Finance Assistant

Project Background:

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems for Resilient Communities Activity (FTF WFSRCA) is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to nomadic pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda (2022) Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:

1. Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
2. Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
3. Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
4. Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
5. Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
6. Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.

FtF WFSRCA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 20 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups.

Role’s Purpose:

The Finance Assistant will help the Finance Manager to ensure that financial transaction documentation is complete, and accurate and that payments are made on a timely basis. The Finance Assistant will be responsible for providing assistance to the accountant in processing payments, monitoring and tracking financial data, and other finance related support.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Receives and reviews (for completeness and accuracy) all incoming invoices and requests for payment. Ensures the integrity of all receipts, invoices, and vouchers.
• Prepares required documentation for submission to Finance Manager (who will prepare payment checks for Senior Management’s signature) and required documentation (expense cover sheets), post-payment, to provide to the Project Accountant for data entry into DAI’s Financial Accounting System.
• Assists the Project Accountant in recording and assigning costs based on approved budget into the Financial Accounting System, vFER.
• Supports with processing DAI forms for VAT exemption, VAT reimbursements and regularly updates the VAT tracker.
• Manages the project’s petty cash according to DAI policies and procedures and submits the reconciliation each week to the Finance Manager.
• Assists with the daily scanning of financial vouchers for submission to DAI/Washington twice a month.
• Responsible for following up on statutory remittances to ensure they are all updated on time.
• Performs other financial tasks assigned by the Finance Manager which are consistent with his/her qualifications, this Scope of Work and the general requirements of the project.
• Maintains a good knowledge and understanding of all policies and procedures as set forth in the Field Operations Policy Manual.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 2 years of relevant experience in accounting, finance, business administration or other relevant field.
• Prior experience in USAID-funded project is a plus.
• Professional proficiency in English is required, and proficiency in local languages is preferred.

Skills

• Highly organized.
• Strong problem-solving skills as well as exceptional customer relations (both internally & externally).
• Strong commitment to ethics and completing compliant procedures.
• Excellent communication written and oral communication skills.

Reporting

The Finance Assistant will report to the Finance Manager.