Project Accountant

CEFA – The European Committee for Training and Agriculture is an Italian Non-Governmental Organization founded in 1972, active in several countries across Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. CEFA promotes sustainable and inclusive development through long-term initiatives in agriculture, environment, education, gender equality, and human rights, implemented in partnership with local communities and institutions.

Its work is guided by the values of participation, equality, and social justice, aiming to empower people, especially women and youth, and strengthen their capacity for self-reliance.

CEFA will coordinate the implementation of the project “GROW – Gender-Responsive Opportunities for Water Access, Livelihood Recovery and Climate Resilience for Vulnerable Communities in West Pokot County,” funded by AICS and implemented in partnership with Perur Rays of Hope in West Pokot County, Kenya. The project will be carried out in Pokot North Sub-County, specifically in Kodich, Kapchok and Kiwawa wards.

The overall objective of the project is to improve the living conditions and the capacity to respond to shocks of populations most exposed to multidimensional poverty and the impacts of climate change. Specifically, the project aims to address humanitarian needs and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities in ASAL areas through three main components: (a) improving safe and continuous access to drinking water and inclusive WASH services, with a focus on women, girls and persons with disabilities; (b) strengthening food security, nutrition, agriculture and pastoral livelihoods through sustainable practices, dietary diversification, income-generating activities, fodder production and support to the honey value chain; and (c) enhancing disaster risk reduction through risk analysis tools, early warning systems, agroforestry, reforestation and sustainable land management.

The duty station will be West Pokot County, Kenya, with the exact location to be determined based on operational needs.

The CEFA Project Accountant, under the direct supervision of the Project Administrator and in coordination with the Project Manager, ensures the proper financial management of the activities, from day-to-day accounting to donor reporting.

The position ensures that cash flows, payments and accounting documentation comply with CEFA standards, donor regulations (AICS) and Kenyan laws, contributing to the transparency and efficiency of the project.

Main Duties

• Prepare, record and process all financial transactions of the project, ensuring the correct allocation of costs according to the approved budget lines.
• Manage day-to-day accounting and field cash liquidity, ensuring the entry of financial data related to expenses in the target areas.
• Carry out monthly reconciliations and resolve any discrepancies through the analysis of financial and accounting data.
• Process approved payments, verifying the completeness of the documentation and compliance with the budget, CEFA procedures and AICS regulations.
• Verify that payments to suppliers, consultants and partners are compliant with financial plans and procurement procedures.
• Prepare periodic project financial reporting, collecting and verifying accounting documentation in coordination with field staff.
• Submit financial reports to the Project Administrator according to the agreed deadlines, ensuring accuracy and traceability.
• Develop and implement internal controls to safeguard financial assets, ensuring compliance with CEFA policies and international accounting standards.
• Conduct regular financial analyses to identify trends, critical issues and opportunities for optimisation.
• Collaborate with project teams in the preparation and monitoring of budgets, providing updated data to support informed decision-making.
• Develop budgets for field missions in collaboration with thematic coordinators and the Project Manager.
• Support the preparation of financial reports for donors and facilitate external audits.
• In liaison with the HFA Manage the administrative activities of the CEFA office in West Pokot, including procedures related to suppliers, consultants and contracts.
• Check that consultants have complete and up-to-date contracts, Terms of Reference, timesheets and payment requests.
• Keep up to date with accounting standards and best practices in financial management, applying them to the project context.
• Update the project accounting records on SQUARE system for tracking project financial performance.

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting or related disciplines;
• Minimum 2 years of experience in accounting and financial reporting, preferably in international cooperation projects.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Kiswahili
• Proven competence in the preparation of donor financial reports, planning and coordination with external auditors.
• Solid cash management and monthly reconciliation skills, with attention to detail and respect for deadlines.
• Excellent command of the Microsoft Office package, particularly advanced Excel.
• Knowledge of AICS procedures and previous experience with CEFA will be considered an asset.
• Honest and of high integrity.