or local equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience in financial accounting principles, processes, systems and internal controls for not-for-profit organizations.
• Strong ability to co‐ordinate, prioritize and organize workload; take initiative and work under pressure.
• Proven experience managing and supervising staff and abilities to train and enhance their capacities
• Experience in auditing and systems review
• Ability to work independently and in a team; pro-active attitude; good communication skills, able to interact with a multi-cultural and interdisciplinary team including scientists and other staff.
• Proficiency in use of MS office, ERP’s and other computer applications.