The Root and Tuber Improvement Marketing Programme (RTIMP) aims at improving food security and incomes of the poor rural households in Ghana with special emphasis on women and other vulnerable groups. Its specific objectives is to build competitive and market-based root and tuber commodity chains, supported by relevant, effective and sustainable services that are accessible to the rural poor. The project is mainly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Ghana. Recently, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) received additional funds in the form of a grant to finance the activities of VALUE CHAIN APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTURAL IN GHANA’ (GEF-ProVACCA) from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).

It is within this framework, that RTIMP would like to strengthen its financial department and wishes to recruit a qualified accountant that would add value and help the team in place to efficiently manage RTIMP funds in general and GEF funds in particular. Reporting to the National Programme Coordinator, the accountant will have responsibility to perform finance, accounts as well as procurement tasks.

The Accountant will be based at the PCO in Kumasi but may occasionally be requested to work in the districts. She/he will work with the National Programme Coordinator.

Duties:
2.1: Finance:

•   Prepare in due time financial statements using formats provided for by the Financing Agreement and according to Donors and Ghana laws and regulations;
•   Implement budget control procedures to ensure that no expenditure is posted into the accounting software unless it has provision in the AWPB;
•   Actively take part in developing the Annual Work Plan and Budget;
•   Prepare informative monthly, quarterly, biannual and annual management accounts and discuss these National Programme Coordinator for informed management decision and control;
•   Monitor expenditure trends summarised by component, category and financier, as well as financial progress on each activity as contained in the AWPB
•   Prepare financial reports to National Programme Coordinator in accordance with recommended formats;
•   Manage the most optimal disbursement process, ensuring an efficient treasury management function in line with the Letter to the Borrower and Programme Implementation Manual (PIM)

2.2 Accounting:

•   Supervision of project accounts by ensuring that Accounts are in compliance with generally accepted Country and international standards, including details on expenditures by type, origin, destination, budget and location;
•   Examine with due attention and on a regular basis supporting documents justifying expenditures by service providers or other partners
•   Cooperate with the officer in charge of Monitoring and Evaluation to ensure appropriate coding of activities to be posted in the accounting software
•   Prepare payments by cheques, petty cash or through other authorized ways;
•   Ensure daily, weekly and monthly follow-up of all bank accounts of the project, and make sure that they are timely and sufficiently replenished, in a bid to prevent and disruption of project activities
•   Preparation of Fund Withdrawal Requests from Loan/grants Accounts in accordance with procedures duly approved and required by donors
•   Regular monitoring of project expenditures by category of IFAD loan/grant and advise the National Programme Coordinator on the progress of expenditures
•   Post transactions in a computerised double entry accounting system; ensuring a clear audit trail through adequate cross reference of ledgers to supporting documents and a filing system that allows for ease of retrieval of documents
•   Monitoring disbursement to implementing agencies and ensuring that returns are submitted promptly
•   Preparation of tax, social security and other statutory returns and ensuring that all payments are done promptly

2.3 Procurement duties:

•   Liaise with the Programme procurement officer in preparing and monitoring the project procurement plan
•   Liaise with Procurement Officer to ensure no commitments are entered into unless there is adequate coverage in AWPB and to support in contract management to ensure that contractors are paid only after fulfilling all contractual conditions

2.4 General Administration:

•   Prepare, facilitate and actively participate in all supervision missions of donors and their representatives
•   Maintain good relations with accounting officers of implementing institutions and agree with them a schedule for financial reporting

2.5 Auditing:

•   Prepare and facilitate audits as required by the loan/grant agreement and country laws and regulations
•   Facilitate and ensure that external auditors are provided all necessary documents during the audit as detailed in the Programme Financing Agreement; and that all recommendations and actions as agreed are implemented on schedule
•   Any other duty that may be assigned to him/her by National Programme Coordinator

Qualification Required & Experience

Required Profile:

•   Have preferably a Master in a accounting, commerce or Chartered Accountant
•   Have 5 years of practical working experience in financial management and accounting of donor-funded projects;
•   Have good computer skills in general, in particular have good command of software used in finance and accounting. Having good experience with IFAD-financed projects and knowledge of TOMPRO, Pastel or SCALA software would constitute added advantage
•   Good command of written and spoken English
•   Ability to work with minimum supervision
•   Ability to pay attention to details
•   Must be committed to meeting deadlines
•   Willingness to work extra hours and sometimes on weekends or when required

Location: Kumasi

How To Apply For The Job

Qualified and interested applicants should send application letters with copies of curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documents to:

The National Programme Coordinator
Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P. O. Box 7728
Cadbury Hall, Asokwa - Kumasi
Ghana

Closing Date: 05 August, 2013

Please indicate telephone, fax numbers and email address to facilitate early and easy contact.

Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted