Job Advert: Accountant

Road to Sustainable Peace & Reconciliation (R2P) Project

Funding Partners: Embassies of Switzerland and Sweden

Grantees: PDRC, APD and HC

 About the Partners in the Consortium

Puntland Development Research Centre (PDRC) was established in 1999 as a Non-profit Non-Governmental research and development organization with an earlier drive of peace building, reconciliation and fostering security initiatives in Puntland State of Somalia. In the recent 2 years, PDRC re-aligned its efforts to include social and economic development as part of its new thematic areas.

The Centre is renowned not only in Puntland State, but also in other Federal Member States of Somalia and the rest of Africa. Since its inception till date, PDRC has conducted several trainings, workshops, community engagements, civic education, dialogue forums across Puntland and Somalia in general. The organization has a wealth of experience in research, capacity building, advocacy, awareness, dialogues, community mobilization and sensitization especially in peace building initiatives, reconciliation, conflict resolution, good governance, and democracy. PDRC has conducted its activities in partnership with several organizations such as UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF-JPLG, EU, Interpeace, Embassy of Netherlands, Embassy of Sweden, Embassy of Switzerland, and Canadian Embassy among others. Its target audience includes youth, women, public sector, private sector, civil society organizations, IDPs, refugees, academic institutions, and marginalized groups of people in general.

PDRC’s research, advocacy, public awareness raising, dialogue, capacity building and mobilization activities are complemented with a modern well-facilitated Mobile Audio-Visual Unit (MAVU) with experienced staff. PDRC has a wealthy of experience in peacebuilding, reconciliation, and conflict management which it has accumulated since its inception to date. For more information about PDRC, visit https://pdrcsomalia.org/.

The Academy for Peace and Development (APD) was established in 1999 in Hargeisa as the first-ever research center in Somaliland. Through research and dialogue, APD a) supported the political settlement of Somaliland that was brokered in 1993, b) facilitated the orderly transition from tradition-fashioned, clan-based political system to multiparty democracy, c) promoted the capacity of local governance system and d) strengthened the capacity of traditional leaders in resolving communal conflicts. Read more about APD on https://www.peaceinsight.org/en/organisations/apd/?location=somalia&theme

Horn Center for Effective Governance and Policy Development (The Horn Center), an independent, not-for-profit, and multi-disciplinary Think -Do -Tank organization, is devoted to examining policy issues and challenges that impact on institutions and state building in Somalia and develops policy solutions. The Horn Center (Galmudug State), led by a group of experienced practitioners, former diplomats, academicians, and local Somali activists, promotes research, advances policy debate, builds capacity, forms networks, and generates ideas on such varied matters as governance improvements, economic and social development, peace research, dialogue and community cohesion and integration across communities and regions of Somalia. HC promotes effective governance and strengthen institutions by conducting participatory public policy development through fostering a culture of dialogue that contributes to the emergence of a peaceful and politically stable Somalia.

In the Road to Sustainable Peace & Reconciliation (R2P) Project, PDRC is the Lead Partner of the Tripartite grantees’ consortium (PDRC, Horn Centre and Academy of Peace & Development).

Overall Goal for R2P Project

The R2P project stretches for a period of 4 years with 4 key broad thematic areas i.e i) Community Peace & Reconciliation, ii) Civic Education on good governance, iii) Building of Community Governance Structures & Local Government institutions and iv) Partner capacity building (within the consortium).

In the context of the institutions gains over the past 22 years, the changes in the political and peacebuilding arenas of Somalia, the overarching mandate for the coming four years program is to create conditions that allow the transformation of communities to strengthen their resilience and sustainability in conflict management and governance. With technical guidance and funding support from the Embassies of Switzerland and Sweden, the tripartite partners will adopt a strategy that will promote an inclusive, participatory, and knowledge-based process with a high-level of social cohesion among citizens, community relationships and nurturing citizen-centered leadership and in totality, fostering citizens’ participation in peacebuilding and governance processes.

The tripartite is currently looking for a well experienced qualified Accountant whose Job Description and personal specifications are prescribed below;

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Accountant

Duty Station: PDRC, Garowe-Somalia

Nature of Job: Contract

Length of Service: 4 years subject to Annual Review/Appraisal

Salary: PDRC GRADE 2

Reports to: Head of Finance & Administration

Key duties and Responsibilities

The accountant will be responsible for the following;

Strategic

• Guide management and the project coordinator(s) on major financial decisions
• Liaise with the head of Finance & Administration, management, and heads of departments to prepare the PDRC annual budget
• Prepare quarterly Financial Forecasting and Risk analysis reports
• Prepare Quarterly budget reviews for presentation to Management
• Advise Management and the Head of Finance and Administration on the Financial Management Information System (FMIS) and suggestions for new computerized systems to ensure safety of records including offsite backups and cloud records.
• Tax Planning with reference to current legislation for Puntland State and/or Federal Republic of Somalia, ensuring all tax arrears (if any) are cleared and maintaining a clean record of tax compliance for PDRC
• Follow up on the forwarded funds to the partners to ensure that spending is within the project budget lines
• Adhere to the PDRC Financial Management Policy, Procurement Policy, Conflict of Interest policy, Human Resource Policy, Grant Management Policy, and all other policies.

Operational

• Prepare and maintain an up to date pay roll for project staff and/or other staff
• Prepare face forms for submission to funding partners
• Maintain clear financial records for all project partners/grantees
• Prepare up to date weekly and monthly financial reports including the relevant ratio analysis to portray PDRC’s project financial performance
• Maintain an up-to-date Assets register
• Prepare procurement orders to suppliers for various items
• Manage petty cash in liaison with the Admin & Finance Assistant
• Reconcile the project (s) bank statements and control accounts
• Strictly ensure adherence to the project contractual agreements and timely submission of project financial and narrative report(s) in liaison with the Project coordinator(s), Programmes Coordinator, and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer.
• Maintain up to date records of all project financial source documents such as receipts, invoices, purchase orders e.t.c
• Remind the PDRC management about the due dates for payments of all its legal financial obligations such as taxes, hence ensure timely adherence to all financial statutory requirements of the PDRC and/or NGO regulations.
• Organize all Project (s) financial records and supporting documents prior to execution of external audits
• Liaise with the PDRC Head of Finance & Administration and Project Coordinator(s) to have to put in place robust internal control systems.
• Any other duties assigned by the PDRC Head of Finance & Administration

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for the position of the project shall have the following qualities;

Level of education

• A Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, B. Com or any other related field with a bias in accounting, obtained from a recognized university or college.
• Possession of full or partial CPA, CIFA or ACCA qualification is a must.
• A Masters Degree or Post Graduate Diploma in a related field is an added advantage.

Working Experience

• A minimum of 5 year’s post bachelor’s qualification working experience in accounting and financial management or 3 years’ experience with a recognized audit firm.
• Experience in accounting and financial management of NGOs/Not-for profit organizations, is a must.
• Fluency in computerized accounting especially Quick Books is a must.
• Fluency in Quick Books-Cloud is an added advantage
• Ability to prepare financial reports and analysis of financial systems
• Ability to work with external and internal stakeholders such as funding partners, suppliers, etc. is a must.
• Flexibility to travel both locally and internationally
• Ability to work with teams
• Integrity, confidentiality, and other ethical values in managing project records.
• No record of fraud or conviction in any illegal or moral turpitude

Language: Fluency in both Somali and English

Submit your CV, academic documents, application, and cover letter to [email protected]  and copy [email protected] or deliver in person to PDRC Office. Include at least two referees with their contact details.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.