Reports to:

Administrative Supervisor : Research Team Leader - Seed Systems, International Nurseries and Seed Health.

Technical Supervisor: Finance Operations Manager.

Location: Cairo, Egypt

Main purpose of position

The position is required to perform a key function of overseeing the project finance and donor reporting functions specifically for this project. The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring that the financial accounts and project reports comply with the policies and procedures of ICARDA and the donors.

The successful incumbent for this role will be based in Cairo, Egypt and will have two supervisors: the Project Coordinator as their administrative supervisor, and the Finance Operations Manager as their technical supervisor.

About ICARDA

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR. ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org

All CGIAR Centers are currently engaged into a reform process (“One CGIAR’”) that will help ICARDA and CGIAR achieve better impact through more strategically integrated research, unified governance, an integrated structure and new research modalities across participating Research Centers. This transformation is supported by CGIAR donors who have committed to increased funding as a result of these reforms.

Main responsibilities

The Project Accountant - TAAT Wheat value chain project is expected to:

• Establish a functional accounting and financial system;
• Prepare, examine, and analyze accounting records, financial statements, and other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness and conformance to reporting and procedural standards;
• Produce regular reports on commitments and available funds per categories of expenditure;
• Prepare expenditures justification and disbursement and direct payment requests for Bank approvals;
• Keep regular communication with the project task manager and the disbursement officer in the Bank’s Treasury Department to expedite the processing of special account replenishment and direct payments requests and provide any additional information;
• Report in a timely manner to the project manager and upon Bank’s request on the financial status of the project;
• Establish tables of accounts, and assign entries to proper accounts;
• Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs;
• Develop, implement, update, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology;
• Advise management about issues such as resource utilization, and the assumptions underlying budget forecasts;
• Provide internal auditing services for project in conformity with ICARDA internal audit procedures and the appraisal report, the grant protocol and the disbursement letter of the project;
• Assist and provide needed information by Bank supervision missions and external financial audit missions and work in collaboration with the project manager on the implementation of the audit recommendations;
• Contribute to the preparation of the annual work plan and budget particularly for the financial parts;
• Contribute to the preparation of the annual and quarterly reports particularly on the financial parts;
• Assist the project manager in ensuring compliance with Bank financial management rules and procedures and the guidelines rules contained in the administrative and financial management manual;
• Assist the project manager in the administrative management of the project team personnel.

Requirements

Essential qualifications and competencies

• University degree in Accounting, Commerce, Finance or equivalent.
• At least 3 years’ experience in handling the accounting and financial matters of Research & Development projects or similar projects.

• Excellent communication skills - ability to communicate with peers and management at all levels of the organization;

• Strong computer skills, with proficiency in using MS office suite especially Excel;
• Solid experience in working on an ERP system and SharePoint;

• Strong organizational abilities and interpersonal skills;

• Strong client-service orientation.

Desirable qualifications and competencies

• Good experience with projects funded by international donors;
• Chartered Professional Accountant Certification (CPA), or a relevant financial certificate.

Benefits

Terms of appointment, salary, and benefits

This is a nationally recruited position for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, five months’ maternity leave, 15 days’ paternity leave. The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of 1 year, renewable for a maximum of 2 additional years subject to continued need for the position and satisfactory performance. The first 6 months will be probationary period.

ICARDA is committed to increasing women representation in its workforce and strongly encourages applications from women.

Applications will be acknowledged, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.