Senior Finance Officer- FARM Project Full Time NEW

Vacancy Announcement

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE

Position: Senior Finance Officer- FARM Project

Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s): Bahir-Dar and Mekelle

Required Number: Bahir-Dar (1) and Mekelle (1)

Application Deadline: July 26, 2025

Please Note: ‘’ WE ONLY CONSIDER APPLICATIONS THAT MENTION THE SPECIFIC DUTY STATION THE APPLICANT IS APPLYING FOR,

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is centred on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating. Platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions.

The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great teamwork to achieve excellent results.

At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution to changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Finance Officer is accountable for the specific deliverables of the finance team, pertaining to financial transaction processing, recording, data management, treasury/disbursement management, AR/AP management, reporting, as well as organization-wide budgeting process of FARM Project. The Senior Finance Officer works closely with the Finance Managers and other Finance Officers in the finance team to ensure the smooth functioning of the FARM project team operation and intervention.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Support and ensure a robust and timely budgeting and planning process of FARM Project:

• Organize and Provide training, and closely support the budget holders during the development of the budget formulation process of FARM Project.
• Review the FARM draft budget submitted by SD and provide feedback before it is submitted to the CEO to ensure that accurate FARM budget is submitted to the CEO.
• Ensure that the approved FARM budgets and subsequent amendments are correctly uploaded into the system.
• Support the Budget & Planning Manager to ensure FARM Project budget adjustments are made in accordance with program changes.
• Assist the Budget and Planning Manager in invalidating the proposed FARM Project budget is formulated in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Compile periodical FARM Project BVA and parliament reports and submit them for review in a timely manner.
• Follow up and incorporate feedback and action on FARM Project budget variances in future planning and budget amendments.
• Ensure FARM Project budget amendment processes are in accordance with ATI policies and procedures.
• Review FARM project spending against approved budgets and highlight any variances to budget holders.
• Analyse FARM Project transactions and investigate any unusual items and take appropriate corrective actions.
• Reconciliation of accounts between the two systems (AGRESSO & IFMIS) and follow-up advances for timely settlements of FARM Project.
• Support auditors (Both the IA & External auditors) during the audit and respond to audit queries of FARM Project.
• Conduct analysis and validate and review FARM Project budgets periodically.
• Assist in the coordination of FARM Project budget preparation and support in the preparation of regular and special budget reports.
• Handle budget-checking tasks of all FARM Project requests using ERP based on the pre-set threshold.
• Manage year-end closing routines and submit all the required financial reports to donors and MoF per the timeline prescribed by the FARM project donors and MOF financial management directive.
• Facilitate and follow up annual and Quarterly Internal audits, handle audit queries, and provide a response to the audit findings in consultation with the FARM project budget and admin manager, and track audit action plans and ensure timely implementation of the audit action plans as per the timeline set in the audit reports.

Disbursement and Data Management related roles:

• Supervise & directly lead the disbursements, Treasury & Data management officers, Accounts clerks, and assistants (Doc. & Admin.) of FARM project.
• Ensure all FARM Project financial transactions including disbursement and transactions are conducted promptly and efficiently and in accordance with accounting practices and ATI guidelines.
• Assist the Finance and admin Manager in ensuring the application of robust and adequate financial controls and procedures of FARM Project in line with ATI finance policies and good accounting practices.
• Ensure all financial controls are accurately and consistently applied across all aspects of FARM Project financial transaction processing, financial management, record keeping, and reporting.
• Ensure the timely and accurate completion of all FARM Project financial transactions and related activities by overseeing and working closely with the finance officers and other team members.
• Ensure data integrity and accurate and timely recording of all FARM Project financial transactions in the ERP accounting systems/ books.
• Ensure internal working procedures and controls on cash, creditor, and debtor management of FARM Project.
• Maintain FARM Project accrual and prepayment accounts in accordance with ATI policies.
• Ensure FARM Project financial transactions are processed in accordance with ATI policies and reconciled monthly with financial records.
• Ensure FARM Project taxes are deducted from salaries and paid according to government legislation requirements.
• Ensure FARM Project integrity of cash management and of transfers to field offices.
• Coordinate the FARM Project reconciliation process of data between IFMIS and AGRESSO and HQ & ROs on a regular basis and take appropriate corrective actions in a timely manner.
• Ensure FARM Project accurate cash flow forecasts are completed, and cash and bank balances are managed in the organization to prevent cash overrun.
• Carry out Project Approval, checking & verifying payment requests/Vouchers before effecting payments in Agresso ERP/IFMIS.
• Ensure that all FARM Project financial transactions are fully supported, and accurately coded and that they are all captured in Agresso ERP on a timely basis – supporting documentation is properly filed for ease of retrieval.
• Maintain FARM Project accrual and prepayment accounts in accordance with ATI policies.
• Ensure FARM Project petty cash, banks, floats, and advances are processed in accordance with ATI policies and reconciled monthly.
• Ensure the safe security of FARM Project cash in the office and coordinate weekly and monthly cash counts, including spot counts.
• Ensure FARM Project accurate cash flow forecasts from the 4 regional office is received and reviewed and make the required cash transfers to the field offices on a timely basis.
• Ensure that systems are put in place to assure FARM Project document security and ease of retrieval for a complete audit trail from the System Accounts records to supporting documentation and vice–versa.
• Ensure that internal financial controls relating to Financial Data, Receivables, cash on hand, and bank of FARM Project are consistently applied e.g., maintaining authorized bank signatories list in accordance with the scheme of delegation.
• Directly coordinate, manage, and motivate the FARM project disbursement officers, accounts clerk & cashiers and ensure that they have clear work plans & performance management is integrated into day-to-work activities.
• Ensure that systems are put in place to assure FARM Project document security and ease of retrieval for a complete audit trail from the System Accounts records to supporting documentation and vice versa.
• Mange /Handle batch upload when rectification or bulk adjustments of FARM Project are raised.

