CIFOR-ICRAF
The Program Financial Analyst plays a crucial role in ensuring fiscal prudence and strategic financial management within CIMMYT. This position entails comprehensive responsibilities across budgeting, fiscal planning, reporting, compliance, financial analysis, risk management, stakeholder engagement, documentation, and audit coordination, emphasizing a proactive approach in supporting the organization’s financial stability and strategic objectives.
Duties and responsibilities
1. Strategic
Financial Planning:
· Participate in the strategic planning
process, providing financial forecasts and modeling to inform decision-making.
· Collaborate with program
directors to align financial management strategies
with programmatic goals.
2. Financial
Analysis and Monitoring:
· Conduct in-depth financial analyses to
forecast budget trends and assess financial health.
· Prepare financial status reports that
highlight variances and propose necessary corrective actions.
· Monitor budget utilization to ensure
it aligns with project goals and fiscal prudence.
3. Budgeting and Fiscal Planning:
· Develop and maintain fully costed
budgets for all program activities.
· Ensure precise maintenance of budget
breakdowns for clear financial tracking.
· Manage and coordinate budget
submissions to the Project Financial Management Unit (PFMU).
· Prepare and provide necessary
documentation for budget reallocations as required.
4. Grant Management and Funding Strategy
Development:
· Assist in financial grant management
processes to ensure compliance with donor guidelines and timelines.
· Assist in developing and implementing
funding strategies that include identifying new funding sources and engaging
prospective donors.
· Support PFM to
prepare and submit accurate financial reports for donors, ensuring compliance
with funding requirements.
· Coordinate the submission of financial
reports via the DFS.
· Review financial reports from partners
to ensure compliance and accuracy.
5. Quality Assurance and Risk Management:
· Assist in
reviewing financial documents to uphold high standards of financial integrity.
· Assess risks associated with financial
operations and recommend mitigation strategies.
6. Reconciliation Functions:
· Perform monthly reconciliations of
account balances to ensure the accuracy of financial records.
· Identify discrepancies in financial
entries and transactions and resolve them promptly.
· Maintain detailed records of
reconciliations and adjustments to support audits and financial queries.
7. Documentation and Audit Coordination:
· Ensure meticulous documentation of
financial records on platforms like Microsoft Teams.
· Coordinate audit activities, ensuring
readiness and compliance with all audit requirements.
8. Capacity Building:
· Provide training and support to project
managers and staff on financial procedures and policies.
· Develop and lead workshops on budget
management and cost control measures.
9. Stakeholder
Engagement:
· Facilitate meetings with
project leads and scientists to discuss financial strategies and
address fiscal concerns.
· Maintain robust communication channels
with all project stakeholders to ensure alignment and compliance.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in
finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field - Bachelor’s degree in
finance, Accounting or a related field - Professional
Certification (e.g., CPA, CFA) is preferred. - Minimum of 5 years of
experience in financial analysis, budgeting, fiscal management, and
reconciliation processes. - Strong analytical
skills and proficiency in financial software and Microsoft Office Suite. - Excellent
communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. - Demonstrated ability
to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
Education, knowledge and experience
•Master’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
•Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting or a related field
•Professional Certification (e.g., CPA, CFA) is preferred.
•Minimum of 5 years of experience in financial analysis, budgeting, fiscal management, and reconciliation processes.
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 two (2) years, including a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent on performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
•The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya.