FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICER At Fairtrade Africa

ABOUT US

Established in 2005, Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is a member of Fairtrade International and the umbrella network organization representing Fairtrade-certified Producer Organizations in Africa and the Middle East. It has four (4) regional networks – Eastern & Central Africa; Southern Africa; West Africa; and the Middle East & North Africa. FTA currently represents 1,354,294 farmers and workers in 660 producer organizations spread across 28 countries in Africa and the Middle East by providing services to them that contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods.

ABOUT THE ROLE

FTA is looking to hire a Côte d’Ivoire (CDI) based Finance and Administration Officer for the Livelihoods Ecosystem Advancement Programme. The Livelihoods Ecosystem Advancement Programme (LEAP), aims to address the root causes of market failures which keep Ivorian cocoa farmers in poverty traps. The programme will deliver tailored interventions across three key areas: cooperative strengthening; access to finance; and income diversification. By the end of the programme, it is anticipated that over 5,200 Ivorian cocoa farmers will benefit from increased incomes. The programme will also test and seek to understand which interventions and/or a combination of interventions drive farmers closer to reaching a living income in CDI.

We are looking for a candidate to assist in the execution of the LEAP’s financial procedures and policies as well as HR & Administration systems, policies and procedure, supporting key functions, including the timely and accurate processing of financial, accounting, HR and administration data.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance Support

• Prepare and maintain cash controls, reconciliation of bank statements, process invoices and maintain purchase order systems in accordance with the FTA, FTF (UK team), LEAP and donor financial policies.
• Support the Finance and Procurement Manager to develop procedures and oversee controls in issuing procurement contracts and processing of all payments and cheques.
• Ensure local tax laws and regulations are adhered to, by withholding, remitting and paying all taxes due and in due time
• Lead on the processing of invoices and receipts (Including thorough proof and accounting validation) related to project expenditure.
• Ensure transactions are recorded and entered into the computerized accounting system in an accurate, timely and transparent manner
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and yearly financial statements
• File all financial documentation related to the project for donor reporting and for external
• audits
• Prepare for and assist with the regional annual audits
• Maintain the office petty cash and staff imprest systems
• Assist with the preparation and consolidation of the regional budgets

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field

Experience and Knowledge

• At least 3 years of experience in a similar position developing and monitoring budgets
• Knowledge of the local taxation laws and general accounting convention
• Knowledge of accounting software

Skills

• Excellent numeracy skills and attention to detail
• MS Office applications especially Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Strong financial management and accounting skills
• Data entry and records maintenance skills
• Bookkeeping and accounting skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Good MS Office skills particularly MS Excel
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to work with different accounting packages
• Good customer services skills