Receivables/Payables, and Payroll Management

• Supervise & directly coordinate the FARM Project Receivables, Payroll & tax officer.
• Assist the Finance and admin Manager in ensuring smooth implementation of FARM Project robust and adequate financial systems and procedures in line with ATI finance policies and good accounting practices.
• Implement the FARM Project tasks within the finance daily to make sure that month-end and year-end routine are performed as directed by the Finance and admin Manager and in accordance with ATI timescales.
• Make sure that monthly payroll for FARM Project employees, contractors, and casual staff are released timely and accurately.
• Make sure that any FARM Project employee-related payments like-Resigned employees’ settlements, data enumerators, etc., were affected on monthly basis.
• Follow up the Collection monthly FARM Project employee’s attendance sheet & validate it with monthly payroll;
• Respond to FARM Project employee /staff-related queries on payroll & prepare regular management payroll reports.
• Follow up the FARM Project monthly posting of payroll transactions in ERP.
• Research and resolve FARM Project payroll & Obligation transaction-related discrepancies and clear on monthly basis & all accounts have a clear and normal balance.
• Supervise/Make sure receivables-related transactions, maintain accurate records and reconcile the General Ledger A/R of FARM Project.
• Manage Travel advance request both (local and international) and follow up subsequent settlement of FARM Project.
• Check the completeness & validate the FARM Project documents related to the settlement of advances related to local/international travel,
• Initiate Journal vouchers for settlement of FARM Project sub-grant advances.
• Manage the proper capturing of FARM Project advance to be collected from staffs & follow up the subsequent collection/Settlement, Monitor staffs/customer’s account details for non-payments, delayed payments, and other irregularities.
• Supervise/Participate in checking of FARM Project advance settlements such as procurement, workshop, work, etc advance as per the pre-seated threshold.
• Initiate /Register FARM Project receivables/Payables related settlements/adjustments using Journal vouchers.
• Generate receivables age analysis & review the AR aging to ensure compliance.
• Research and resolve FARM Project receivables transaction-related discrepancies and Clear abnormal receivables, Clear abnormal balances on monthly basis & make sure all ledger accounts have clear and normal Ledger balance.

Yearend routines/Financial reports /Audit related tasks

• Prepare & submit FARM Project draft year-end reports for review by the Finance and Admin Manager timely, accurate, and efficient financial reporting MGMT.
• Support in all audit and compliance-related activities of FARM Project.
• Provision of ad-hoc financial management information and analysis from the system for the use of management and FARM Project budget holder as required.
• Support FARM Project internal and external audit processes & Assist the Finance and Admin Manager in producing Financial Reports.
• Support in ensuring that FARM Project audit recommendations (internal and external) are implemented.
• Check the financial transactions recorded in the financial system and make adjustments to account for accruals for utilities and other commitments, clear abnormal balances before preparing FARM Project reports.
• Back up the Finance and admin Manager and perform other FARM Project duties assigned by the immediate supervisor and or finance Director.
• Support all audit and compliance-related FARM Project activities.
• Directly support documentation and finance assistant working on FARM Project documentation.
• Perform other FARM Project duties as assigned by the Finance and Admin Manager.

Required Qualification, Competencies, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree from recognized University in Accounting or Accounting & Finance.
• Experience relevant: At least 6 years for BA or 4 Years for MA in Gov’t, Donor- Gov’t Bilateral & Multilateral organizations, International/Local NGO’s, or relevant professional experience.
• Special Training- Computer knowledge in MS Office (Excel, Word, particularly QuickBooks etc.)
• Prior Knowledge of Automated Accounting system like Agresso ERP/Oracle-IFMIS is an asset
• Knowledge of local laws of the country.
• Commitment to ATI and FARM Project values.
• Flexibility and ability to stay effective and motivated in a fast-changing environment.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to work long hours and work with other staffs.
• Fluency in English and Amharic and/or other Ethiopian languages is highly desired.
• Superior attention to detail; skills such as analytic; critical thinking; problem-solving; multi-tasking abilities are required in addition to integrity, and honesty.