In – Country Finance Officer (Re – advertised) at Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA): (Deadline 10 November 2023)

About AGRA 

AGRA and its Work

AGRA is an African-led institution that actively supports the drive towards inclusive agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems. We do this by empowering the continent’s 33 million smallholder farming households to transform their agriculture from a struggle to survive to profitable businesses. The continent’s farmers regularly face challenges, and we aspire to provide uniquely African solutions that respond to their agricultural and environmental challenges, leading to increased harvests for reduced hunger and more income.

Working in alignment with the development priorities of our focus countries, we enable farmers to access improved and high-yielding seeds, gain knowledge on sustainable farming, and linkages to profitable markets.

In our work, we aspire to build the alliances, partnerships, and networks required to drive an inclusive agricultural transformation. We work with our partners to create an equitable youth-friendly environment that harnesses the youth dividend on the continent to drive growth and facilitate open employment opportunities for young women and men. We achieve our key objectives through a focus on the following four areas of intervention:

1. Policy and state capability – We support governments in creating an enabling environment for private sector involvement in agricultural transformation.
2. Seed systems – We trigger higher productivity by increasing the availability and access to improved seeds by farmers allowing them to increase their harvests for food security and better incomes.
3. Sustainable farming – We support farmers in building resilient farming systems for sustained high yields through interventions such as mechanization and irrigation.
4. Inclusive markets and trade – We work to increase the linkages between farmers, and other market actors for a positive, sustained cycle of commercialization and reinvestment.

AGRA’s 2030 Strategy

The continent has, in recent years, taken steps towards inclusive agricultural transformation resulting in notable improvements in food security, with clear progress across all AGRA’s focus countries. However, with over 20% of Africans still suffering from hunger, we need to accelerate our progress and mitigate against the growing external pressures of conflict and climate on our food systems.

AGRA 2022-2030 Strategic Framework (SF2030) demonstrates our long-term vision for how we intend to contribute to, and align with, global and continental priorities, applying a food systems lens towards the goals of zero hunger, improved nutrition, an end to poverty, and climate adaptation. We have split our Strategic Framework 2030 into two 5-year strategies so that we have a clear mid-way point to evaluate progress and re-route our strategic focus if necessary. Our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan sets out to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholders are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food.

AGRA’s Vision

To contribute to a food system-inspired inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa, to reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and adapt to climate.

AGRA’s Mission

To catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where private sector thrives, and smallholder farmers are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food.

AGRA’s Strategy

• Empowering and building the resilience of small holder farmers
• Supporting the development of inclusive markets and finance to strengthen agricultural systems.
• Strengthening state capability to sustain agricultural transformation.

Implementing Our New Strategy Through People

AGRA is at the threshold of a new chapter where we begin implementing our new strategy of catalyzing inclusive, resilient and sustainable agricultural transformation. At AGRA we believe Agriculture is the single greatest opportunity to deliver inclusive economic growth, jobs, and health to the African continent.

People are the heart of our organisation and remain the true drivers of our delivery and our impact.

We are excited about a new fit-for-purpose organizational structure that is largely driven by an ambition to enhance collaboration across teams and drive sustainable growth. We have therefore purposed more focus on delivery of country programs within the new strategy giving even greater attention to optimizing existing talent in addition to upscaling technical and operational resources.

We work with incredible people and partners who have roots in farming communities across the continent combined with an inclusive and diverse workforce from over 24 nationalities. Our values of (I-RISE; Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship and Equity) espouse our commitment to a call to action to go beyond ourselves as we arise and transform Africa’s Agriculture.

We are looking for people who are passionate about Africa, curious and collaborative to join our innovative, growing, and multidisciplinary team. Together, we can grow Africa’s food systems improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Want to join us?

The Opportunity

Associate Finance Officer, Rwanda Job Reference: AFO/RW/07/2023

Role Purpose

The Associate Finance Officer- Rwanda, as part of the Finance team will be responsible for providing finance and administrative support to the Country Director and staff.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Country Director, Rwanda, the Associate Finance Officer, Rwanda is responsible for providing leadership and direction, as well as day-to-day management of the finance and administration function in the country. On financial functions, she/he will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the development and monitoring of budgets and forecasts, liaising with the finance unit in Nairobi to support timely processing of financial transactions, maintaining of a healthy balance sheet, providing audit support and aligning of processes and procedures. This role has a matrix reporting to the Senior Finance Officer, Country Support

Key Measures of Performance

• Complete, accurate and timely financial data captured at country level. Measured by closing deadlines met, accuracy and completeness of entries in submitted journals.
• Timely and accurate payments to staff and vendors.
• Budget Vs actual accuracy. Measured by output from monthly BVA reports.
• Open audit observations (first time & repetitive).
• Number of reconciled balance sheet accounts including bank accounts by the stipulated deadlines.
• Ageing of staff and vendor accounts.
• Number of Internal Control Gaps.
• Statutory compliance measured by statutory returns filed and remitted accurately and statutory deadlines met.
• Retrievability of financial information and records.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose – Apply Basic Concepts

• Developing and maintaining financial analysis and reporting activities for assigned country.
• Preparing finance reports and account reconciliation reports according to company policies on periodic basis.
• Identifying and resolving invoicing issues, accounting discrepancies and other financial related issues for the assigned country.
• Supporting the annual financial audit processes through the preparation of standard reports as well as other custom reports as requested within the legal and regulatory requirements.
• Initiating and managing the country budgets and forecasts in line with AGRA policies and respective donor restrictions.
• Maintaining an updated fixed asset register and coordinating the annual verification as per the set policies and procedures.
• Oversight of any staff providing financial and administration support in the country.

