African Parks Network is looking for a French speaking roving accountant with a genuine interest in conservation
Organization:African Parks Network
Location:South Africa with extensive travelling into Africa(possible travel length of 3 months at a time)
Reporting to: Chief Financial Controller (South Africa)
Type of contract:Permanent with an initial probation of 6 months
Closing date for applications: 10 November 2014
Background
African Parks is a non-profit organisation that takes total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. Our approach combines world-class conservation practice with business expertise. We place emphasis on achieving financial sustainability of the parks by combining long-term donor funding with tourism revenues, related business enterprise and payment for ecosystem services, which all serve as a foundation for economic development and poverty alleviation. It is our belief that making wildlife parks socially and economically viable, particularly for the benefit of local communities, will contribute to their survival in the face of competing forms of land use.
African Parks currently manages seven parks in six African countries – Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Zambia. The total area under management covers 4.1 million hectares, an area as large as The Netherlands.
It is our objective to become the leading player in protected area management on the African continent. By 2023 we aim to have responsibility for a portfolio of 20 parks covering an area of approximately 10 million hectares. Because of the geographic spread and representation of different ecosystems, this will be one of the most ecologically diverse portfolios of parks in the world.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Scope of responsiblities
- The right candidate will be willing and able to travel to each park and perform an internal audit according to African Park’s internal audit requirements
- He/she will provide input into the existing finance manual and internal audit manual
- Will be part of the implementing team of a new accounting software that is more geared towards donor funded organizations
- Will become familiar with all donor accounting and audit requirements, in particular the European Union
- Will be willing and able to act as “stand-in” financial controller in parks during leave time and where there are resignations. This can be for a period of up to 3 months. Refer to detailed “duties” list below when required to stand in as a financial controller. We expect that this would happen at least twice a year
Duties
As African Parks grows into a 20 park organization, we aim to further standardize the financial process to ensure that there is no “key man” dependency. At a park level (when required to stand in as financial controller), the duties of the candidate would include:
As African Parks grows into a 20 park organization, we aim to further standardize the financial process to ensure that there is no “key man” dependency. At a park level (when required to stand in as financial controller), the duties of the candidate would include:
Accounting and Reporting
- Ensure the proper update and maintenance of the accounts to ensure that the Pastel accounting system provides the basis for an efficient financial information system for both internal and external users and that it is compliant with internationally accepted accounting principles, legal and statutory requirements
- Review all accounting related transactions (payment vouchers, receipt vouchers, debit and credit notes, staff time invoices, correcting journal entries) prior to entry into the accounting system
- Ensure that all balance sheet accounts are reconciled each month
- Review and provide guidance and coaching to accounting staff ensuring accuracy, correctness and completeness of transactions recorded (note that there will initially be 1 petty cash staff)
- Ensure the timeliness of required financial reports to park managers, donors, APN and other parties as requested
- Prepare periodicreports of financial performance and discuss with the park manager
Treasury and Cash Management
- Prepare the monthly cash flow projections and monitor the continued availability of funds to cover the requirements of operations and component projects and programmes
- Review and ensure that disbursements are properly supported with relevant evidential documentation
- Ensure that cash and bank balances are reconciled with the records maintained. Reconciliations are reviewed and signed by the park manager Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting
- Assist in the planning and budgeting , taking the lead in the financial plans and budgets and ensuring that the assumptions, parameters, guidelines and policies in planning are complied with.
- Review and monitor budget performance of operations and individual projects and programmes and make recommendations to improve performance
- Provide cost data of the various resource inputs to programme personnel to prepare and update budgets
- Assist the park manager and other park staff by providing guidance on compliance with donors guidelines and the provisions of donor agreements
Internal control environment
- Continuously review the adequacy of internal control to ensure the provision of accurate and timely financial information, protection of assets and adherence to policies, systems and procedures and the smooth and orderly implementation of plans and activities.Fixed asset management
- Ensure the identification of and complete an inventory of fixed assets through the conduct of an annual inventory to determine their location and condition of proper disposition.
- Determine accuracy of depreciation in accordance with APN’s policy and ensure that the assets are adequately protected
- Prepare the request for approval to dispose of missing, lost, stolen, damaged and obsolete equipment
Payroll
- Ensure that the systems and procedures are in place to enable accurate preparation and disbursement of the payroll in compliance with statutory requirements
- Sign off the monthly payroll by reviewing and checking the accuracy of amounts to be paid to the staff
Due diligence and audit
- Prepare an audit plan for the year, and prepare the appropriate plans for each individual audit, including a file for all documents required for the audit. Obtain approvals for each audit from APN HO.
- Co-ordinate with the auditors in external audits e.g. EU and its component programmes and projects. This includes preparation of draft financial statements and necessary notes to the accounts.
- Provide draft responses to the audit management letter, including coordinating inputs from the programme, human resources, administration and other units as necessary, and forward to the APN Chief Financial Controller for review
- Ensure the closure and resolution of audit findings· Provide leadership and guidance in all matters pertaining to finance (including taxation and other financial issues) and give advice and support to all those needing it
General
- Provide training to staff on APN financial policies and procedures, budgeting methods and compliance with donor guidelines
- Where required, assist with writing and maintaining the local procurement policy and be a member of the procurement committee.· Assisting in the standardization process of the financial process in each park
IT duties African Parks Network (Johannesburg office) currently retains an IT company. However, the parks do not have such luxury due to their remote location. As such, the right candidate will be technologically savvy enough to get involved in setting up simple server and backup systems for each park. He/she will also assist in selecting and migrating the existing Vsat, C-Band and other internet systems the parks currently have to the new proposed internet system.
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be fluent in French and English
- Partly qualified CA, or CIMA, ACCA or equivalent
- Able to travel for extended periods of time to countries such as DRC, Congo, Chad and live in the parks
- Is passionate about African Park’s cause
- Minimum 5 years post university experience
- Experience in multi-donor funded project is an added advantage
- Good knowledge of excel and IT systems
- Willing to “get stuck in the details”, interested in learning about the operations of a park and its impact on finances
How to apply:
All suitable candidates to send their CV and motivation letter to ayeshaj@african-parks.org
If you have not heard from us by 20 November 2014, you can consider your application to be unsuccessful.
If you have not heard from us by 20 November 2014, you can consider your application to be unsuccessful.
