By Yessica Castillo
March 22, 2024
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Posted 2 days ago
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships.
This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.
CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security and improving natural resources.
The CIMMYT Regional office for Africa is located at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) at Gigiri, Nairobi, with country offices in Ethiopia, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
In Kenya, CIMMYT is hosted by World Agroforestry (ICRAF), that is headquartered on United Nations Avenue, Nairobi. We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and World Agroforestry by accessing our web sites: www.cimmyt.org and www.worldagroforestry.org
CIMMYT is looking for a Finance Coordinator to provide Financial Management leadership enabling strategic and timely decision-making by the initiatives and projects leaders and staff.
On a periodic basis and ad-hoc upon request provide overall financial overview of the program, including variance analysis; propose appropriate corrective actions in response to unacceptable variances. Advise initiative and project leaders about potential problem areas and recommend/implement agreed solutions.
The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya.
Summary of responsibilities:
- Financial coordination and management support.
- Provide Financial Management leadership and support to BRI and BMI Directors, Senior Project Managers and other senior staff enabling strategic and timely decision making by upper management.
- On periodic basis and ad-hoc upon request provide overall financial overview of the initiatives, including variance analysis; propose appropriate corrective actions in response to unacceptable variances.
- Advise supervisor and management about potential problem areas and
recommend/implement agreed solutions. - Support the Senior Project Managers with financial aspects of workforce planning and recruitment of staff by identifying gaps in staffing in relation to available budgets: identify/signal funding gaps.
- Review partner/collaborator contracts on financial aspects; review of financial reports issued by collaborators and request contractual payments. Ensure financial compliance of collaborator with grant agreement.
- Review financial transactions as per established Delegation of Authority Matrix (DOA) and eligibility as per CGIAR financial frameworks and CIMMYT financial policy and procedures.
- Planning, Monitoring & Operations.
- With input from senior management, develop budgets for new proposals and grant applications as required by donors in line with institutional procedures and tools.
- Ensure full cost recovery of project proposals (and / or identify funding gaps).
- Develop operating budgets for the initiatives, including CAPEX and staffing requirements.
- Perform a monthly budget vs. expenses analysis at project and initiative level, including suggested actions and proposed solutions, to support strategic and timely decisions by Senior Management.
- Upon grant approval, to timely prepare budget templates, coordinate the uploading of budgets in the financial ERP system, and to forecast spending potential, based on project plans in coordination with the Program Finance Management Unit (PFMU) for W3 and bilateral funding and/or Financial Planning Unit (FPU) for W1/2.
- In cooperation with Project leaders/Senior Management, review Financial Donor Reports as prepared by the Program Finance Management Unit (PFMU) and ensure consistency with technical reports and donor agreements.
- Ensures that all accounting entries corresponding to the month and year end closing processes are completely and correctly uploaded into the financial system. Review, analyze and prepare necessary adjusting entries for initiative monthly transactions report.
- Review and/or Maintain Up to date high quality Program Master Data in the ERP, such as, but not limited to, staff allocation percentages, ICC holders, and project master data.
- Compliance, Policies & Systems.
- Ensure compliance with CIMMYT policies and procedures and recommend improvement in internal financial controls and acts as ambassador to cascade down financial policies and procedures within the initiatives.
- During the entire Projects life cycle ensure compliance with donor financial guidelines: Required activities consist of reviewing donor grant agreement, donor grant regulations and periodic review of project transactions. For W1/2 funding preparation and review of periodic financial reporting to the CGIAR system management office (SMO) jointly with the Financial Planning Unit (FPU).
- Support and timely respond to Donor/project Audits and or internal audit requests.
- Ensure research and support costs are fully allocated to projects/ grants in a transparent manner.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a finance position with increasing levels of responsibility in a medium sized to large grant funded organization.
- Excellent use of MS Office (advanced Excel skills). Experience with AX Dynamics will be an advantage.
- Knowledge of financial systems, data mining bases, data extraction methods, report presentation and analytical skills.
- Personal attributes and competencies:
- Excellent time management skills to be able to manage a demanding workload and to manage priorities based on reporting deadlines and impact on the organization.
- Ability to work with different nationalities, under pressure, and as a member of a diverse work team.
- Ability to work independently and demonstrate prioritization and planning skills.
- Strong in problem-solving.
- Be a team contributor who must work cross-functionally with the ability to review and assess risk and project requirements in support of compliance with accounting (IFRS, FG’s and business or functional group outcomes.
- Strong commitment to providing high-level customer service.
Terms and conditions
This is a Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position and on competitive remuneration in local currency, commensurate with skills and experience. The appointment will be for a period of two (2) years, inclusive of a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
Application process
To apply please click here. The application deadline is 5 April 2024. CV and Cover Letter should be in PDF and Labelled with the applicants First and Second Names.
We will acknowledge all applications but will only contact short-listed candidates.
CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. Staff diversity contributes to excellence.
