New Jobs At AMPLIFIES

The AMPLIFIES Ghana project is a 5-year Food for Progress funded USDA initiative aimed at enhancing Ghana’s poultry value chain. AMPLIFIES’ objectives center on three core areas: increasing efficiencies in the poultry feed sector (feed processing, formulation, testing and distribution), increasing the quantity and quality of locally produced feed ingredients (maize and soy); and promoting the consumption of eggs

Job Description

Job Titlle: Finance/Accounting Assistant

• Organization: AMPLIFIES Ghana (USDA funded project)
• Reporting to: Finance Officer
• Location: Accra, Ghana (Office based in Osu)
• Start date: Mid to late January 2017

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is implementing a five-year Food for Progress funded poultry value chain enhancement initiative carried out, in part, by the AMPLIFIES Ghana Project. The aim of USDA’s effort is to increase the competitiveness Ghana’s poultry sector and increase the domestic production of poultry meat and eggs, with AMPLIFIES’ primary focus being poultry feed efficiencies.

Objective
The AMPLIFIES Ghana Finance/Accounting Assistant will be responsible for assisting with the finances of the AMPLIFES Ghana Program. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: assisting with maintaining and preparing accounting finance records, cash management, and preparing payroll.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist in managing the ASA financial system ensuring compliance with ASA and USDA regulations.
• Assist in managing all tasks related to budgeting/financial accounting, including cash flow management, time sheet recording, financial reporting, plus daily monitoring of obligations and expenditures plus responsibility for preparing ongoing financial analyses and forecasts.
• Assist in tracking the transfer of funds between ASA home office and ASA Ghana AMPLIFIES office and also track the transaction of office expenditures and ensure all financial and bank records are appropriate.
• Assist with cash management, including local banking arrangements, cash receipts and payments, and cash requests to HQ
• Assist with general ledger activity including timely recording of transactions and accurate allocation of costs to appropriate activities
• Assist with local payroll activity including adherence to related local labor and tax laws
• Work closely with the AMPLIFIES CoP, DCoP, Program Administrator and Project Director on all financial related matters.
• Assist in maintaining accounting and finance records of in-country (Ghana) expenses.
• Assist with activity-based budget tracking (e.g. the development of spreadsheet programs for tracking and monitoring all financial project activities and maintaining spreadsheets containing current project expense data).
• Assist with ensuring accuracy within all financial records and reports, payments and other related tasks.
• Assist with the overseeing of the financial aspects of project procurement processes and practices (incl. obtaining quotes and assisting with RFP/RFQ solicitations) and ensure that these are in accord with contractual/agreements of ASA as well as USDA rules and regulation.
• Assist with ensuring that all project financial and contract files are maintained, organized and accessible and are backed up weekly.
• Assist with preparation and process accounts payable and related reports and monthly bank reconciliations and submit to ASA for review.
• Assist with trips to the field monthly for audit and collection of receipts, etc.
• Assist with the computing of all Ghanaian and expatriate employee’s income and any other tax amounts owed to the Government of Ghana, make tax payments to the appropriate Ghanaian tax officials and collect and maintain receipts for such tax payments.
• Assist with providing weekly and monthly finance reports to Project Directors/Managers in a timely manner, and with providing HQ with monthly Country Expense Reports.
• Other duties as assigned by the CoP and HQ staff

Required Skills or Experience

Qualifications

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required.

Education and/or Experience

• Candidate should have the minimum of an Associate’s degree in accounting or business administration, or equivalent business experience, as well as knowledge of bookkeeping, records management and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Familiarity of auditing standards and sampling and original records examination is useful.
• Knowledge of generally accepted principles of governmental accounting and/or prior involvement with USDA and/or USAID programs a plus.

Computer Skills

• Must have strong expertise and computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Deep understanding and hands-on experience with commercial accounting software necessary (e.g. QuickBooks).
• Ability to use spreadsheet software as a tool in solving accounting problems and presenting and analyzing accounting data.
• Graphical analysis of accounting information using the charting feature of spreadsheet software, ability to create custom templates, knowledge of database creation and management and knowledge of proper preparation of tabular materials, charts and statistical data highly desired.

Communication Skills

• Must have outstanding oral and written communication skills, and superior proofreading skills.
• Must have ability to relate professionally and communicate effectively with staff and stakeholders at all levels.
• Must be comfortable communicating in an international environment and interacting with people from other cultures.
• Strong personality with the ability to formulate and express opinions and defend/support positions desired.

Reasoning Ability

• Must have a strong command of reasoned, measured decision making.
• Ability and desire to learn the business, think strategically, and operate tactically.
• Ability to learn quickly and multi-task and prioritize in a complex, demanding atmosphere.  Attention to detail is a must.

Organizational Skills

Ability to problem solve; ability to protect the confidentiality/privacy of others, and company documents and records; excellent organizational and planning skills a must; capacity to work independently, prioritize and meet deadlines and follow directions.

How to Apply

Send CV and cover letter to [email protected]

Application deadline: Monday, January 12, 2017 (12:00 noon)