Vacancy: CFTC Ghana Finance and Administration Manager

Company Profile

Established in 1986, Canadian Feed The Children (CFTC) is an independent, non-faith-based, registered charitable organization with its headquarters in Toronto, Canada.  CFTC envisions a world where children thrive free from poverty. Working with local partners internationally and in Canada, the organisation’s mission is to unlock children's potential through community-led action in Canada and around the world.

CFTC builds community capacity and helps create opportunities for long-term, sustainable food security, climate change, livelihoods and access to quality early childhood care and primary education in Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda, as well as in Canada.  Programs in Canada are focused on food security and nutrition in Aboriginal communities, where the organisation funds school and community-based feeding and healthy eating education programs.  www.canadianfeedthechildren.ca.

Job Description

• Reports to: CFTC Ghana Country Director


• Direct reports: No Direct Reports


• Type: Two Years (Renewable) 

Position Summary

The Finance and Administrative Manager is a management position responsible for the effective financial and administrative management of the Canadian Feed The Children (CFTC) program and country office in Ghana. The role requires a proactive, dedicated, detail orientated, and dynamic person with organizational and project financial management, accounting and administrative experience to support the Country Office and all implementing partners. Under the direction of the Ghana Country Director, the Finance and Administration Manager will work in close collaboration with the CFTC project and financial staff in Ghana and the Home Office in Canada to ensure the effective day to day management of CFTC Ghana’s core operating budget, project budgets, and all administrative function.

The position holder will also provide hands on support to CFTC implementing partner organizations to ensure effective and timely financial management and reporting. S/he will also have oversight over the Country Office administration. The Finance and Administration Manager will be a strong communicator, demonstrate team spirit and a commitment to producing high quality work.

The CFTC Ghana Country Program is currently implementing three (3) projects; The INCOME, CLIMATE (funded by African Development Bank) and SHINE (Funded by Global Affairs Canada and starting in January 2022) projects in partnership with three local partners and supported by a number of technical institutions. We plan to expand so require a proactive team member who can help us grow effectively. The responsibilities in this job description are subject to evolve as the CFTC programs and operations in Ghana expand or contract.

The role of this hands-on position is to develop and implement strong financial reporting systems and related procedures as well as to provide effective administrative support to CFTC staff and partners. The incumbent will divide her/his time between the CFTC and partner offices as needed.

Areas of  Responsibility 

Project Financial Management

1. Work with the CFTC HO Finance staff to design, set up and implement budget management, partner budget management, and project financial reporting frameworks and tools


2. Implement and regularly review the financial reporting frameworks and tools


3. Produce monthly and quarterly financial reports for review and submission to the Country Director and further to CFTC HO and project donors. This includes design and preparation of allocation workbooks and monthly and quarterly cash flows


4. Collaborate with partner Finance and Administration Officers to produce accurate and timely financial reports, and undertake regular spot checks and audits to ensure accuracy


5. Work with the CFTC Ghana Country Director to document and oversee all payments related to Country Office and project expenses, and to monitor cashflow and fund transfers to partner organizations


6. Prepare all journal entries including recurring and amortization entries. Set up prepaid and/or payables when necessary and handle all the analyzing, classifying, coding and posting process of the organization transactions


7. Maintain accurate financial records of all project and Country Office financial transactions. This includes remaining responsible for computer/data backup in compliance with CFTC books and records policy and restoration and guiding the Driver and Logistics Officer to do proper filing


8. Participate in periodic monitoring visits to partners and ensure compliance, support on sound financial management and provide technical support in Quick Books handling and best internal controls at the partner level


9. Liaise with the Country Director to inventory, insure and manage all Country Office assets


10. Process CFTC Ghana staff payroll and other statutory deductions including withholding Tax, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Employees Tier 2 payable to Enterprise Insurance and others as applicable


11. Liaise with the Country Director to ensure Country Office operations are compliant with local and national laws and policies (employment, environmental, health and safety, etc.). This includes checking for completeness, accuracy, sufficiency of the supporting documents for every transaction made by the organization


12. Liaise with the Ghana Project Manager, Country Director and CFTC Head Office Finance team to ensure smooth and timely financial management of Country Office operations and partners’ financials


13. Support budget development for multi-year core programing, Annual Operation Plans and in the preparation of concepts and proposals


14. Prepare work documents and liaise with external auditors to conduct annual audit of Country Office and project accounts


15. Participate and procure project items in compliance with all CFTC procurement procedures/processes under the CLIMATE project


16. Oversee the management of the petty cash under the project


17. Support and reinforce a strong effective work team


18. Support the Country Director in ensuring the CFTC Ghana Country Office works in compliance with the CFTC operations manual and with local and national laws (employment, environmental, safety and health etc)


19. Perform any other duties assigned by the Country Director within the scope and intent of the job that may be required from time to time.


20. Adhere and comply with all CFTC policies including but not limited to child protection, confidentiality, respect in the workplace and code of conduct.

Required Skills or Experience

• University degree required in financial management and/or accounting; preferably with professional accounting designation


• Minimum 5 years’ experience in project accounting with an international NGO. Experience working on Global Affairs Canada and African Development Bank Projects is an added advantage.


• Experience in designing and implementing financial reporting systems, procedures and tools


• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to act as a team player and provide a high level of service to internal and external customers.


• Ability and willingness to demonstrate the CFTC values in every aspect of work


• Ready to work additional and flexible hours when required along with travel to other CFTC project locations.


• Desire to make a difference while having fun in the process.

Skills and Competencies Required

• Superior understanding of project financial management


• Proven ability to provide capacity-building training to staff and partners


• Competence in using Quick Books and Excel spreadsheets


• Solid understanding of international development projects and project cycle management


• Solid business writing skills in English for report writing


• Superior skills in building productive working relationships with team colleagues, country offices, donors and partners


• Basic understanding of international development funders such as Global Affairs Canada - GAC, AfDB and other multilateral agencies and foundations


• 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 principle languages of northern Ghana


• Able to drive


• Experience working with a Canadian NGO or Canadian funding agency