Arizona State University
Position Title: Finance Officer
YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS’ INITIATIVE LEGACY AND LOCALIZATION
SUMMARY
The Young African Leadership Initiative Legacy and Localization (YALI L&L) project, led by Arizona State University, seeks qualified candidates to serve as the Finance Officer on a USAID project supporting the next-generation expression of the Regional Leadership Centers (RLC) component of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), the United States’ premier investment in young African leaders. As the on-continent component of the YALI program, in 2015 USAID launched four YALI RLCs at higher education institutions in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa. The RLCs have provided access to leadership and functional training to 22,000 young leaders aged 18–35 from 49 sub-Saharan countries in three tracks: business and entrepreneurship, public management, and civic leadership. YALI 2030 will build on the RLC foundation to create an expanded pan-African youth development model that will harmonize training curriculum, serve underrepresented/underserved youth, build alumni network capacity and professional development opportunities, and develop new program-related partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders and donors. ASU has hosted YALI Mandela Washington Fellows annually since 2014, led public management cohorts at the East Africa Regional Leadership Center, collaborates with the Mastercard Foundation on an eLearning Initiative with African universities, implemented higher education projects for USAID with multiple universities on the continent, and maintains an African hub and a network of alumni through ASU-Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Position location: This is a full-time national position and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Main Purpose of Job
We are seeking to recruit a results-oriented Finance Officer.
The holder of this position will report to the Finance and Administration Senior Director and will be responsible for the coordination of the financial aspects of the organization. He/she will assist in the budgeting process, preparation of financial reports, and ensure that all financial transactions are conducted efficiently.
Key Responsibilities
- Review payment vouchers, employee’s expense reports, journal entries and all financial documents to verify and check for adequacy and accuracy before recording in QuickBooks.
- Reconcile account receivables and payables and perform timely account reconciliations for bank, on a monthly basis.
- Support the project in meeting month end close process and accounting deadlines.
- Prepare project monthly and quarterly financial statements
- Participate in the development of project work plans and budgets, budget monitoring and monthly expense tracking.
- Cash flow management - Ensure project bank accounts are timely funded with due compliance to advance and reimbursement management guidelines.
- Process Payroll in compliance with statutory requirements on a monthly basis
- Provide responses to accounting compliance issues and support in resolution to compliance issues raised by the Finance and Administration Senior Director
- Participate in preparation of routine and ad hoc status reports and budget updates to ensure the regular flow of accurate and relevant financial information for enhanced project management and planning.
- Audit support-prepare project audit schedules and project financial statements, coordinate review by compliance and audit teams of audit findings and administrative support to teams in the implementation of the audit recommendations.
- Maintain accurate project assets/ inventory register
- Any other duty that may be assigned by the supervisor.
Key competencies
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
- Expertise delivering performance excellence.
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent strategic planning skills, Strong judgement and decision-making skills.
- Excellent verbal communication skills and excellent report writing skills.
- Experience with the use of the internet, including social media for fundraising purposes.
- Ability to work in a team and be a self-starter.
Required Qualifications:
- Degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a business-related course and at least 3 years of experience in a busy accounting environment or Master’s degree and 2 years of experience.
- Previous experience working on USAID-funded programs strongly preferred
- CPA (K) or equivalent required.
- Good understanding of Book Keeping
- Advanced computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office and QuickBooks;
- Excellent oral and written English skills
- Demonstrable planning and organizational skills and ability to meet tight deadlines.
- Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve institutional goals.
- High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
- Willingness to be flexible in working hours and adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
- Experience of working within a busy finance department. Good communication and listening skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet targets and deadlines.
- Problem solving ability
How to apply
How to Apply
Interested qualified candidates are invited tosubmit their application and Curriculum Vitae indicating full contact details of three professional referees to YALI@asu.edu by 24th October, 2023.
Applicants must include the POSITION TITLE in the subject line of their email. Please do not attach copies of certificates.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. YALI LL is an equal opportunity employer.