WSUP is a non-profit partnership between the private sector, NGOs and research institutions focused on solving the global problem of inadequate water and sanitation in low-income urban communities.

WSUP brings lasting solutions to low-income areas by working in partnership with service providers including water utilities, local authorities and businesses, and the communities they serve.

WSUP strengthens the capacity of service providers to deliver sustainable city-wide water and sanitation services, promote good hygiene and raise the environmental standards of low income communities.

Job Summary

The purpose of the Finance Officer Kumasi role is to provide support to the WUSP Country Programme Team in order to ensure that all financial and administrative aspects of the implementation of the project supported by WSUP proceed in a coordinated, efficient and timely manner in accordance with the agreed programme and budget.

The Finance Officer shall report to the Ghana Country Programme Manager (CPM) who will report to the Programme Director (PD).

The Finance Officer shall also report to the WSUP Finance Manager in London for all matters concerning WSUP Financial Policies and Procedures.

Specific Duties
To be responsible for all aspects of finances and office administration for the WSUP Ghana programme office in accordance with WSUP Policies and Procedures as notified by the Finance Manager and Programme Director at WSUP Secretariat, London.

A.  Finance

•  Responsible for monitoring, coordinating and checking all contracts, PSA’s and Task Orders that are required to deliver the country programme activities.  To assist the Country Programme Manager and Programme Director in preparing the financial sections of contract agreements.
•  Ensure that all disbursements are properly undertaken and to ensure that all payments made under contracts and Task Orders are correct and in accordance with signed agreements.
•  Assist the Country Programme Manager in ensuring that all expenditure is necessary and appropriate for the delivery of the programme objectives and is in accordance with the funders’ accounting requirements.
•  Administer the processing of all expenditure relating to the programme office including; proper authorisation by the budget manager (CPM or PD), proper coding according to the WSUP code lists, data-capture onto the accounting system and payments to suppliers by due dates.
•  Ensure that the WSUP Ghana accounting is in accordance with Ghanaian legal regulations and to prepare all financial reports and statements required by law and national organisations.
•  Assist the Country Programme Manager in monitoring staff time-sheets in accordance with the budgets agreed and funding available.
•  Ensure the correct payment of monthly salaries for all staff directly employed by WSUP Ghana, including correct calculation and deduction of all local taxes etc.
•  Ensure all local taxes are properly recorded and promptly paid.
•  Prepare monthly bank reconciliations and other balance sheet reconciliations.
•  Manage the petty cash, including cash advances for staff and guests to international workshops, ensuring compliance with WSUP's expense policy and proper authorisation, coding and recording of all items.
•  Send all monthly financial returns to the WSUP Secretariat in London by the required deadlines.
•  Review all expenditure reports prepared by the local WSUP Member offices against their Task Orders.  Ensure that all expenditure is appropriate to WSUP, is properly coded and authorised.  To prepare financial reports for inputting into WSUP's accounting system.
•  File all WSUP Ghana financial records so that they can be easily available when required for audit.
•  Maintain an asset register for all WSUP Ghana computer & office equipment and vehicles.
•  Ensure appropriate insurance for WSUP Ghana assets and also as required by local regulations.
•  Ensure that vehicle log books and maintenance records are kept.
•  Prepare schedules of expenditure for reporting to Funders, liaising with WSUP Secretariat in London
•  Liaise with and prepare schedules for auditors as required
•  Issue receipts for all money received locally and pay them into the bank promptly
•  Ensure compliance with all other local legal regulations, particularly as affects registration requirements.
•  Any other financial or work that may be required by CPM and PD or WSUP Secretariat Finance Manager.

B.    Funding

•  Assist the Country Programme Manager and the WSUP Secretariat Funding Team with the preparation of funding applications to both local and international agencies;  in particular to assist with preparing the budgets.
•  Assist the Programme Funding Officer in maintaining and updating the Programme Funding Strategy and Action Plan in consultation with the Country Programme Manager and Programme Director.

C.    Office Administration

•  Assist the Country Programme Manager to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the WSUP Ghana office.
•  Maintain Personnel records for all Ghana staff including copies of all contractual correspondence.  Ensure WSUP Ghana complies with all local labour laws and with WSUP's HR Policy.

Duration
The Finance Officer will be recruited as soon as possible and employed on a long term basis (“unlimited period”) as part of the WSUP team based in Kumasi.

Qualification Required & Experience

The Finance Officer shall have the following:

Essential

•  Suitable professional qualifications relevant to perform the above mentioned tasks competently and with responsibility.  A finance related graduate degree and/or a recognised professional Finance or Accounting qualification is preferred.
•  Able to demonstrate that they can satisfactorily perform the duties by reference to their previous work experience.  This may have taken place as a Finance Officer or Manager in private or public sector organisations.
•  Good communications skills including a satisfactory level of spoken and written English communication.
•  A good level of expertise with Excel, including the ability to write formulae.  A satisfactory level of computing skills with accounting software packages.  Willing to learn.
•  Experience of preparing budgets.
•  Able to manage a busy workload and consistently meet deadlines whilst maintaining a meticulous attention to accuracy.
•  Able to work as a key member of a small team and to take the lead in advising the Country Programme Manager.
•  Committed to the vision and aims of Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor.

Desirable

•  Experience with preparing budgets for funding applications.
•  Knowledge of local taxes and experience of payroll preparation.
•  Experience or understanding of the accounting requirements of international funding organisations.
•  Accounting experience in the charity or not-for-profit sector.
•  Experience in using Sun Accounts

Location: Kumasi

How To Apply For The Job

This is a challenging opportunity for a dedicated, ambitious and highly motivated professional available almost immediately. If you meet the above requirements, please send a completed application form and details of your current salary to:

The Country Programme Manager, by email to:

ibmusah@wsup.com

Closing Date:  22 January 2013

•  We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
•  WSUP is an equal opportunities employer.