The MDG Centre West Africa:
The MDG Centre was established in July 2004 by the Earth Institute at Columbia University and the UN Millennium Project with a broad purpose of assisting countries to develop operational strategies for achieving the MDGs, and to support their implementation at both local and national levels.

In early 2006, The MDG Centre reorganised to established two sub-regional centres covering East and Southern Africa (based in Nairobi) and West and Central Africa (based in Bamako). The MDG Centre West and Central Africa (WCA) is currently work in the following countries: Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal and is rapidly expanding to other countries in the region.

The West Africa MDG Centre focuses on two complementary scales:

•  At the national level, provide support to national Governments to develop Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)-based national strategies and plans;
•  At the sub national level, assist local governments to develop and implement MDG-based local development plans and strategies and assist pilot Millennium Villages Project (MVP) sites and Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI) to achieve MDGs at local level

Description Of Job

Location: The MDG center regional offices in Dakar, Senegal

Overall purpose of the job:
The purpose of the position is to manage and supervise all accounting and financial affairs of the CIP/MDG CENTRE -WCA region and to consolidate and channel all financial information to be sent to HQ in liaison with Financial Officers.

Main tasks of the job:

•  Manage financial reporting and the accounting system for the region including the preparation of periodic financial reports to donors and management, monthly bank reconciliations and cash verification, approving accounting transactions and examining, reviewing and analyzing all vouchers and other documents for payment and certification.
•  Supervise an Account Assistant who maintains accounting records (i.e. cash book, petty cash book) of all imprest held in CIP/MDG WCA , including details of imprest levels, signatories to accounts with level of signing powers where applicable, names and addresses of bankers, modalities of replenishment.
•  Supervise  Procurement and Logistics Assistant in the center for central purchasing, the management of the motor pool, and travel and logistics arrangements.
•  Maintain and enhance internal controls over financial transactions and business processes.
•  Lead budget preparation by providing instructions and guidance in the formulation of resource allocation in the region.
a) Assist regional specialists in the development of project budgets for funding proposals.
b) Prepare the Centre’s annual administrative operating budget, based on past-year administrative costs, changes in operations or structure, and projected indirect cost recovery revenue.
c) Together with the Center’s Director, prepare the Centre’s overall annual budget for timely submission to and approval from EI’s New York Headquarters.
•  Monitor expenditures and revenues and provide guidance on financial reporting.
•  Perform quarterly budget analysis and report to the Region Director on expenditure trends, projected budget overruns and recommend corrective measures where necessary.
•  Coordinate and implement specifications for enhanced reporting system to meet management and donor requirements.
•  Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all account receivables from staff and others, and diligently monitor to ensure settlement of outstanding amounts.
•  Maintain accurate records of all account payables to suppliers for utilities and other services
•  Ensure that advances made to partner institutions are properly justified and on time.
•  Ensure quality, accuracy and timely submission of monthly accounting returns including follow up of returns from collaborators and review of expenditures to ensure compliance with written CIP/MDG CENTRE WCA  and EI policies.
•  Liaise and consult with the Financial Service Department of EI in NY on all financial and budget related matters. Assist in updating and implementing all approved manuals.  Develop processes to address any weaknesses in financial systems or controls.
•  Work with national revenue authorities regarding the remission, payment, or refund of any and all taxes and fees, to include withheld payroll tax, TVA, applicable sales tax, and customs duties.
•  In coordination with the Human Resources manager, ensure that the Centre’s financial system supports the payroll and benefit obligations to the Centre’s staff and benefit providers, through on-time and accurate payments.
•  Lead and manage the relationship with the Centre’s bank; coordinate all bank account management issues with EI.
•  Instill and develop an ethic of “careful and prudent management of scarce financial resources.”  Continuously seek out solutions which improve performance at equal or lower cost.
•  Ensure that expenses are reasonable, necessary, and allowable based on the source of funding.
•  Monitor local and international staff travel budgets.
•  Maintain schedules of fixed assets and a filing system within the established format and procedures, and ensure data safety.
•  Assist with various financial management requests.
•  Assist with miscellaneous requests from donors.
•  Assist in conducting audit reviews and deal with auditors.  Ensure that any national requirements for financial reporting are addressed on-time and accurately.

Qualification Required & Experience

•  A professional finance manager qualification equivalent to a Bachelor (Maitrise) or Master education with a degree in finance, accounting or management.
•  At least 4 years experience in accounting, finance, management in finance department or in a similar position with a commercial, non-governmental or development organization.
•  Strong background in accounting and finance
•  Able to impute , code and follow  a budget
•  Able to supervise work of accountant, financial analyst or budget monitor
•  High level of working knowledge of Quick-books accounting software or other accounting package
•  Experienced in producing financial statements
•  Good experience  in working with international organizations
•  Fluency of both French and English (spoken and written)
•  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
•  Ability to work under pressure and in a multicultural environment

How To Apply For The Job

Applications
Applicants should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to:- ibrahim.tounkara@mdgwca.org.

With a copy to:- recruitment@mdgwca.org. “Application for Regional Finance Manager and procurement Officer MDG-WCA” should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message.

Closing Date:  07 November, 2012

Applications will be considered until 07 November 2012 or until the position is filled.

Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.
We invite you to learn more about us at:

www.mdgwca.org
www.millenniumpromise.org,
www.unmillenniumproject.org,
www.mdgwca.org