Accountant Assistant - Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA)

BACKGROUND

The Government of Ghana has received funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the implementation of Promoting Rural Opportunities, Sustainable Profits & Environmental Resilience (PROSPER)" Project. The project's total cost is estimated at US$52.5 million. This is made up of a Blended Loan of US$35.1 million and a Highly concessional Loan of US$17.3 million. The project will adopt the Value Chain Approach for developing agricultural growth in the country and aims at developing agricultural value chains and in crease agricultural production. PROSPER will support the implementation of the Ministry's five years strategy

The Project Development Goal/Objective:

PROSPER is to Strengthen the integration, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability of smallholders and businesses in the selected priority value chains.

Coverage/Geographic Area:

PROSPER will be implemented over an 8-year period. The geo-graphic area of intervention extends to eight (8) regions. Five (5) regions in the North (Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper West and Upper East Regions), and three neighbouring regions in the Middle Belt (Bono, Bone East, and Oti). Two regions down South (Eastern and Volta regions) are envisaged to be included during implementation.

Project Targeting Strategy:

PROSPER's primary target groups will be the poorest households.

The targeting strategy considers: (i) high rural population (ii) high poverty prevalence (ii) high rate of food and nutrition insecurity (iv) strong concentration of female and male youth (v) presence of relevant economic opportunities (vi) the level of degradation of the productive Natu ral Resource base (particularly soil, water and vegetation) and (vii) indicators of climate vulnerability.

Project Components -

The project has three components:

Component 1: Development of rural institutions and socioeconomic infrastructure. The expected outcome is improved sustainable livelihoods in target areas supported by strengthened rural institutions and improved socioeconomic infrastructures. These actions are concentrated on investing in "public goods" (feeder roads/farm tracks, portable drinking water, public toilets) within and for the benefit of the targeted 100,000 beneficiaries in the project areas.

Component 2: Strengthening the economic benefits for smallholders and small operators around selected agricultural value chains.

The expected outcome is smallholders and small businesses draw greater benefits from the increasing market outlets for agricultural produce through comprehensive financial, capacity and marketing support. Whereas the first component will invest in the human, physical and natural resources of the target communities, the second component is concentrated on investing in the "private goods" of the population to bring about a sustained uplift in the earning capacity of agricultural producer groups and related enterprises

Component 3 Project management and Policy engagement.

The expected outcome of this support component is efficient and timely delivery of PROSPER development results and support to evidence-based sectoral policy formulation.

Duration and location of the assignment:

This is a full-time assignment for an initial period of 24 months renewable based on satisfactory performance from the date of contract signature for all positions. Selected consultants must not be engaged in any other ongoing assignment in Ghana or elsewhere at the time the employee contract comes into force. Non-compliance would lead to the cancellation of the contract by MOFA. Falsifying personal data would also lead to disqualification.

The location of the assignment will be outside Greater Accra.
Contract Type
Performance-based contract, initially for one year with the possibility of renewal based on satisfactory performance and project needs.

REPORTS TO: Finance Manager

Responsibilities

• Master IFAD key documents such as, the disbursement handbook, procurement guidelines and handbook, IFAD guidelines for project audits, the Financing Agreement (FA) and the Letter to the Borrower (LTB).
• Become familiar with and ensure adherence to IFAD's key financial documents, including the disbursement handbook, procurement guidelines, project audit guidelines, the Financing Agreement (FA), and the Letter to the Borrower (LTB).
• Assist the Project Accountant and Finance Manager in the implementation of a sound financial management system as described in the Financial Management Manual.
• Prepare and accurately input all financial transactions into the PCU accounting system, ensuring that all necessary supporting documentation is readily available, properly filed, and complies with project and IFAD guidelines before submission for approval
• Process all payments, ensuring that PCU procedures are strictly adhered to;
• Process monthly payroll, payment of salaries to staff and project contributions;
• Manage and report on the use of Petty Cash in accordance with the approved procedures;
• Assist the Project Accountant and the Finance Manager in the preparation of withdrawal applications;
• Assist in preparing the cash flow forecasts as required;
• Monitor financial returns and expenditure reports from Implementing Partners, including periodic verification visits to their offices, and effectively liaise with them on justification of advances,financial reporting, audit processes, and findings.
• Assist in the preparation and monitoring of annual operational budgets;
• Prepare quarterly and annual financial reports in agreed format
  including: i) sources and uses of funds statement, including incurred expenditures by component, expenditure category and financier, ii) variance report (actual vs budgeted expenditures), iii) designated account reconciliation statement, iv) Withdrawal application-statement of expenditure, v) fixed asset register, vi) contract register for submission to the Project steering committee, Lead Project Agency and IFAD;
• Ensure the timely preparation of quarterly and annual financial reports in agreed format including: i) sources and uses of funds statement, including incurred expenditures by component, expenditure category and financier, ii) variance report (actual vs budgeted expenditures), iii) designated account reconciliation statement, iv) Withdrawal 24 application-statement of expenditure, v) fixed asset register,
• vi) contract register for submission to the Programme steering committee, Lead Project Agency and IFAD;
• Assist in the preparation and ensure the timely submission of accurate quarterly and annual financial reports in the agreed format, including sources and uses of funds, variance reports (actual vs. budgeted expenditures), designated account reconciliation statements, withdrawal application-statement of expenditure, fixed asset register, and contract register.
• Ensure these reports disaggregate expenditures by component, category, financier, and highlight spending related to climate resilience, gender, youth, and nutrition-sensitive activities for submission to the Project Steering Committee, Lead Project Agency, and IFAD.
• Maintain a well-organized, up-to-date, and secure filing system for all accounting and financial records (both physical and digital), ensuring proper backup and easy accessibility for audit purposes. Implement and maintain a fixed asset tagging system, and conduct annual physical inventories of project assets.
• Perform physical inventory of project assets each year;
• Assist the Project Accountant and the Finance Manager in the preparation of the accounting manual of the PCU;
• Undertake any other activities assigned by PCU management.
• Make sure all expenditure items: i) meet the eligibility criteria as defined in the IFAD financing agreement,
• ii) are supported by adequate documentation (invoice, contracts, evidence of payments etc.);
• Ensure all project records are properly filed all project records in a systematic way and maintain proper back up;
• Prepare monthly bank account reconciliations are prepared in a timely manner and reconciliation items are promptly followed up on;
• Assist in the annual audit process and facilitate that the project auditors have access to all necessary files;
• Liaise with the implementing partners including i) justification of advances, reporting of expenditures, financial reporting, audit process and audit findings;
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Finance Manager, Project Accountant, or Project Coordinator that are aligned with the project's financial management needs
• Assist the Finance Manager in monitoring financial transactions and documentation to ensure compliance with the IGREENFIN Operational Manual regarding green investments supported by grants and loans from the Matching Grant Facility and Blended Finance Facility (BFF).

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