Accountant Officer – Mogadishu, Somalia

 

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA DIRECTORATE OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

POSITION: Accountant Officer

 

COUNTRY: Federal Government of Somalia (FGS)

 

NAME OF PROJECT: PROGRAMME FOR SUSTAINABLE CHARCOAL REDUCTION

AND ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS (PROSCAL)

 

PROJECT NO: 00093047

STARTING DATE: 01-12-2020

DURATION: One year with possibility of extension

 

Background

The Directorate of Environment and Climate Change under the Office of the Prime Minister, was established in 2007 as the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources and since then, a different office Portfolio has been established. In recognition of the need to bring environmental issues under one umbrella for better coordination of policies, strategies and programs, the current Somali Government has established the Directorate under the Office of Prime Minister committing towards a healthy, protected and sustainable environment.

This Joint Programme is in response to the UN Security Council resolution 2036 (2012) that seeks international cooperation to ban illegal exports of Charcoal from Somalia. The programme envisages a comprehensive response to support the Security Council resolution. The specific objectives of the programme are four :

1) Support government in Somalia as well as countries in the Horn of Africa and the region to produce pertinent legal instruments and strengthen enforcement mechanisms at national, regional and local levels;

2) Promote alternative sources of energy to reduce local charcoal consumption;

3) Provide alternative livelihoods to the Charcoal Value Chain Beneficiaries (CVCBs) involved in the charcoal production and trade; and,

4) Country wide reforestation and afforestation to regain the productive potential of the environmentally degraded lands.

The joint programme will build on successful projects executed by UN agencies to support the ban and will use the UN joint programming modality to harmonize approaches and maximize synergies. To this end, it will emphasize joint work plans, joint monitoring and evaluation of activities and offer a forum for policy dialogue between the governments and all partners on activities related to the ban of charcoal trade in the region. This phase of Joint Programme absorbs the Programme Initiation Phase activities and has been scaled down to the current level of funding.

The programme (PROSCAL) promotes energy security and more resilient livelihoods through a gradual reduction of unsustainable charcoal production, trade and use. The programme aims to successfully engage with the government in Somalia, governments of countries in the region, local communities, UN agencies, private sector and other key stakeholders to account for both the demand and supply side of charcoal value chain.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Accountant Officer provides support to the development of all financial matters related to the project. The Project Finance will be responsible for advising on the financial management of the project and the maintenance of accurate accounting and financial records and reports, in accordance with the project document and UNDP Guidelines for Nationally Executed Projects. The Project Accountant’s major tasks will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

Maintaining proper financial records and files in accordance with prevailing procedures;

Preparing draft financial reports for the project team and advising them accordingly;

Monitoring and supervising expenditures by project;

Monitoring and analyzing project expenditures with respect to approved budgets and work-plans;

Assisting the project manager to prepare work plan, budgets and estimates of project quarterly expenditure; and

Realizing, on a monthly basis, bank, cash and expenditures reconciliations against project budget;

Compiling monthly, quarterly and annual expenditure reports for the Finance director, project coordinator, project team and providing expenditure updates as required;

Preparing reconciliation between Cash books and bank Statements

Preparing analytical review between actual expenditure versus actual budget plan

Preparing requests for direct payment and requests for advance to project operating account;

Preparing and maintaining updated ledgers and inventories of supplies and non-expendable property;

Briefing people or organizations in receipt of payments from the project on financial procedures and required documentation and overseeing payments of payments from the project including daily living and travel allowances for training participants etc.;

Briefing and assisting newly arriving international and local consultants on basic financial procedures and requirements with respect to payments, entitlements, banking, currency provision and other issues related to finance;

Ensuring financial guidelines are followed and best practices maintained during the implementation of all project activities;

Performing other relevant duties as required.

Performa all other assigned tasks.

Requirements

At least 3 years work experience as a finance Officer.

Excellent knowledge of accounting regulations and procedures, including the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Public Financial Management (PFM)

Hands-on experience with accounting software like QuickBooks

Excellent Knowledge of advanced MS Excel skills including Vlookups and pivot tables

Experience with general ledger functions, Cash books, Bank Reconciliation.

Ability to communicate both Somali and English Languages

Strong attention to detail and good analytical skills

BSc in Accounting, Finance or relevant degree.

Master degree in Finance is Additional Advantage.

Additional certification (CPA, CMA or ACCA) is also a plus

Application Procedures:

Interested qualified local applicants should submit their Application letter and CV to

(dg@environment.gov.so) and copy nabil.abdi@undp.org on or before 16^st November 2020 5:00 PM. No late CV’s and Application letters shall be accepted.