Project/Grant Accountant - (Field Only)

Job Summary

The Project / Grant Accountant support the financial management of the assigned project/grant by ensuring adherence to CRS accounting standards, GAAP, donor requirements, and legal regulations throughout the project life cycle. S/he focuses on project‑specific financial transactions, including timely documentation, account verification, preparation of journal entries, financial analysis, and grant‑level reporting. You will work closely with the project team to ensure accurate budget monitoring, compliance with donor rules, and effective financial support to achieve project objectives.

Note: Depending on the project/grant portfolio (scope and complexity), the Project/Grant Accountant can be assigned responsibility for delivery of accounting and financial reporting services for either payable or receivable transactions.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Set and monitor sound accounting and financial reporting procedures for project/grant sub-recipients and partners following established standards. Ensure setup and maintenance of all data required for processing financial transactions for assigned project/grant accounts in Insight  financial accounting package.
• Review and validate supporting documentation before processing of financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete and authorizations are in place. 
• Record financial transactions following appropriate authorizations. Review and analyze various accounts to detect irregularities. Advise on corrective actions and prepare correcting entries and adjustments, as necessary.
• Oversee and lead the financial close-out of global projects..
• Assess, evaluate and monitor sub recipient financial management processes in accordance with policy and strengthen capacity of partner in financial accounting and transactions.
• Monitor disbursement/receipt schedules, alert relevant project/grant staff of due payments/liquidations and maintain a reporting tracking and communications system to ensure that sub-recipients adhere to reporting deadlines, milestones, expiration dates, and donor approved changes in grant procedures.
• Prepare various periodic and ad hoc financial reports and perform variance analysis to assist project/grant staff with decision-making. .
• Develop tools, operations manuals, and communication to ensure global grant staff and sub recipients are aware of and implement donor policies on compliance issues e.g., time keeping, travel, and procurement.
• Provide information to project/grant staff, sub recipients, and partners on financial accounting policies and procedural compliance issues and deliver training and other capacity building activities
• Provide oversight in the development of cost applications, ensuring budgets are reasonable, accurate, and adequately reflect the costs of activities required to successfully carry out the program.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA or equivalent).
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international or local NGO, or a financial/banking institution.
• Knowledge of the relevant public donor regulations preferred.
• Knowledge of SunSystems financial accounting package or similar financial reporting software preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the relevant public donor regulations preferred.
• Knowledge of SunSystems financial accounting package or similar financial reporting software preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. 
• Excellent analytical skills with ability to detect and report inconsistencies
• Conscientious, accurate and thorough with great attention to detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively

Required Languages:  French. English can be an asset

Travel: include percentage of required travel, if applicable.   able to travel up to 25 %.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.