The Financial Management Specialist (FMS) will have overall responsibility for financial management of the GNHR and ensuring that funds flow, accounting, internal controls, financial reporting, disbursement and audit are carried out in accordance with law and the governmental financial guidelines. As part of the MoGCSP Social Protection Directorate, the FMS will also provide Financial Management support to the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

•   Have a sound understanding of the GNHR Operations Manual.
•   Prepare and update a financial management manual that would be embodied in the GNHR Manual. The FM manual would include authorities and responsibilities of the program staff in respect of various segments of FM functions, recording and processing procedures for payments, fund flow arrangements, budgeting and forecasting requirements, formats of vouchers, registers and reports, a comprehensive chart of accounts to capture all requisite information, outline of a computerized accounting system to generate timely and accurate financial statements and reports, accounting policies, fund flow and book keeping and reporting procedures, internal audit and internal control arrangements, external audit support and compliance arrangements.
•   Prepare annual financial plans, budget estimates, and revise budgets in within project disbursement limits. Specifically, the FMS will prepare the project budget in consultation with the other departments of MoGCSP and on the basis of approved procurement plan and implementation plan and will undertake the due diligence in preparing realistic budgets.
•   Prepare annual and quarterly disbursement forecasts for all components of the GNHR in line with program's procurement and implementation plan, and analyze variances between actual and forecast disbursements.
•   Ensure appropriate continuous arrangements for procurement of goods, works and services for the program from all sources of funds.
•   Ensure that all policies and procedures are in compliance with funding source policies, procedures and requirements and will review the efficacy of internal controls in place and suggest adopting best practices to improve internal governance and to reduce opportunities for corruption.
•   Ensure maintenance of the adequate registers, books and records in appropriate order to meet the statutory requirements of stakeholders and to facilitate classification and analyzing the financial information for monitoring the project progress.
•   Ensure that the annual financial statements and other monthly and quarterly reports are accurately prepared and timely submitted.
•   Participate in MoGCSP Procurement/Tender Committee meetings and activities; assist and advise the Program Director in all financial matters as and when required.
•   Have a sound understanding of the LEAP Operations Manual and provide support to the Financial Management of LEAP, particularly with regards to fiduciary risk management, and oversight of the budgets, cash flow and reporting requirements for the Ghana Social Opportunities Project.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   The specialist must have a minimum of Master's Degree in Accounting or Professional Accounting and Finance (CA, ACCA, or CPA).
•   Minimum of seven years of work experience in financial management.
•   Good knowledge and understanding of Government of Ghana accounting systems and experience in donor-funded projects are preferred.
•   The specialist must have knowledge of;
•   Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource  allocation, human  resources modeling, leadership  technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
•   Economic and accounting principles and practices; and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
•   Administrative procedures.
•   Computerized accounting software, payroll systems and reporting

The specialist must have skills in:

•   Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
•   Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
•   Management of Financial Resources: Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
•   Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
•   Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
•   Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
•   Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
•   Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
•   Systems  Evaluation: Identifying measures  or  indicators  of  system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
•   Monitoring: Monitoring/ Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
•   Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
•   Reporting Resonsibility:
•   In the discharge of his/her duties, the Financial Management Specialist will report to the NTU Coordinator. He/she will prepare and submit to the NTU Coordinator, quarterly, semi-annual and annual procurement reports as inputs into the Project Management Reports and, in addition, will prepare other reports, as and when needed.

Duration of Assignment:
The Contract will last for one (1) year initially, but renewable for a second year subject to satisfactory performance.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

All interested individuals are requested to submit typewritten letters and curriculum vitae (CV) for the positions described above.
 
THE CHIEF DIRECTOR
MINISTRY OF GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
P.O.BOX MBO 186
ACCRA, GHANA

Closing Date: 09 December, 2012

•   Letters should clearly be marked "MoGCSP - NTU Personnel"
•   For further enquiries, contact the MoGCSP or the National Coordinator, GSOP (tel: 0302-770246)