Programme Accountant
Trócaire, Sierra Leone

Trócaire works in partnership with local organisations in developing countries and with people in Ireland to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice. Together, we create positive and lasting change. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Our work is rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and our values of Solidarity, Courage, Participation, Perseverance and Accountability.

In Sierra Leone, Trócaire works to achieve climate and environmental justice; ensure women and girls’ protection, voice amp; influence; and save lives and protect human dignity. Trócaire supports work on the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, women’s political participation and leadership, sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment, natural resource management and environmental conservation, and humanitarian preparedness and response.

Trócaire works exclusively with local partners and actively supports localised development and humanitarian aid. Supporting local civil society organisations to strengthen their organisational, institutional, financial, technical, and managerial capacities is core to Trócaire’s partnership approach in Sierra Leone. Trócaire’s Sierra Leone country programme also works closely with, contributing to and drawing support from, Trócaire’s global hub on partnership and localisation based in Nairobi, Kenya.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Reporting to Finance and Admin Manager, this is a fixed-term contract for 1 year (potential to renew) based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

This role is subject to a four-month probation.

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children amp; Adults

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct), which outlines the expected behaviours and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives.

Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. All offers of employment will be subject to pre-employment checks, including satisfactory references and appropriate screening (e.g., police/Garda vetting, counterterrorism and anti-trafficking). Trócaire also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and all employees will be subject to this as part of the contract of employment.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance and Governance in Partner Organisations

• Lead on reviewing partner financial reports alongside programme team members and ensure that Trócaire and donor requirements are being met.
• Lead on reviewing the partner BVA and budget with the partner on a quarterly basis. Revise forecasts and make adjustments as per need.
• Review Trócaire records ensuring that partner financial reporting is up to date and properly maintained, in accordance with Trócaire and donor requirements.
• Lead an ongoing process to appraise partner organisations financial controls and systems in line with the Trócaire partner governance and finance manual. This will include field visits, desk audits and other methods as appropriate. Ensure recommendations are implemented in agreement with the partner.
• Provide support to the finance and accounts departments of partner organisations to enable them to produce and submit accurate expenditure reports. Support will include design of accounting and reporting systems, design of spreadsheets, training and on-going financial guidance.
• Lead on raising partner payments, ensure the monies are in line with the partner MOUs, partners are paid the correct currency and the payment liabilities exist on the financial accounting software.
• Work with the wider Trócaire team to provide tailored and phased financial capacity building support to each of the needs of the partner.
• Participate in all programme team meetings to ensure a full understanding of all programme work and any financial implications arising.
• Ensure a monthly and annual partner capacity building assessment report is submitted to the country programme manager, Finance and Admin Manager and the international accountant.
• Participate in delivering training to partners on compliance with donors’ financial requirements.
• In the event of a major issue in relation to financial management at partner level, especially in the management of donor funds, the programme accountant may be required to be deployed to a partner organisation to ensure tha

Job Rewards and Benefits