The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

Overview

The finance Officer provides financial services ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of financial reports in accordance with CIFOR-ICRAF internal financial as well as donor guidelines. The accountant works in close collaboration with other teams outside finance such as PMU, Country team and Research Themes of CIFOR-ICRAF, to exchange information and ensure timely service delivery. In addition, the Finance Officer ensure that strong internal controls are instituted in following CIFOR-ICRAF’s policies and procedures.

Duties and responsibilities

1. Responsible for continuous monitoring of restricted grants under assigned grants.
2. Maintain a complete record of all pertinent documents of each grant and coordinate with other Finance Staffs and various project leaders to ensure that the financial implementation adheres with all the other aspects of the grant agreement.
3. Coordinate with donors, collaborators, project leaders and scientists to clarify financial issues, answer queries and give update on the financial status of the grants.
4. Review and verify expenditures of restricted grants under supervision to ensure adherence to budgetary and donor requirements.
5. Review the financial reports submitted by the partners and collect any unused funds.
6. Identify incoming funds from restricted donors and provide the code to the Treasury and Fixed Assets Unit for recording.
7. Review and provide budget clearance for contractual agreements, consulting, and partnership contracts.
8. Review and provide budget clearance for purchase requisitions, request for fixed term staff and check on fund availability and proper account charging of expenses.
9. Liaise with the Program Management Unit (PMU) regarding the development of Letter of Agreement (LoA) with partner Institutions, project start-ups, tracking & closures.
10. Monitor and review the actual use of the BOT-approved budget to ensure that there is no budget overrun. Provide early warning update to Finance Manager Budget and Planning for any possibility of budget overrun.

1. Coordinate with Project Managers, Program Coordinator / Senior Program Officers and Finance Officer regarding the annual budget and staff time allocation.
2. Liaise with Program Coordinator / Administrator and Finance Officer concerning the budget update in OCS. Ensure that the correct budget version is encoded in OCS.
3. Extract, review, collate the current year’s financial budget of Center Funds units (Research Support and Institutional Overhead Teams) from OCS and identify any significant variance compared to last year budget (10%).
4. Assist in the consolidation of the PWB and other budget report.

1. Prepare reports on the specific projects’ finances to donors and other users in compliance with CIFOR-ICRAF standards and as specifically pre-determined by the donor as mentioned on the signed Grant Agreements and Donor’s General Conditions.
2. Ensure that financial reports to donors are submitted on time.
3. Submit draft and final financial reports in MyTree.

Development of Pre-Award Proposal Budgets and Budget Revisions for on- going grants

1. Assist project managers in reviewing Pre-Award proposal budgets (both in donor formats and CIFOR-ICRAF proposal budget template).
2. Review budget revision for the on-going grants.
3. Ensure that the full cost recovery is achieved.
4. Provide guidance and ensure that the budget figures are correct, and the budget lines follow the donor requirements.

Grant Agreements

1. Review the financial part and other relevant information of the new Grant Agreements and Grant Agreement amendments for all assigned grants.

1. Prepare financial and budget reports/updates and send them to project managers.
2. Provide ad hoc budget and planning report as requested from time to time.

Special Audit of Restricted Projects

1. Key resource on providing supporting documents and queries from the external auditors
2. Review the preliminary draft audit report received from the auditor.

1. Prepare the monthly summary of staff time for assigned projects that require time system.
2. Monitor and ensure that staff time are in accordance with the budget and the time sheets are recorded / adjusted appropriately.
3. Follow up time sheet issues with staffs.

Perform other tasks assigned from time to time by the Finance Manager Budget and Planning and the Team Leader – Finance.

3. G

Education, knowledge and experience

• University education in accounting with more than 5 years of relevant experience
• Experience in financial analysis, cost accounting, budget planning and control
• Experience in Big 4 Accounting Firm is a plus
• Familiar with donor reporting
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Strong computer skills in word processing, database, and other relevant office applications.

Personal attributes and competencies

• Strong analytical skills
• Competent in personal organization and priority setting, with the ability to work efficiently under time pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Has initiative, can work independently and is an effective team player
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with people in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment
• Experience working with a wide and diverse network of groups and individuals.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision

Terms and conditions

• Strong analytical skills
• Competent in personal organization and priority setting, with the ability to work efficiently under time pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Has initiative, can work independently and is an effective team player
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with people in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment
• Experience working with a wide and diverse network of groups and individuals.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
  To apply, please visit our career site at: https://www.cifor.org/careers
  To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor.org and www.worldagroforestry.org
  CIFOR-ICRAF promotes Gender Diversity – Applications from women professionals are encouraged.
  CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.

Application process

The application deadline is 15 Apr-2023
We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.