Project Accountant at Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) | Kigali: Deadline: 24-05-2023

About Access to Finance Rwanda:

Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is a Rwandan not for profit company established in 2010 to promote financial inclusion and financial sector development. AFR is currently funded by Sweden, Jersey Overseas Aid, and the MasterCard Foundation.

AFR is part of the broader Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) network in Africa that seeks to create a transformative impact on ending poverty by supporting efforts to improve financial inclusion and financial sector development through helping policy makers, regulators, financial service providers and markets drive a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

AFR supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder access to and use of financial services by low-income people, particularly the rural poor, women, youth and MSMEs, and supports the development and provision of financial services including savings, credit, insurance, investment, payments, and remittances. AFR is a gender-intentional organization, having mainstreamed gender across all programming.

AFR is guided by the Market System Development (MSD) approach recognising that efforts to increase financial inclusion and financial sector development must be market-led, profitable and sustainable. For more details visit our website: (www.afr.rw).  

Access to Finance Rwanda seeks a Project Accountant for its upcoming project “Enhancing MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support in Rwanda Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) Sectors”.

About the project – Enhancing MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support in Rwanda Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality Sectors

MSMEs in productive/growth sectors, including those in Agriculture and Tourism & Hospitality sectors, play a critical role in driving inclusive growth and employment. However, they continue to face multiple challenges including low business management capabilities, limited tailored and sustainable business development services, limited access to appropriate financial solutions, and gaps in regulations and policies promoting SMEs access to finance. Such constraints hinder the potential for economic growth and job creation including for youth and women-led MSMEs, which face specific constraints.

To better address these and in line with its Phase III strategy, AFR, in collaboration with key stakeholders, will continue its journey towards addressing the root causes to access to and use of financial solutions for MSMEs in Rwanda through the “Enhancing MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support in Rwanda Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) Sectors” project. The project seeks to support Agriculture and T&H enterprise development and growth for improved opportunities for youth to engage in dignified and fulfilling work with a focus on young women and other disadvantaged youth (persons with disabilities, refugees, and youth in rural areas).

The project will mainly focus on the following interventions:

1. Implementing commercial MSME Finance Readiness Support also known as “Terimbere SME Village” 

This intervention seeks to strengthen MSMEs’ capabilities to overcome gaps in financial management practices, sound business management procedures and practices, business growth skills and information asymmetry by enhancing technical, managerial, market knowledge, financial and non-financial capacity to prepare them for appropriate financing and growth opportunities. 

2. MSME ecosystem strengthening

This intervention seeks to support a conducive environment to unlock MSME finance for growth and jobs through advocacy for favorable policy and regulatory environment, strengthening the capacity of Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to effectively serve MSMEs; leveraging research and data analytics to catalyze innovation and promoting the coordination within the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

In line with AFR’s gender-intentional strategy, this project will explicitly ensure that gender is integrated into all interventions. Ensuring that young women can benefit from the growth of the MSME sector is a key priority outcome of this project. In order to ensure this, AFR seeks a Gender Specialist to drive the mainstreaming of gender within this project, in collaboration with other AFR staff.

Scope of Responsibilities

The Project accountant works closely with project team to support them in project budgeting, financial planning, and finance management. Responsibilities include assisting with the selection of Implementing Partners (IPs) and ensuring correct fund disbursement to IPs. Additionally, the Project Accountant is responsible for helping to ensure that grant-related risk-management practices are adhered to and the implementation of effective grant management systems, ensuring compliance with donor requirements.

This position is contingent upon project award to AFR.

Reporting line: The position reports to the Finance Manager of AFR.

Supervises: None.

Location: Kigali, Rwanda.

Duration of the contract: Two years renewable based on performance.

Expected starting date: July 2023.

