Project/Grant Accountant (RESEEDPH Project) at Catholic Relief Services – Philippines | (Hybrid)

Position title: Project/Grant Accountant (RESEEDPH Project)

Location: Philippines | (Hybrid)
Responsibilities:

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Transactions Monitoring and Reporting: Coordinate and prepare financial reports for submission to the donor, ensuring GEF requirements are met. Oversee the preparation and disbursement of sub-grants and quarterly financial reports.
• Support Project Lead in the preparation and administration of the RESEEDPh project budget, ensuring data accuracy and currency. Review and monitor budget status against the annual budget and project workplan. Identify problems, recommend corrective actions, assist in budget revisions, and communicate issues to the Project Lead. Ensure GEF requirements are met, including the budget structure contained in the ProDoc Budget.
• Review and validate supporting documentation of financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete.
• Ensure setup and maintenance of all data required for processing financial transactions for assigned accounts in Insight financial accounting package (AP Specialist).
• Record delegated financial transactions following appropriate authorizations. Review 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.
• 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.
• Evaluate and monitor subrecipient financial management processes in accordance with policy and strengthen capacity of partners/grantees in financial accounting, as needed.
• Subgrantee Monitoring: Review documentation from proposed subrecipients per the pre-award process, perform subrecipient risk analysis, and develop risk mitigation plans. Review and analyze sub-recipient financial reports to ensure compliance with GEF Agency reporting requirements, including project partner co-financing. Notify grantees of any problems or discrepancies and provide technical assistance to resolve issues.
• Grant and Contract Management: Support, prepare, and monitor grant and consultant agreements, ensuring compliance with agreement terms. Ensure timely processing of agreements and payments in accordance with CRS policy and procedures. Prepare paperwork for approval, secure signatures, and distribute documents to appropriate parties.
• Compliance Monitoring: Ensure ongoing compliance with GEF reporting requirements and individual project deadlines. Maintain information and files pertaining to all financial and administrative aspects of the project, including agreements.
• Support for Evaluations: Assist with independent mid-term and final evaluations by providing requested financial information. Provide feedback on evaluation reports and ensure corrective actions based on recommendations are taken when related to financial issues.
• Sourcing and Procurement:
  • Coordinate the sourcing process to ensure the best value for money, including market assessments, price monitoring, supplier evaluation, bidding, vendor selection, quality assessment, negotiation, and contract/purchase order preparation.
  • Perform procurement functions in Insight, including creating RFQs, CPAs/BPAs, and Purchase Orders with complete and accurate supporting documents.
  • Monitor payment terms and schedules, coordinating with the CRS finance team to ensure timely payments to vendors.
  • Ensure transparency in procurement processes by maintaining accurate and up-to-date documentation, vendor files, and procurement and inventory databases. Prepare reports and analyze data for decision-making.

Project Components and Outputs

Component
Component 1: Knowledge and decision support system	Prepare, and facilitate review of partner grant agreement Monitor partner grant agreements, ensuring compliance with agreement terms, timely processing of agreements and payments in accordance with CRS policy and procedures. Review partner financial reports
Component 2: Ecological Restoration Site Development	Prepare and facilitate review of Component 2 grantees agreements and consultants service contracts Train grantees on financial management system including reporting templates based on GEF requirements Conduct quarterly financial monitoring of grantees
Component 3: Adoption of restoration best practices	Prepare and facilitate review of Component 3 grantee agreements and consultants service contracts Train grantees on financial management system including reporting templates based on GEF requirements Conduct quarterly financial monitoring
Component 4: Policy coherence	Prepare and facilitate review of Component 4 consultants service contracts Conduct quarterly financial monitoring
Component 5: Effective monitoring, and evaluation (M&E)	N/A
Component 6: Project Management Costs (PMC)	Prepare procurement plans and manage procurement processes following CRS and CI-GEF requirements. Develop terms of reference and procurement packages. Manage consultant activities and output deliverables. Maintain records of all project-related documentation. Prepare progress reports and financial reports for the project Support financial auditing process for the project Ensure tracking of co-financing materialized.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

• B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA or equivalent).
• Minimum of five years’ experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international or local NGO, or a financial/banking institution.
• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of financial reporting software preferred.
• Knowledge of Budgeting and Financial Management, Financial Analysis and Reporting, Transaction Processing and Controls, and Grants Management and Compliance.
• Knowledge of Relationship Management, Partner Capacity Building, and Cultural Sensitivity.

Required Languages – Good written and spoken Filipino and English languages.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of financial reporting software preferred.
• Knowledge of Budgeting and Financial Management, Financial Analysis and Reporting, Transaction Processing and Controls, and Grants Management and Compliance.
• Knowledge of Relationship Management, Partner Capacity Building, and Cultural Sensetivity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to detect and report inconsistencies
• Accuracy and completeness with great attention to detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Finance Manager, Accounts Payable Specialist persona, Co-Grant/Project Accountant persona, Program/Budget Managers (in terms of budget proposal review/Project expenditure reports), Compliance team (Internal Audit), and Supply Chain Management (SCM) Team.

External: External Auditors, Partners’ Staff.

CRS is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Selection and hiring decisions are made without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, veteran status or any other protected area.