Recruitment of Project Accountant — Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (Republic of South Sudan)

Republic of South Sudan

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY

Request for Expression of Interest for the Position of

Project Accountant

Country: Republic of South Sudan

Project Name: Safety Net & Skills Development Project

Project Number: P143915

Credit No. 5284-SS

Assignment Title: Project Accountant

Reference No.: SS-MoFCRD- 48567 – CS - INDIV

• The Government of the Republic of South Sudan is implementing Safety Net and Skills Development Project (SNSDP) funded by the World Bank. The objective of SNSDP is to provide access to income opportunities and temporary employment to the poor and vulnerable and put in place building blocks for a social protection system.

• The SNSDP has two components – 1) Social Protection System and Project Management and 2) Public Works.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) is the lead Ministry for implementation and coordinates Component 2. The Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (MoGCSW) is coordinating Component 1of the project.

• In order to ensure proper public finance management, and in accordance with World Bank financial management regulations, the Ministry intends to apply part of the proceeds of the credit to hire a qualified national Project Accountant to bolster the Project Management team.

• The Consultant shall do everything necessary to assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to achieve the above-stated objective; and in so doing, shall carry out all necessary tasks, including but not necessarily limited to the following:

• Review the completeness and accuracy of documentation accompanying payment requests from contracted service providers and prepare Payment vouchers for review by the Senior Finance Officer before processing.

• Ensure proper control of advances and maintaining Advance Payments Register and monitor settlement of advances;

• Supervise and assist the Finance Assistant in cash handling; petty cash payment, petty cash reconciliation, liquidation of expense, exchange rate, banking issues etc.

• Prepare and Maintain the IDA Withdrawal Applications Register, Fixed Assets Register, and other subsidiary ledgers and update promptly;

• Review and make data entries into QuickBooks for all the Payment vouchers on daily basis;

• Ensure that data entries to QuickBooks are made according to each project Code, chart of accounts and ensure proper filing system of the same

• Prepare and maintain all accounting records in line with approved accounting standards and in line with the World Bank’s requirements and Government’s regulations;

• Compile the project annual budget and capture information on the approved budget in QuickBooks accounting software in order to regularly monitor Budget versus Actual expenditure and report to the Senior Finance Officer and Project Manager;

• Prepare Statements of Expenditure and Withdrawal Applications for review by the Senior Finance Officer before submission to the Bank;

• Generate the Monthly report from the system (QuickBooks) and modify in the formats approved by the Bank and the Government of South Sudan;

• Ensure that all accounting records are updated promptly;

• Prepare monthly Bank Reconciliation statements for all Bank Accounts; and assist FMS in preparing the quarterly IFR and annual Financial Statements;

• Ensure that disbursements are made in accordance with approved annual budgets and work plans together with the project management team members;

• Together with the Project management team ensure strict adherence to installed internal control systems for all areas of project operation including ensuring that all payments are supported by proper documentary evidence and are duly approved, adequate segregation of functions in payment processing and internal check mechanisms; and

• Liaise with the internal/external auditors and follow up any audit queries/management letters;

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to apply for the position. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The selection shall be based on qualification, experience and skills of the candidate, followed by an interview. The minimum requirements are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business or related fields from a recognized university;

• Pass in Level II of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examinations or ACCA level II;

• Holder of full professional qualification (CPA or ACCA) without Bachelor’s degree, with relevant experience, will be considered;

• Master’s degree would be an added advantage;

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience performing financial management responsibilities for development programs similar to World Bank financed operations;

• Experience in projects in the areas of financial management of UN or Donor funded projects such as World Bank is highly desirable;

• Experience in similar working environment like that of South Sudan is desirable.

• The following skills/abilities are essential:

Excellent computer skills for Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); Fluency in English (spoken and written) is essential; ability to communicate in Arabic would be an added advantage; Excellent written and oral communication skills; Good knowledge and application of accounting software - QuickBooks preferred; and High level interpersonal and relationship-building skills; and

• Contract Duration. The assignment is initially for 12 months with possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance.

• Note that Government officials or civil servants will not be considered unless: (i) they are on leave of absence without pay or have resigned or retired six months prior to the date of the advert; and (ii) they were not working either for MAFS, MoGCSW or MoLPSHRD (the hiring Agencies) before going on leave of absence without pay, resigned or retired.

• Attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants by World Bank Borrowers” dated January 2011 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment: Bank policy requires that consultants provide professional, objective, and impartial advice and at all times hold the client’s interests paramount, without any consideration for future work, and that in providing advice they avoid conflicts with other assignments and their own corporate interests. Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of being unable to carry out the assignment in the best interest of the Borrower.

• Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from Monday to Friday; from 9:00 A.M. to 16:00 P.M.

• Applications must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) on or before 12:00 noon on 12th March, 2018.

Dr. George Leju Lugor

Director General for Agriculture & Extension Services,

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

Ministries Complex

RSS-Juba

E-mail:

[email protected];

and copy

[email protected]