Canadian Feed The Children (CFTC) is an international development organisation with a mission to alleviate the impact of poverty on Children. For over 25 years, CFTC has been working with local partners around the world. The organisation currently operates in Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Bolivia, and across Canada, to deliver programmes that have positive, meaningful, and sustained impact on the health, education and well-being of children and the self-sufficiency of their families and communities.

Job Summary

Type: Full Time Contract Position (15 months)
Reporting to: Project Manager
Direct Reports: None
Location: Tamale, Ghana
Suggested Start Date: February 11, 2013

There is an exciting atmosphere of change at Canadian Feed The Canadian that requires motivated and dynamic leadership. CFTC is searching for a passionate, experienced financial professional to manage and oversee all financial and administrative components of the start-up and implementation of a $2 million food security and climate change project funded by a large, bi-lateral donor. This role within the CFTC Programmes Team - with matrix reporting to the Head Office Finance department requires an organised, experienced financial professional with extensive project finance expertise. As a member of the Project team reporting to the Project Manager, the incumbent will work in close collaboration with the Ghana and head office teams to ensure accurate, effective and timely financial reporting and efficient office management. The Finance and Administrative Officer will be a strong communicator, and demonstrate team spirit and a commitment to producing quality work.

Position Summary:
The role of this hands-on position is to document, manage and oversee the financial and administrative aspects of the start-up, implementation and evaluation phases of a complex, multifaceted project designed to improve the adaptive capacity and increase the resilience to the impacts of climate change on agriculture, food security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers in northern Ghana. This is an 18-month project set to launch in February 2013 in Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana. It will be implemented in collaboration with three local CFTC partners and supported by a number of technical institutions. While there are no direct reports for this position, the Finance and Administrative Officer will need to work collaboratively with and co-ordinate the efforts of Finance and Administrative Officers at the implementing partners.

Accountabilities:

•  Design and implement financial reporting frameworks and tools
•  Produce monthly financial reports for the CFTC HO
•  Produce quarterly financial reports for the donors
•  Collaborate with partner Finance and Administration Officers to ensure the production of accurate and timely financial reports
•  Document and oversee all payments related to Country Office project expenses
•  Maintain accurate financial records of all project financial transactions
•  Inventory, insure and manage all project assets
•  Oversee the management of the petty cash
•  Process Ghana staff payroll
•  Ensure project operations are in compliance with local and national laws and policies (employment, environmental, health and safety, etc)
•  Liaise with the CFTC Head Office Finance team in Toronto to ensure smooth and timely financial management of project operations

Perform all other related duties as assigned by the Project Manager

Qualification Required & Experience

Knowledge and Experience (mandatory):

•  Internationally recognised accounting designation, or equivalent education and experience
•  Minimum five years' experience working with a globally recognised accounting system
•  Minimum five years' experience of successfully managing the finances of complex, fixed-term, results-based international development projects funded by bi-lateral and/or multi-lateral donors
•  Minimum three years' experience working with international Head Office finance department - ideally within Canada

Skills and Competencies (mandatory):

•  Proven budgeting and financial management skills using Excel
•  Superior understanding of project financial management
•  Good understanding of donor compliance and contract management procedures and processes
•  Proven leadership and collaboration skills
•  Outstanding business and communication skills in English
•  Proven ability to provide training and capacity-building to staff
•  Able to multi-task effectively and meet deadlines while under pressure
•  High energy, positive, "Can-do" attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and high degree of initiative
•  Commitment to Canadian Feed The Children's values and mission
•  Must be eligible to work in Ghana

Other desirable skills and attributes:

•  Able to speak at least one of the principal languages of Northern Ghana
•  Experience working with a Canadian NGO Canadian funding agency

How To Apply For The Job

Interested candidates should submit a CV and covering letter addressed to the Country Representative. The covering letter should clearly state how the candidate's skills and experience have prepared him or her for success in the position. Applications should be sent electronically to: jobs@canadianfeedthechildren.ca with the name of the position in the subject line.

Closing Date:  09 January 2013

Interviews are scheduled to take place in Tamale the week of January 27. All candidates are thanked for their interest in CFTC; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted