Finance Officer job at Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

About the Organization

RTI is an independent, nonprofit institute that provides research, development, and technical services to government and commercial clients worldwide.

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 6,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

Job Description

This position is planned for an upcoming governance project to be based in Kampala, Uganda.
RTI’s Center for Governance is seeking a Finance Officer for the Uganda DRA Project. The finance officer will be responsible for ensuring appropriate systems and procedures (payroll, cash management, vendor payments, budgeting, and other related expenditures) are followed to properly disburse, account, budget, and report project funds which are cost effective, timely, have proper internal controls, and comply with the terms of the agreement. This position will be based in Kampala, Uganda, and report to the Finance & Grants Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

Assists the Finance & Grants Manager in the administration and oversight of program funds in coordination with RTI and USAID guidelines; and are subject to the proper chain of internal approvals and authorizations.
Coordinates and assists the Finance & Grants Manager in grants administration, reviews grantees financial reports and supporting documents for compliance, monitors grantees ’expenses vs their approved budgets.
Develops financial management capacity of grantee staff by coaching and mentoring.
Maintains local accounts on the QuickBooks computerized accounting system; enters and codes all transactions in Quickbooks.
In coordination with human resources, collects approved timesheets, ensuring their completeness and timely submission by staff.
Processes monthly payroll to personnel and distributes payslips to staff.
Initiates all checks and bank payments to vendors and grantees.
Estimates monthly cash needs and prepares the request for wire transfers from RTI headquarters.

Maintains financial management files of backup documentation for all local transactions as required by USAID regulations and RTI policies, including files for subgrants with local technical assistance partners (LTAPs) and ensures audit trail for all necessary subgrant documentation.
Maintains local audit file, including filing of general ledger journal vouchers, accounts payable documentation, and other miscellaneous financial filings.
Identifies potential accounting discrepancies and works with the Finance & Grants Manager to effectively research, track and resolve these issues.
Monitors monthly/quarterly expenditures by project components, comparing them with approved budgets and providing budget analysis results to Grants and Finance Manager. Coordinates with grantee finance staff on requests for advances and tracks their timely liquidation, processes approved milestone payments to subgrantees.
In cooperation with HR/Admin Officer, estimates quarterly accruals (expenses incurred but not paid).
Prepares quarterly VAT reports for submission to USAID.
Ensures withholding WHT from vendors at the time of making payments; provides WHT tax withheld certificates to vendors.
Conducts other general accounting duties, as assigned.

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Qualification, Experiences and Competencies

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or accounting and at least 3 years of experience (or Masters plus 1 year of experience) in the management of financial systems and budgets, financial reporting, auditing, and/or taxation.
Professional Accounting Designation (CPA, ACCA), or significant progress toward obtainment of designation preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and/or experiences in accounting, financial planning and management, accounting transactions, budgeting, reporting and ensuring compliance of internal control systems.
Knowledge of accepted accounting practices and principles.
Significant experience using QuickBooks highly desirable.
Advanced working knowledge of Excel and strong database skills.
Good writing and communication skills in English.