The Project accountant will be responsible for the following key tasks in relation to Enhancing MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support in Rwanda Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) Sectors:

• Participate fully in Annual Business Plan development for the pillars being supported; provide expert advice to help anticipate the financial implication of plans.
• Support Finance Manager in the preparation of annual forecasts, ensuring comprehensive and accurate identification of all project costs and the accompanying income with timelines.
• Take lead in project Budget monitoring ensuring that all activities and spending are in line with approved budget and that any variations are duly approved.
• Support Finance Manager in reviewing performance of the project against budget and to critically review any non-compliance; support any budget revisions as required.
• Analyse and report financial information pertaining to grants and sub-grants in order to provide budget holders with timely advice concerning effective financial management.
• Develop and submit financial reports according to the reporting schedule, including other required internal required reports within agreed deadlines (Pipeline report, monthly budget utilisation reports and donor reports)
• Support the process for awarding sub-grants, including but not limited to: Working with Project Leads to ensure that AFR’s policies and procedures are applied effectively during the Implementing Partner selection and sub-awarding process, following the AFR Grantee Guidelines and completing the sub-agreement checklist, gaining approvals as per threshold, Drafting and finalising contracts and Providing copies to all relevant stakeholders and filing copies as per procedure.
• Ensure that all documents are prepared, and procedures followed in order to set up the sub-award in AFR’s financial system, including reviewing the Sub Award Setup Form and preparing the sub-grants monitoring dashboard.
• Ensure that payments to partners are made according to the agreed schedule and in compliance with the organisation’s accounting procedures, following up and reporting any problems to the Grants & Contracts Manager.
• Manage the sub-grant expense verification process, including reviewing partner accounts, identifying & querying any discrepancies or unallowable costs and providing feedback to the sub-recipient.
• Three months before project close out, notify all stakeholders (partners and project team); prepare close out checklist & close out letter and ensure that all close-out procedures are followed.
• Support the initial IP selection and project planning process, ensuring that a good quality financial assessment is carried out and that a value-adding program of capacity building is devised.
• Support the Project Portfolio Manager to deliver inception and training meetings on sub awards management policy and specific donor rules and regulations, ensuring that partners are fully equipped to comply with requirements.
• Support the development of IP staff capacity in financial management.
• Monitor the implementation of capacity building interventions providing a monthly / quarterly progress reports against agreed plans; share findings with relevant stake holders to have all issues addressed in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with Budget holders to ensure that Investor accountability requirements are respected and implemented by all project staff and partners.
• As per the project plan, carry out field visits, spot checks and develop field reports in order to ensure that partners are complying with the conditions of their contract and with best practice in financial management.
• Prepare for and cooperate with all internal and external audits and ensure effective implementation of all audit recommendations.
• Act as a liaison between AFR’s Finance team and the Project staff & stakeholders, ensuring that all Awards and Sub-awards procedures are followed in a timely manner and that stakeholders are informed of any requirements for action on their part.
  
  
  

Educational Qualifications

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance and economic sciences or related field applicable to the position.
• Minimum Level 2 CPA, or ACCA is required.

Experience and technical skills

• At least 3 years of experience in accounting/ finance in a complex organization with strict reporting requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel and good skills in using financial software applications.
• Thorough understanding of financial accounting, reporting, and grants, sub grants and contracts management processes.
• Solid knowledge of key donor regulations and compliance requirements.
• Proven track record of effective analysis, proactive problem solving, and financial trouble shooting.
• Good understanding of fund accounting, financial analysis, and auditing.
• Good oral and written communication skills in English.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Languages: French, Kinyarwanda are desirable.

Attitude/ competences

• Strong drive for results and strong sense of engagement and responsibility.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Of a dynamic nature and initiates and maintains positive relationships with others.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• High degree of professionalism and integrity.
• Learning and resourcefulness.
• Team oriented, collaborative, flexible and can adapt to a changing environment.
• Project management.
• Attention to details to effectively analyse general ledger accounts and financial statements.
• Ability to manage transactions efficiently and accurately.
• Capability to prioritize tasks.
• Multitasking in order to complete different projects at the same time.
  
  
  

How to Apply

All qualified applicants should submit their applications by clicking on the Apply button by latest 24^th May 2023 at 5 pm.

The application should contain a Resume with an e-mail address, daytime telephone contact, qualifications, achievements, experience, and names & addresses of three professional referees, together with a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) summarizing why you consider yourself particularly well suited for the position. Do not attach any other documents at this point. All applications will be selected on merit and only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews. For any questions regarding the application process, please contact hr@jobinrwanda.com on 0788 300 213.

Note:

• This position is open to national candidates only.
• Qualified women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.