Job Vacancy For Finance and Procurement Assistant At Millennium Villages Project (Northern Ghana)



The Millennium Villages Project, supported by Millennium Promise Alliance and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, is a bottom-up approach to lift developing country villages out of the poverty trap that afflicts more than a billion people worldwide. The Millennium Villages’ team of experts in Agriculture, Nutrition and Health, Economics, Energy, Water, Agribusiness, Environment and Information Technology are working with local communities and governments to apply a proven holistic package of interventions to help villages get out of extreme poverty and meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). With support from Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and funding from the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom, a SADA Millennium Village has been established in parts of the West Mamprusi and Builsa Districts of the Northern and Upper East Regions of Ghana. The project area covers a cluster of contiguous rural communities with an estimated population of 25,000 people.

Description Of Job

JOB SUMMARY
Responsibilities/Duties:
Reporting to the Finance and Administration Manager, the Finance and Procurement Assistant is responsible for maintaining accurate books and records of the SADA MVP Cluster.

•  Coordinate with the supervisor and assisting in the timely preparation of annual MVP site-level budgets.
•  The Finance and procurement Assistant will assist the Finance & Administrative Manager in processing of payment requests and budget checking of vouchers in Quickbooks.
•  Running of payment cycles and writing of cheques
•  Fetching and processing of approved Purchase Order payments
•  Correcting  payments showing error in Quickbooks
•  Attending to vendors / Clients
•  Input payment vouchers with detail analysis into Quickbooks.
•  Processing of accounts receivables and ensuring timely cash lodgements into the project bank account.
•  Maintain daily cash balances, void checks, and prepare monthly bank reconciliations for the Cluster finance Manager’s review
•  Process accounts payable for MDG Center operating expenses: coding, data entry, aging analysis and check runs
•  Filing of voucher, maintaining of check register and any additional duty that may be assigned

Additionally, the Finance and Procurement Assistant will support the Finance and Administrative Manager to:

•  Monitor requests for goods and services by ensuring that they are allowable under limitations, restrictions, and policies, as well as determining availability of funds.
•  Review competitive bids, quotes, and proposals from vendors and contractors; discuss evaluations and review with requesters and subject matter experts
•  Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contracted obligations; assist with clarifying contract requirements and resolving any conflicts.
•  Adhere to the MP’s internal control procedures, makes recommendations to the Finance and Admin Manager
•  Resolve problems and protests concerning bid solicitations, contract awards or contract performance as the need arises. Addresses unauthorized purchases.
•  Convey decisions both verbally and in writing referencing law and policy.
•  Identify and maintain lists of vendors and sources of supply for goods and services
•  Monitor and co-ordinate deliveries of items between suppliers to ensure that all items clear customs in a timely fashion, if applicable, and are delivered to the MVP sites on time.
•  Maintain register for received bids. Provide to finance and Administrative manager on a weekly basis

Terms of offer
MVP offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefits package. The employment contract is for a period of one year with the possibility of renewal.MVP prides itself on its collegial, supportive and gender sensitive working environment and believes that staff diversity promotes excellence.

Qualification Required & Experience

Skills and Professional Experience:

•  Graduate degree in Finance, Accounting, Business administration or any other relevant subject with proven accounting skills.
•  ACCA part 11 or ICA part 3
•  Experience and knowledge of procurement process in a busy organization
•  At least three (3) years of relevant work experience in a closely related field gained in an international Organization;
•  High level of computer skills, ability to handle basic accounting and ability to learn new application quickly.
•  Knowledge of quick book  is an added advantage
•  Must understand the social and cultural setting of the project area
•  Excellent writing, interpersonal, computer and communication skills.

How To Apply For The Job

Applications
Applicants should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. and names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to: SADA.MVP@millenniumpromise.org with copies to employment@mdgwca.org and jacob.ubindam@millenniumpromise.org.“Application for SADA MVP Finance and Procurement Assistant” should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message.

Closing Date: 19 September, 2012

Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

www.millenniumvillages.org,
www.millenniumpromise.org,
www.unmillenniumproject.org,
www.mdgcentre.org

Women are strongly encouraged to apply