Finance and Grants Manager - CARE International Ghana

CARE is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. Our mission around the world is to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice.

Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. doing business as CARE International in Ghana (“CARE”) is seeking qualified candidates for a role as Finance and Grants Manager – Agriculture Governance, Resilience and Economic Empowerment (AGREE) Activity. The full-time position will be based in Tamale, and requires extensive travel to operational districts throughout northern Ghana. The AGREE Activity aims to improve agriculture governance; support women economic empowerment; mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and mitigate conflicts in northern Ghana. The Activity, funded by USAID, spans 31 districts across five regions in northern Ghana.

Candidate Profile

The Finance and Grant Manager is responsible for all aspects of contracts management and donor reporting of the project guided by the rules and regulations established by USAID. This includes timely donor reporting and billing, management of sub-grantees, capacity building of sub-grantees, and responsibility for all accounting transactions of the project. He/She is also responsible for the coordination and management of sub-grantee financial issues.

He/She is to ensure that USAID and CARE International financial policies, regulations and procedures are rigidly complied with, including on-time payment or transfers duly. He /She shall ensure and maintain a proper filling system for all official and important documentation.

The Finance and Grants Manager will be based at the CARE International Sub-Office in Tamale and will be expected to undertake regular travel to project target districts/communities across the project districts in Ghana

Key areas of responsibility of the Finance and Grants Manager will include:

• Grant Management Oversight Support: Ensure, in collaboration with CoP and the Grants Manager, that all grant management aspects are compliant across the various steps of the project cycle: contract negotiation, partnerships, project systems set-up, implementation and amendments, co-funding, reporting and close out. Perform pre-award activities for grant recipients including review of grantees’ applications, budgets, pre-award questionnaires, supporting documents, etc. Ensure that the negotiation process is well documented and that final versions of all required documentation are properly filed. Maintain an up to date contract data file which should include any changes in the start and end dates, detailed budgets, increase in grant amounts, no cost extensions, long/short checklist form, copy of signed contract, amendments, etc. Send copies of the same to RMU and DCAU as and when received.

• Budget Support, Contract Management and Donor Reporting: Prepare and coordinate the timely preparation of monthly and quarterly reports to the donors and key stakeholders as required by contracts. Provide cost analysis information as require by Chief of Party. Provide support in the preparation and revision of project budgets prior to submission to the donor. Assist Chief of Party to abide by donor conditionalities on project expenditure. Assist and facilitate the annual budget preparation for the Northern Ghana Governance Activity. Conduct financial capacity assessment of partners. Work closely with the Chief of Party to prepare occasional budget realignments for submission to CARE International and USAID. Review the receivable position for the award/grants and ensure timely collection as per the contractual obligations. Prepare a monthly report and coordinate with SSC and Grants Manager in the Accra office on the project’s receivable position. Regular pipeline analysis of annual budget and cumulative expenditures for project financial management discussion with the Chief of Party.

• Coordination of Project Accounting Transactions and Fund Management: Review all advance justifications/liquidations including supporting documentation and prepare AJEs for approval at the main office in Accra. Coordinate all project accounting transactions so that funds for the project operations are available on time and are accounted for correctly. Request and reconcile the monthly bank statements and inform the main office in cases of anomalies. Provide cost analysis information as require by Chief of Party (accruals according to USAID calendar). Ensure regular accounting for all project expenditures according to CARE International procedures and USAID rules and regulations including documentation required under USAID cooperative agreements. Ensure that all transaction supporting documents are complete copies properly filed

• Partnerships/Sub-Grantee Financial Management: Conduct financial capacity assessment of partners, develop and implement a program for improving their capacity to manage USAID funds. Assist in the drafting of sub agreement with consortium partners and MoU agreement with consortium members. Provide financial capacity building support to consortium partners and various CSO’s to be identified (regular capacity needs identified). Prepare, disburse and manage grants to districts and among consortium members as required in the project’s annual work plan. Assist partners (consortium members and CSOs) to maintain appropriate books of accounts, documentation and ensure proper accounting for CARE International and USAID funds. Keep track of CARE International funds advanced to partners (consortium members and other implementing partners). Assist in reviewing and liquidating sub-grantees expenditure. Review partners reports and records to ensure that funds advanced are used judiciously and to the maximum benefit of the project/component. Monitor expenditures against budgets and inform the Chief of Party of the major discrepancies.

Qualification Required & Experience

• A minimum qualification of University Degree in Accounting, Finance, Administration, Management, Business or equivalent experience or a combination of education and work experience.
• Master’s degree, Chartered Accountant designation, and/or prior audit experience are added advantages.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in projects/operations & finance management, preferably in an International NGO.
• Strong analytical skills, and demonstrated experience preparing project budgets, forecasts, pipelines and detailed activity budgets.
• Experience preparing routine, monthly, and adhoc financial reports and analysis for top management, donors, and to inform program planning and implementation.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills, presentation and reporting skills. Ability to communicate complex financial information in simple non-technical terms.
• Team player, highly-motivated, flexible, able to travel extensively and work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to building trust and commitment for action, Project Budgets and Finances.
• Previous experience working with an USAID Funded Project a plus.
• Excellent Analytical skill, good written and oral communication skills; Ability to exercise independent judgment and work with minimum supervision.
• Ability to multitask within set deadlines
• Proficient in use of Microsoft applications, including Excel, Word, Powerpoint & Outlook (or similar software).
• Excellent knowledge of contract management, administrative systems and practice, policies and procedures.
• Strong problem solving, analytical, operational and coordinating abilities.

Location: Tamale