Catholic Relief Services, an international non-governmental agency specializing in relief and community development, is seeking highly qualified individuals to fill an opening with AIDSRelief, a dynamic HIV/AIDS treatment program. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is leading the implementation of the AIDSRelief project in Haiti in partnership with Futures Group (FG), the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) and Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB). AIDSRelief is funded through the US Government’s President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The AIDSRelief program is a multi-year, multi-million dollar project that delivered high quality, durable anti-retroviral therapy (ART) during the first five years of the program. Currently, AIDSRelief Haiti is implementing a three-year sustainability plan which involves transfer of key program responsibilities to local organizations in Haiti.

The Project Accountant’s primary responsibility is to review partner liquidation documents and to monitor budget utilization vis-à-vis the approved project budget and justification narrative. S/he ensures adherence to CRS and donor financial policies and procedures and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The Project Accountant maintains an effective functional liaison between CRS and partners and ensures timely follow up on all finance related issues concerning project. S/he is expected to provide monthly status reports of project advance & liquidations. S/he will assist in quarterly analysis to track partner expenditure rates, to improve accuracy in partner cash forecast and to rellocate funds to address program priorities.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:


1. Ensure that separate files are maintained for project agreements, correspondences, proposed and approved formats, policies and procedures, etc related to projects/programs.

2. Ensure the prompt completion and submission of partner financial reports by the 10th of each month. Keep partners infomed of un-liquidated balances and provide appropriate assistance to expedite regular submission of liquidations.

3. Ensure that all partners uniformly and consistently utilize the approved CRS forms for project advances, liquidations and resubmission of questioned costs.

4. Verify partner liquidation documents according to approved project budget and justification narrative. Ensure that all transactions are supported by adequate & auditable documentation.

5. Ensure monthly submission of bank reconciliation statements and copies of bank statements from partners to assist in verification of cash balance calculated in liquidation documents. Verify that any differences in amounts with the cash count documents and the balance noted as available at the end of the month.

6. Send official communication to partners on summary results and/or changes in expenditures sheet submitted, including a detailed breakdown of questioned costs (if any) by the 15th of each month.

7. Ensure that partners resubmit questioned documents with complete documentation in 2 weeks after official communication on expenditures.

8. Cancel original partner liquidation documents with ‘processed/paid’ stamp and return original documents to partners. Ensure that CRS maintains copies of all partner liquidation documents for archives.

9. Prepare and process journal entries according to CRS financial procedures.

10. Prepare monthly and quarterly Budget Comparison Reports (BCRs) showing project advances/liquidations of partners and drilldown/extract of expenses to support review of global budget status.

11. Ensure accuracy in partner cash forecast in conformity with the approved project budget and ensure deductions of any outstanding cash balances.

12. Ensure timely disbursement of funds once partner cash forecast is approved and processed.

13. Prepare quarterly reconciliation of account balances with partners and ensure followup and all necessary actions to clear existing differences.

14. Recommend internal control and accounting systems that improves compliance with the policies and regulations of CRS and donors.

15. Visit partner finance staff and build their financial accounting and internal control capacity. Provide onsite mentoring and introduce newly developed and revised policies and procedures of CRS and donor agencies.

16. Participate in finance and compliance training sessions organized for partners and CRS staff. Provide valuable inputs to ensure consistency and efficacy in financial management and policies as relevant to the program.

17. Follow up & assist partners in implementing audit findings and recommendations of internal and external auditors,

18. Advice and follow up partners to conduct physical count of properties at least once in a year. Make sure partners maintain complete register of properties that shows the whole history of the property such as identification number, cost of acquisition, date of purchase, location, current status, etc.

19. Maintain an independent inventory record of properties for each partner and reconcile regularly with the records kept with partners,

20. Actively participate in program meetings as appropriate to effectively plan and collectively coordinate financial and programmatic activities in conjunction with partner capacity building activities.

21. Participate in planning and implementation of institutional capacity assessment and periodic review of potential new partner organizations.

22. Participate in preparation and process of external firm audits in accordance with grant requirements.

23. Maintain liaisons with the banks regarding transfer of funds, closing of account and other finance issues such as bank statement, lack of fund, correction, stop payment, clearing etc.

24. Perform other duties as necessary.


Back-up Responsibilities:

1. Prepare cash disbursements vouchers and checks for all funds.
2. Prepare bank reconciliations for all banks.
3. Process liquidations for employee, travel, short-term operating and vendor advances.
4. Assume the duties and responsibilities of the immediate supervisor in his/her absence.


SUPERVISION: Not applicable

1. University degree or equivalent experience in Accounting.
2. Minimum three years accounting project experience in non-governmental organization.
3. Prior experience with USG grant a plus.
4. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
5. Excellent communication and writing skills in French and English; fluency in Haitian Creole.
6. Computer literacy in Microsoft Office Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
7. Familiarity with accounting software (Quickbooks, Accpac, Sun Systems, etc.)
8. Ability to work as a team player and proactively collaborate and communicate with colleagues across all levels of institution and partner networks.
9. Flexibility and capacity to work under pressure in a fast-paced, security-challenged environment.
10. Willingness and ability to travel extensively in Haiti (up to 60% of the time).

Organization’s values related to the position:
Dignity of the human person. / Common good. / Option for the poor. / Applies a positive, action-oriented attitude.

Interested candidates should send their curriculum vitae with a cover letter, and copy of certificates in a sealed envelope with the mention of AR—PJA--0210, before March 5th, 2010,

IMPORTANT: CECI EST UNE RELANCE DU POSTE QUI AVAIT ETE PUBLIE LE 21 DECEMBRE DERNIER. LES CANDIDATS QUI ONT DEJA POSTULE DOIVENT S'ABSTENIR CAR NOUS AVONS DEJA LEURS DOSSIERS. MERCI!

IMPORTANT: THIS POSITION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 21TH, 2009. CANDIDATES WHOM ALREADY SENT THEIR APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION, ARE NOT ALLOWED TO APPLY AGAIN. THANK YOU!

2010-03-05