Job Description

About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States of America. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard of race, religion, or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. Registered in Zimbabwe, CRS has been supporting program activities in Zimbabwe since 1989 and has long-standing relationships with Church and non-Church partners and communities throughout the country. Zimbabwe program implements projects through partner organizations in various districts in the areas of food security and agricultural livelihoods, water and sanitation and youth. CRS seeks to fill in the following position that has arisen.

Job Summary:
The successful candidate will help coordinate and contribute to the implementation of the Country Program’s (CP’s) accounting systems, policies and procedures in compliance with CRS’ established accounting standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements to support high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. S/he will efficiently perform accounting services through documenting financial transactions by compiling, analyzing, and verifying account information; preparing account entries; and delivering financial reporting services.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures that tasks are performed in accordance with CRS policies and procedures, with emphasis on accurate understanding of project budget and project cost centers.
• Review and validate supporting documentation before processing of financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete and authorizations are in place.
• Ensure setup and maintenance of all data required for processing financial transactions for assigned accounts in Insight financial accounting package.
• Analyse data to trouble shoot financial issues in Oracle financial system
• Record financial transactions following appropriate authorizations. Review and analyze various accounts to detect irregularities. Advise on corrective actions and prepare correcting entries and adjustments, as necessary.
• Monitor disbursement/receipt schedules, alert relevant staff of due payments/liquidations, and maintain appropriate communication and follow-up to facilitate timeliness of financial resource management.
• Review the employee expense module on daily basis and audit all pending staff advances and employee expenses. Prepare aging reports on a monthly basis and ensure all balances are within the liquidation time frames as per CRS policies.
• Track all receivables, follow up and ensure that are settled within policy timelines. Invoice staff for personal expenses paid on their behalf by the country program.
• Review payroll reports and run the Field Labor Cost Allocation (FLCAT) process, and prepare Fringe benefits invoices every month, making sure that the salaries clearing account is zero and that correct POET is used.
• Ensure up to date and accurate records of financial status of CRS’ projects, including budget spending trends, pipeline projections and balances.
• Reconcile partner financial records with Insight
• Prepare various, periodic and ad hoc financial reports, as needed, and perform variance analyses to assist with decision-making and proper management of financial resources.
• Ensure that the CR’s checklist is supported by the following reports; Aging reports for all staff receivables accounts and advance to vendors, bank reconciliations, petty cash counts every month and the fixed assets report on quarterly basis.
• Provide information to subrecipients and staff on financial accounting policies and procedural compliance issues and contribute to capacity strengthening.
• Perform assigned treasury (cash payment/receipt, cash forecast, etc.) duties, as long as segregation of duties is ensured.
• In collaboration with the Accounts Payable Manager, keep track of the bank balances and ensure that all cash receipts and bank charges are recorded on time
• Ensure availability of enough, but not excessive, cash in the country program operating account and prepare monthly bank reconciliations by tracking bank accounts and the cash management subledger. Ensure that cash call downs from HQ are done on time through preparing daily reconciliations and prepare journals for the cash received in General accounting subledger.
• Facilitate the conversions of USD to local currency transactions to fund the CP local accounts whenever there is need. Record the conversion in cash management subledger and in the General accounting on the same day of the conversion.
• Prepare foreign exchange reports and submit them to HQ by the 2nd of every month.
• Ensure that fuel is available by replenishing when reorder quantity level is reached and perform fuel top ups for all CRS vehicles.
• Oversee, perform daily counts and review petty cash
• Prepare Financial Statements for internal and external audits using Trial balance and other statements and posting and setting up information in the company accounting system.
• Ensure that Facilities and Mileage reports are prepared monthly, approved and uploaded on Sharepoint.
• Prepare and submit all needed year end packages by the stated due dates.
• Set up bank accounts, set up signatories and facilitates the use of online banking platforms.
• Print and file company documents.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, CIMA, ACCA or CIS or any related field.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar position, preferably in the NGO sector.
• Experience working with implementing partners desirable.
• Knowledge of relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
• Proficiency in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of Insight (Oracle) financial accounting package or similar ERP financial reporting software preferred.

How to Apply

Those who meet the above criteria are invited to submit their applications together with a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae that includes the names and email addresses of three traceable references. Applications should be clearly marked with the position applied for, i.e., “Senior Finance Officer” in the email subject line.

Please submit your applications by Tuesday, 25 June 2024 to The Country Representative at the following email address: [email protected]. Note that we will be shortlisting as we receive applications. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

CRS does not charge application fees or processing fees to potential applicants or any fee throughout the recruitment process.

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
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By applying for this job, the candidate understands and acknowledges that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect. Further, s/he understands that if successful, s/he will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate the candidate’s behaviors related to safeguarding-related topics.