Vacancy: Ghana Finance and Administration Assistant

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: Ghana Finance and Administration Manager


• Type: Two Years Contract 

Canadian Feed the Children’s vision is a world in which children thrive, free of poverty. For 35 years, CFTC has been working with local partners in Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Bolivia, and with Indigenous Nations and communities in Canada, to deliver community-led programs that have positive, meaningful, and sustained impact on the health, education and well-being of children and the self-sufficiency of their families and communities. If you share our passion for bettering children’s lives, and you thrive in a collaborative, values-based culture please consider applying for this role.

About this opportunity

The Finance and Administrative Assistant is responsible for supporting the effective financial and administrative operations of the Canadian Feed The Children (CFTC) program and country office in Ghana. The role requires a proactive, dedicated, and dynamic person with some experience in accounting and administration, an attention to detail, and a willingness to learn. Under the direction of the Finance and Administration Manager, the assistant will work in close collaboration with other CFTC project and financial staff in Ghana and with the Home Office in Canada to ensure basic financial and administrative operations. The position holder will also provide hands on support to the Finance and Administrative Manager in financial management and reporting. S/he will be a strong communicator, demonstrate a collaborative and team working spirit and a commitment to producing high quality work.

The CFTC Ghana Country Program is currently implementing three (3) projects; The Integrated Community Empowerment Project (INCOME), CLIMATE (funded by African Development Bank) and SHINE (Funded by Global Affairs Canada) projects in partnership with three local partners and supported by a number of technical institutions. We plan to expand so we 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 provide operations and administrative support to the Country Finance and Programs team.

Responsibilities

Project Financial and Administrative Operations

• Support in maintaining accurate financial records of all project and Country Office financial transactions. This includes compliance with CFTC books and records policy and ensuring orderly filing system for easy retrieval of hard copies


• 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


• Support the finance Manager in the preparation of journal entries including recurring and amortization entries


• Under the direction of the supervisor, liaise with the Logistics Assistant to inventory and insure all Country Office assets


• Assist with finance reporting to CFTC home office ensuring accuracy and completeness


• Assist with quarterly reviews of financial reports for various partners and budget/forecast variance analysis


• Prepare various project finance reports, including allocations costs to the projects


• Support the Finance and Administrative Manager to 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


• Liaise with the Finance and Administrative Manager to ensure compliance; compliant with local and national laws and policies (employment, environmental, health and safety, etc.)


• Support in the budget development for yearly core programing, Annual Operation Plans and in data collection for the preparation of concepts and proposals


• Provide support to the supervisor to prepare work documents to enable yearly successful external audits – core and project accounts


• Participate and procure project items in compliance with all CFTC procurement procedures/processes under the SHINE project


• Responsible for the management of the petty cash under the project


• Support and reinforce a strong effective work team


• Perform any other duties assigned by the Finance and Administration Manager and or by other Manager (s) in liaison with your supervisor


• Adhere and comply with all CFTC policies including but not limited to child protection, confidentiality, respect in the workplace and code of conduct and sign off attestation of all the policies thereof


• Effecting payments through cheques and where applicable use the organization accounting software.


• Conduct monthly reconciliations - Bank Reconciliations, Ledgers Reconciliations, Petty/Cash/reconciliation


• Updating books and records on monthly basis after month end closure of books


• Filing statutory obligations (Taxes) on monthly basis

Required Skills or Experience

• A Higher National Diploma/University degree financial management and/or accounting. A professional accounting designation is an asset but not required.


• Minimum 3 years’ experience in project accounting with an international NGO. Experience working on Global Affairs Canada funded projects is an added advantage.


• Experience in supporting and managing operations and administration


• Minimum intermedium skills in MS Office especially in excel


• Ability to plan and prioritize work and with strong attention to detail


• 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

• Understanding of project financial Operations and Office administration


• Competence in using Quick Books and Excel spreadsheets


• 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, 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 principal languages of northern Ghana


• Able to drive is an added advantage


• Experience working with a Canadian NGO or Canadian funding agency


• Ability to work remotely