THE ORGANIZATION

The Alliance of Bioversity International (www.bioversityinternational.org) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) (www.ciat.cgiar.org) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crisis of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

About the position

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is inviting applications for the position of Finance Associate to support its Malawi Office. This role involves essential coordination, reporting, and administrative tasks, aimed at strengthening team operations and communication. The position is designed to foster an organized and efficient work environment, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the finance team.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee the effective running of banking operations, ensuring all bank/cash accounts are duly reconciled and balances maintained for seamless office requirements.
• Ensure payments and liquidated expenses are duly documented, posted and stored in accordance with institutional financial procedures and GAAP.
• Work closely with PLANS, administrative, and HR teams in Tanzania to ensure timely processing of payroll, statutory returns and payments in accordance with ABC policies and procedures.
• Work as a country focal point responsible for institutional and project Audits ensuring timely submission of Audit information, compliance with audit requirements and timely implementation of audit recommendations.
• Ensure effective cashflow management working closely with different business units to ensure adequate cash resources for effective running of alliance operations in the country.
• Ensure accurate and efficient preparation of annual operational, personnel and capital budgets including the collection and feedback from relevant parties.
• Ensure accurate and timely posting of financial transactions into UBW ERP in line with ABC financial policies and procedures.
• Ensure continuous analysis of TB accounts (including alliance inter-company account) to enable complete and timely submission of monthly and quarterly reports to the regional office.
• Oversee timely reviewing and correct verification of Travel Expense Claims (TECs)/Accountabilities, including correct AECs, exchange rates, expense reporting and presence of all receipts.
• Ensure efficient archiving system ensuring proper filing of accounting documents for ease of retrieval during audit and project review exercises in accordance with donors’ and alliance policies.
• Manage the timely management of account payables from Alliance vendors.
• Manage the effective implementation of Service Level Agreements signed with hosted entities ensuring strict adherence to timelines and quality of outputs.
• Ensure compliance with Filling of Tax returns (WHT and VAT) to Malawi Revenue Authority.
• Any other support in Accounting Services Unit and Treasury unit as may be assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications and Experience

• University degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field
• Professional accounting certification eg CPA, ACCA, CIMA an added advantage
• At least seven (5) years of proven work experience in finance, preferably in an international organization including budgeting, accounting guidelines and financial management of projects
• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite, ability to handle complex financial and budgeting systems including excellent knowledge of Excel and ERP systems
• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS)
• Strong proficiency in the English language, both written and spoken

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, but also participate as a team member in accomplishment of duties.
• Possess good analytical skills, good judgment and a high level of respect for confidentiality.
• Demonstrate a high level of integrity.
• Ability to co-ordinate, prioritise and organize workload; take initiative and work under pressure.
• Good communication skills with a positive attitude and a good service orientation.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

• Oversee the effective running of banking operations, ensuring all bank/cash accounts are duly reconciled and balances maintained for seamless office requirements.
• Ensure payments and liquidated expenses are duly documented, posted and stored in accordance with institutional financial procedures and GAAP.
• Work closely with PLANS, administrative, and HR teams in Tanzania to ensure timely processing of payroll, statutory returns and payments in accordance with ABC policies and procedures.
• Work as a country focal point responsible for institutional and project Audits ensuring timely submission of Audit information, compliance with audit requirements and timely implementation of audit recommendations.
• Ensure effective cashflow management working closely with different business units to ensure adequate cash resources for effective running of alliance operations in the country.
• Ensure accurate and efficient preparation of annual operational, personnel and capital budgets including the collection and feedback from relevant parties.
• Ensure accurate and timely posting of financial transactions into UBW ERP in line with ABC financial policies and procedures.
• Ensure continuous analysis of TB accounts (including alliance inter-company account) to enable complete and timely submission of monthly and quarterly reports to the regional office.
• Oversee timely reviewing and correct verification of Travel Expense Claims (TECs)/Accountabilities, including correct AECs, exchange rates, expense reporting and presence of all receipts.
• Ensure efficient archiving system ensuring proper filing of accounting documents for ease of retrieval during audit and project review exercises in accordance with donors’ and alliance policies.
• Manage the timely management of account payables from Alliance vendors.
• Manage the effective implementation of Service Level Agreements signed with hosted entities ensuring strict adherence to timelines and quality of outputs.
• Ensure compliance with Filling of Tax returns (WHT and VAT) to Malawi Revenue Authority.
• Any other support in Accounting Services Unit and Treasury unit as may be assigned.

• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite
• Ability to handle complex financial and budgeting systems
• Excellent knowledge of Excel
• Excellent knowledge of ERP systems
• Strong proficiency in the English language, both written and spoken
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to participate as a team member
• Good analytical skills
• Good judgment
• High level of respect for confidentiality
• High level of integrity
• Ability to co-ordinate, prioritise and organize workload
• Ability to take initiative
• Ability to work under pressure
• Good communication skills
• Positive attitude
• Good service orientation
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

• University degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field
• Professional accounting certification eg CPA, ACCA, CIMA an added advantage
• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS)