Finance and Operations Officer - Democracy International

DI provides technical assistance, analytical services and project implementation for democracy, human rights, governance and conflict mitigation programs worldwide for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. State Department and other development partners.

Since its founding in 2003, Democracy International has worked with civil society organizations, political parties, election-management bodies, government agencies, legislatures, justice-sector institutions, and others in 80+ countries.

DI welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for DI employees. DI makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, or reproductive health decision making. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at DI. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities

Job Description

Democracy International (DI) is seeking to hire a Finance and Operations Officer for the five-year Performance Accountability Activity in Ghana funded by USAID. This activity focuses on strengthening civil society oversight of and feedback into government performance in public service delivery and supporting government, especially at the local level, and public service providers to be more responsive to citizen demand in delivering quality essential services.

This is based on the premise that citizen action and engagement are critical for ensuring that the government delivers quality services with increased accountability. This will be a full-time position based in Tamale, Ghana. This position is only open to Ghanaian citizens.  

The Finance and Operations Officer will help support and assist in the management of all finance and administration for the project. The officer will also ensure all financial transactions are properly documented and performed in full compliance with DI and USAID accounting regulations, US federal procurement regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles. They will report to the Finance and Operations Manager. The successful candidate must be a development professional and have demonstrated expertise in managing finance and administration for US Government-funded programming. 

Essential Job Duties

The Finance & Operations Officer will work with the DI team to assist all finance and administration of the Activity’s operations in Ghana. Under the supervision of the Finance & Operations Manager, the Finance and Operations Officer will:

• Record financial transactions and perform book-keeping and archiving activities, including reconciliations;
• Perform financial transaction records audit and integrity checks in a timely manner;
• Assist finance department in all aspects of operations and financial records, including bank transactions, tax reporting and bill processing and vendor payments;
• Work with supervisors to ensure program compliance with relevant USAID regulations and mission orders;
• Contribute to timely report writing and editing;
• Support tracking of project finances and deliverable timelines;
• Maintain sound relationships with the Activity’s partners to ensure teams are adequately supported; 
• Other similar responsibilities DI might reasonably request.

Required Skills or Experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Finance, Accounting, Business Management or other related field preferred;
• Minimum 5 years of related experience, preferably within a U.S. Government/USAID project environment;
• Sound knowledge of Ghana VAT and Income Tax regulations;
• Excellent command of English, verbal and writing;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office including advanced expertise in Excel;
• Ability to work well within a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision;
• Good interpersonal skills and problem-solving abilities;
• Well-organized, strong filing and archiving skills;
• Ability to multi-task and a strong commitment to meeting deadlines;
• Demonstrated commitment to ethics, transparency, and accountability in program implementation;
• Proven integrity and thorough attention to details are inherent to this position.  

Reporting

• This position reports to the Finance and Operations Manager.