Engagement – Acquire

• Creating finance journal entries as required for the country.
• Leading in the management of account payables and receivables activities for the country.
• Collaborating with the finance and HR teams in preparation of financial reports and statements for the country.
• Aligning and reconciling country and the regions’ monthly general ledger balance, invoices and credit card statements.

Delivery – Understand the Project Cycle

• Setting guidelines to ensure maintenance of the general and subsidiary ledgers.
• Planning and preparing tax documents for timely filing of company tax.
• Organizing and maintaining all countries and regions financial records and files as per the company policies.
• Organizing the administration processes for all payroll activities as well as oversees vendor payments etc.

Model the IRISE Values & Be a Culture Carrier

• Integrity: Uphold moral convictions and always doing the right thing.
• Respect: Value differences and embrace diversity and inclusion.
• Innovation: Strive for excellence and embracing continuous improvement, bold creativity, and change.
• Stewardship: Be responsible for actions undertaken and resources entrusted.
• Equity: Be governed by fairness in all undertakings.

Requirements

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, or equivalent work experience.
• An MBA in any relevant field a strong added advantage.
• CPA certification.
• Strong analytical, data mining ability.
• Understanding of auditing techniques to help ensure countries and regions financial operations remain in compliance.
• Computer proficiency in spreadsheets, presentations, and reporting software.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Ability to work independently in a diverse environment.
• Experience in working with similar organizations or institutions will be an added advantage.
• Thoroughly familiar with and experience in working with finance regulations and reporting standards and requirements.
• Evidence of the practice of a high level of confidentiality.
• Strong ability to influence positively both upwards and downwards.
• Proven leadership ability to develop and empower employees to achieve their best with a team approach.
• Deep understanding of the financial environment within which AGRA is operating.
• Highly organized, results and detail orientated with a very hands-on approach.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and problem solving/decision making ability.
• Intelligent, motivated self-starter with a strong work success.

Relevant Experience

• A Minimum of five (5) years’ relevant professional experience in accounting, finance, or financial monitoring.
• Knowledge of global, country/government accounting standards.

Key Competencies

• Achieving Results Effectively: achieving results effectively: takes actions that lead to the delivery of set service targets and shows determination to meet the objectives set by others; keeps track of and measures outcomes against own standards, over and above those set by others; takes actions that lead to quantifiable service improvements; manages time and resources efficiently, monitoring progress and making adjustments as necessary.
• Managing and sharing knowledge:  keeps abreast of new developments in own field of competence and maintains personal contact in other parts of the organization with those who provide work- related information; shares knowledge and learning willingly, and proactively seeks to learn from the experiences of others; puts new learning into practice and draws on diverse sources of ideas and inspiration; contributes to the identification of improvements to work processes and assists in implementing them.
• Accountability:  accepts personal responsibility for quality and timeliness of work; takes ownership of all responsibilities within own role and honors commitments to others and to the organization; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules.
• Diversity and inclusion: takes a conscious effort to learn about different styles of conflict resolution; is proactive in managing conflict over differences when it arises rather than avoiding it;    listens actively for the frames of reference and does not prejudge;  seeks to understand and adapt to different styles when working with those who are different; treats others as they wish to be treated; shows readiness to change the way he/she does things to meet the needs of those from diverse backgrounds.
• Adaptability: accepts that things will change; seeks clarification when faced with ambiguity or uncertainty; demonstrates willingness to try new approaches. Devises plans of action with explicit paths and measures of accomplishment for self and/or others and allocates suitable resources so that objectives are achieved. Strong administration skills.
• Stakeholder focus/partnerships:  identifies stakeholder needs and expectations; responds to requests efficiently and effectively; takes action beyond explicit request within established service standards; refers complex questions to a higher decision-making level; meets stakeholder needs in a respectful, helpful and responsive manner; seeks feedback to develop a clear understanding of stakeholder needs and outcomes; uses stakeholder satisfaction monitoring methodologies to ensure stakeholder satisfaction; adjusts service based on stakeholder feedback.
• Teamwork: understands the goals of the team and each team member’s role within it; willingly gives support to co-workers and works collaboratively rather than competitively; shares experiences, knowledge and best practices with team members.

Terms of Appointment

3 Years Fixed Term (Consideration for renewal will be made subject to AGRA’s needs, available funding and performance).

Location

Based in Kigali, Rwanda

How to Apply

If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, kindly submit your application with a detailed CV (including your e-mail address and telephone contacts to recruit@agra.org noting to quote the job reference number in the subject of your email)

To be considered, applications must be received on or before Friday 10th November 2023.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

AGRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer