Back Finance Officer – Grants

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. CIFOR-ICRAF is looking for a

Finance Officer - Grants

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 MSU, 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

Summary of responsibilities

1. Budgets are monitored regularly to ensure that spending are within the budget, in line with the project activities and timeline, and fully utilized at the end of the project.
   
2. Annual budgets and rolling budgets are updated in a timely and accurate manner.
   
3. Financial Reports to donors are reliable, accurate and submitted on time.
   
4. Project expenditures are eligible and accepted by the donor and amounts receivable from donors are collected promptly.
   
5. Grant agreements and all financial requirements are carefully reviewed and acknowledged.
   
6. Restricted Grants Partners financial reports comply with the laid down donor and/or CIFOR-ICRAF financial procedures and regulations and in accordance to the budget.
   

   1. Monitor Budget and Actual Expenses of restricted grants
   

   📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

   ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

   • Maintain a complete record of all pertinent documents of each project and coordinate with other Finance Staff and various project leaders to ensure that the financial implementation adheres with all the other aspects of the project agreement.
     
   • Collaborate with Project leaders and PMU to clarify financial issues, answer queries and give updates on the financial and budget status of the project.
     
   • Review and verify expenditures of restricted projects assigned to ensure adherence to budgetary and donor requirements.
     
   • Liaise with the Program Management Unit (PMU) regarding the development of Letter of Agreement (LoA) with partner Institutions, project start-ups and set ups in myTree and OCS, budget update and management in OCS and project tracking & closures
     

     2. Annual Budget and rolling budget updates
     

     • Collaborate with PMU regarding staff time allocation updated in OCS planner.
       
     • Collaborate with PMU on budgets for partnerships, travel, supplies, consultants, publications, and other costs based on the availability of funds of on-going restricted projects.
       
     • Review the overall annual budgets once posted in OCS by PMU of grants in assigned teams.
       

       3. Donor Reporting
       

       • Prepare reports on the specific projects’ finances to donors and other users in compliance with Center standards and as specifically pre-determined by the donor as mentioned on the signed Grant Agreements and Donor’s General Conditions.
         
       • Ensure that reports to donors are submitted on time.
         
       • Submit draft and final financial reports in grants management system.
         
       • Review all donors reports from the Country Offices
         
       • Prepare invoice/payment request to the donor according to the payment term and schedule on the agreement.
         
       • Follow up for any query or review from the donor for the submitted financial report.
         

         3. Grant Proposal Budgets and revised Budgets for On-going Projects
         

         • Key resource for project proposal/budget preparation regarding compliance issues for prospective sources of funding
           
         • Review and discuss revised budget for on-going projects from Offices, Units and Themes assigned
           
         • Ensure that the grants recover full overheads as per relevant cost structure
           
         • Provide guidance and ensure the budget figures are correct and the budget lines follow the donor requirements
           

           5. Grant Agreements