Closing date30 Nov 2023
Project Background:

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems for Resilient Communities Activity (FTF WFSRCA) is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to nomadic pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda (2022) Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:

Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.
FtF WFSRCA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 20 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups.

Role’s Purpose:

The Finance Manager plays a key oversight and administrative leadership role on the project. S/he will oversee compliance with the project’s Field Operations Manual (FOM), USAID regulations, Contractual Agreement requirements and limitations, financial policies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems. The Finance Manager ensures compliance of all accounting and financial reporting functions, oversees cost and general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, risk management, and partner’s relationships, audit backup documentation, and directly supervises and supports the project’s Accountant. S/he will be responsible for conducting cash flow analyses and other reporting in order to inform the overall financial well-being of the project. The Finance Manager will be responsible for conducting financial analysis to assess the project's financial performance, identify trends, and provide strategic recommendations to optimize spending, resource allocation, and budget utilization. The Finance Manager may be called upon to assume main accounting responsibilities when needed or perform any other related duties as assigned.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Management

Responsible for actively participating in the preparation and monitoring of the project's budget.
Responsible for providing training, guidance and direction to project Accountants and Finance Assistants.
Responsible for gaining comprehensive knowledge of project’s Field Operations Manual (FOM) and for identifying areas where policies, procedures and/or practices may not be fully aligned with project practice and advising project management with options and recommendations.
Responsible for providing training to staff on finance procedures and documentation requirements.
Understand DAI and USAID rules, regulations, processes and systems for compliant project implementation.
Understand and work through DAI project management systems.
Financial Reporting

Develops and maintains reports of status of financial management activities (i.e. monthly and quarterly reporting).

Responsible for ensuring that the project assets/inventory report is balanced against the general ledger/field accounting system prior to submission to USAID.

Responsible for ensuring that any/all contractual financial reporting requirements are identified and complied with in a timely and accurate manner.

Ensures that tax reporting procedures are well documented to facilitate preparation and submission in a timely manner.

Reviews and submits monthly reconciliation reports.

Monitors and submits advance, commitment, and grant reports as applicable.

Develops and submits other project reports necessary and based on registration requirements to local authorities.

Oversees the reporting of expenses by satellite office.

Monitors and reports on partner/vendor payment schedules and obligations.

Provides annual budgets of expenditure as well as quarterly forecasts against budget statements (accruals, pipelines, etc.) as applicable.

Conducts regular financial analysis to assess the project's financial performance and identify areas of improvement or potential risks.

Audit

Manages preparation of internal and external audits.

Coordinates with external auditors and ensures the timely and accurate provision of required financial documents and information for annual audits and any special audit requirements.

Conducts daily reviews of backup documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and full compliance with all regulations and the Field Operations Manual (FOM).

Performs regular spot audits on project files.

Ensures adequate backup documentation is uploaded to relevant system according to set deadlines.