Budget/Fund Management Officer

Dsecription of the budget-officer Position (Word Format)

Vacancy at West African Health Organisation

The West African Health Organisation is seeking applications from suitably qualified ECOWAS Citizens to fill the following position:

Job Title:                             Budget/Fund Management Officer

Category:                            P4/1

Reference:                          VN74

Duration:                             Permanent

Annual Salary:                   USD 44,328 – USD 51,637;

Department:                                   Internal Services

Immediate Supervisor:    Chief Accountant

Duty Station:                      Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Summary of Post and Tasks

The Budget/Fund Management Officer will be responsible for the timely preparation of the annual budget of WAHO in accordance with ECOWAS Financial Regulations, Manual of Accounting Procedures and the Annual Budget Circular. He/she will also assist in the development of WAHO’s work programs and associated budgets, resource allocation, and grant execution. The Budget/Fund Management Officer will also monitor the implementation of all budgetary activities and submit a budget consumption report on a monthly basis to the immediate Supervisor. The role is expected to be performed as prescribed in the ECOWAS Financial Regulations and by partners’ requirements for programs financed by donor resources. Thus the Budget/Fund Management Officer must be result oriented and meet donor requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Budget/Fund Management Officer will be part of the Finance Team which is headed by the Director of Internal Services. He/she will specifically be responsible for the following duties:

1. Budget preparation:
   1. Review, analyse and finalize cost estimates and budget proposals, from the Departments at the Headquarters in Bobo-Dioulasso and also its Agencies for Personnel, administrative and programmatic matters;
   2. Ensure full compliance of all submissions in line with WAHO’s Strategic and Operational Plans, Annual Budget Directives issued by ECOWAS and WAHO Management;
   3. Consolidate all submitted departmental budgets and all other relevant information and prepare a draft Budget of the Organisation;
   4. Provide substantive support during budget arbitration;
   5. Ensure that all timelines/deadlines in relation to preparation and submission of budget documents are strictly adhered to.

2. Budget Administration:
   1. Manage and monitor budget implementation and recommend reallocation of funds as necessary.
   2. Monitor expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
   3. Manage and monitor donor contributions, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with rules and regulations and established policies and procedures.
   4. Extract budget performance report on a monthly basis.
   5. Review and finalize budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures and prepare a variance report for submission.
   6. Provide guidance on a continuous basis to staff in the implementation of their budgets;
   7. Prepare virements/reallocations of funds when necessary, ensuring compliance with appropriate guidelines relating to such transfers;
   8. Provide substantive support to the Chief Accountant, Director of Internal Services, Management as may be necessary.

3. General:
   1. Provide advice and guidance, including training, to staff on budgetary and financial policies and procedures.
   2. Provide support on matters related to resource requirements, programming and budgetary issues.
   3. Draft reports on budgetary issues, and correspondence.
   4. Undertake research and analysis of budgetary policies and procedures, and make recommendations for changes and/or modifications.
   5. Ensure the commitment of all expenditures through the existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System;
   6. Plan, organize, manage, and supervise the work of assigned staff.
   7. Assist in providing responses to audit inquiries, internal and external; as required.
   8. Ensure the reconciliation between the budgetary data and financial information at all times and promptly resolve discrepancies and backlogs.
   9. Prepare the statement of comparison between budget and actual amounts as required under the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
   10. Support the presentation of budgetary information and related information in the audited financial statements and other reports.
   11. Perform any other duties as may be required.

Qualifications/Experiences/Skills

Education

1. A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or Business Administration.
2. A professional accountancy qualification will be an advantage.

Experience

1. A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in budget planning, formulation and administration is required. Experience in the use of Systems, Applications Products (SAP) budget module is highly desired.
2. Possession of a higher degree will reduce the number of years’ experience to five (5).
3. Experience in the fields of finance, administration and accounts, with exposure to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is highly desired.

Skills and Competencies

1. Professionalism: Knowledge of financial and budgetary principles and practices, budget development and financial administration of resources. Ability to develop budgetary policies, procedures and new programmes. Ability to formulate new strategies and technical approaches to budgetary matters. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
2. Previous work experience with donors such as USAID, EU, World Bank, KFW and strong knowledge of donor accounting, disbursement and reporting procedures is highly desirable.

Age

Candidates should not be 50 years old or over at the point of recruitment and must be a citizen of one of the ECOWAS member states.

Language

Must be fluent in one of the official languages of ECOWAS; English, French and Portuguese. A working knowledge of another would be an advantage.

Application must be sent to waho-ooas@ecowas.int