Finance Officer Job.

About this job

The Independent Development Fund is a Ugandan non- political, non- governmental, not for profit grant mechanism, providing support to civil society organizations to promote human rights, access to justice and social accountability in Uganda. We seek to recruit a qualified individual to fill the position of Finance Officer.

JOB DETAILS

Reports to: Finance and Administration Manager
Location: Kampala
Purpose of the Post
To carry out the routine accounting function, prepare and produce periodic financial reports including financial analysis for the organisation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
General

• Process IDF accounts, including grantees’ and ensure that all financial transactions are accurate and properly documented and posted on IDF software system
• Prepare accounting reports in a timely manner in compliance with established procedures
• Receive and review financial accountabilities of grantees on a regular basis
• Check accuracy of the grantees financial reports and that the grantees financial performance is in adherence to IDF’s policy provisions of the agreements
• Generate monthly reports on grantee accountability status
• Maintain records of financial documents
• Prepare payroll and arrange payment of salaries to staff
• Maintain the fixed assets register.
• Participate in mid-year and annual stock counts and spot checks
• Participate in the annual external audit
• Follow up of all tax issues and other statutory obligations
• Assists FAM in preparing quarterly and annual reports.
• Analyse vehicles fuel consumption on a monthly basis
• Contribute actively in the development of mechanisms which ensure that operations of IDF are implemented in a cost effective manner.
• Prepare monthly Accounts Report for IDF and bank reconciliation statements
• Reconcile and submit reconciliation statements of IDF grantees and update Management on the status of individual grantees’ financial position on a regular basis
• Produce budget vs actual expenditure report

Person Specifications

• Bachelors of Commerce or Bachelor of Business Administration degree
• At least partial completion of ACCA or CPA
• At least three year’s (3) hands-on all round experience working in an accounting environment, preferably in an NGO operating nationwide.
• Experience in financial monitoring of grantees would be an advantage.
• Exposure to one or more computerised accounting packages or experience in using Sage/Pastel would be an added advantage.

Contact
Please send your application to application@ppg.co.ug. E-mails must not exceed 2 MB.
The Closing date is 5pm on the 23rd of January 2015.
While we thank all applicants for your interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Local Leaders Commit to Improve Batwa Representation and Participation in Governance

In the bid to address the historical challenge of limited participation in decision making processes and representation in leadership positions (which is believed to be propelling discrimination against the batwa), AICM in the quarter ending December organized sub county level dialogue meetings with the local leaders to discuss this challenge and also devise strategies for addressing it.  The meetings held in Ikumba and Bufundi sub-counties pointed out high Batwa inferiority complex as a hiccup to their participation in community leadership. In order to have the Batwa articulate their Human rights issues and get more involved in the fight against discrimination, the local leaders present suggested that more opportunities to improve representation and participation of Batwa at different community levels of governance be explored. They cited election/appointment of the batwa in leadership positions as one sure way of ensuring increased representation and participation of the batwa in governance processes.  

Ikumba S/C Chief committing himself at the meeting

Several leaders in attendance committed to include the batwa on the relevant committees at the sub counties and within the community; for example Ikumba Sub County Chief and Ihunga Church of Uganda Parish Priest Rev. John Karinyangye pledged to appoint Batwa representatives on the sub-county land committee, Forest Protection Committees and Church Warden positions respectively, while the   Head teachers of Ryamihanda and Kiriba Primary schools Mr. Kyarisiima Fabisi and Mr. Ekyorisima Eudita committed to encourage and groom more Batwa pupils to take up responsibility in the respective schools. 

In fulfilment of the commitments made, some batwa were elected/ appointed to fill various available positions; for example, Sabiti Wilber, Jeriminah Halerimana Pusi, Apollo Kachurwa and Ruzabarande Matekye were selected for training as VHTs, Habyarimana Elias was also appointed as a church warden while Kimpaye Keren was appointed as a mutwa representative on the Murubindi Local Council committee.Similary, Mr. Ngabirano Amulet was also selected to be a community crime preventer, while Kebirungi Sarah a pupil of Kariba Primary School was supported for elections as a head prefect of the school. 

AICM believes that with more batwa in leadership, less batwa marginalization and discrimination will be witnessed because they will be in position to articulate their concerns better and also demand for equity, equality and justice in society

Citizens Demand For A Service Charter At Musyenene Health Centre III

Musyenene Health Centre in Nyakiyumbu Sub County, Kasese District is both a government and private supported facility. The government pays salaries for the 8 workers (6 males and 2 females) at the HC and also provides free malaria drugs while the other services like maternity, antenatal, Out Patient Department (OPD), In Patient Department (IPD), free HIV testing and counseling, Post natal, outreach and laboratory services.

Although they had been paying for the health services some community members did not understand why they were being charged for services at what they presumed to be a government establishment, and more so inconsistent charges; for instance birth mothers would be charged different amounts for delivery based on the sex of the baby. Mothers who delivered boys were charged more money than the ones that delivered baby girls. On the other hand some community members were unable to differentiate between the free and chargeable health services.

Tired of the ‘confusing charges’ the community raised the issue during their neighborhood Assembly held at St. Francis Catholic church, Kaghorwe parish. Among others the community demanded for an explanation on why they are charged for services at the HC and for clarity on the charges per service. As an action from the assembly, a team of six Neighborhood Assembly Executive members and KALI program staff met with the HC administration (Staff and health Unit Management Committee) to verify and also discuss the raised service delivery issues.

Responding to the raised issues, the HC In-charge Mr. Charles Bwambale explained that the government funds a small percentage of the HC’s budget which is sometimes unreliable and for the HC to survive it needs to raise money, saying this is the reason why the patients are charged. Mr. Charles said the HC’s charges are determined by the market price and are therefore not high as the community alleges.

He committed to developing and displaying a service charge at the HC and to attend the next Neighborhood Assembly to share/explain the HC’s operations to the community members.

A month after the meeting a service charge sheet was displayed at the HC. 

This has helped in creating clarity on the cost of services and in guiding the community to make informed decisions, that is, on where to go for medication- at Musyenene HC or Bwera Hospital whose services are free because it is a fully fledged government hospital. 

Apparently the community members are happy at the results of their demand.“The HC’s response is a good gesture; it has enhanced transparency in their operations and will definitely strengthen their relations/collaboration with the community. Even though some of us can not afford some of the monies charged, we are impressed” thus remarked Baluku John a community member.