Project Accountants x3 at Ministry of National Development Planning

Zambia has been implementing the World Bank supported Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) aimed at strengthening Zambia ‘s institutional framework for climate resilience (while) improving the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities in selected Sub-basins. This phase strengthens capacity at both national and local levels, whilst piloting the mainstreaming of climate risk management into spatial planning. Investments supported by the Zambia PPCR on the ground include participatory adaptaton, climate-resilient infrastructure and strategic program support in agriculture, water, livestock, fisheries and natural resources and climate information scrvices. The investments were targeted at helping the country to manage the challenge of land degradation, unsustainable land use and climate variability and change.

Building on the programmatic approach for the implementation of the PPCR in Western Province of Zambia and scaling up lessons from it, the Government of the Republic of Zambia with the support of the World Bank
will be implementing the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD) project in the Northern region of Zambia, in three provinces, namely; Luapula. Northern and Muchinga. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve natural resource management in the northern regon of Zambia to support sustainable livelihoods, and in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency, to provide immediate and effective response to the eligible crisis or emergency. TRALARD project will cover a number of thematic areas including sustainable landscape management, restoration and resilience: intrastructure tor resilience  and market access; and contingency emergency response, to support one of the poorest regions in the country by integrating livelihood improvement with natural resource sustainability. The interventions will operationalize landscape approaches to contribute to the national forest landscapes restoration requirements as well as enhance resilience and development in the Northern region and deepen the work in southern region of the country.

The impacts of climate change, subtle or gradual as they are, remain persistent. They are taking their toll on the natural resource base of the region. exacerbating the already vulnerable context of the people.

The government of Zambia has embraced an integrated approach to development investments at landscape level. To respond to the challenges of sustainable livelihoods by restoring degraded forest lands and through  multi-dimension renewable natural resource sustainable use and restoration, will require a demand for a large scale, landscape approach that could impact thousands of rural level communities.

The Ministry of National Development Planning now invites applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the following vacancies as part of the TRALARD Project Implementation Units (PIUS) in the three (3) target  provinces of Luapula, Muchinga and Northern provinces;

PROJECT ACCOUNTANTS -3 Positions

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

The Project Accountant will be responsible for supporting the Project in deploying project resources with due attention to economy, efficiency and effectiveness project implementation areas under the supervision of the Provincial Project Operations Officer.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

• To ensure timely preparation, consolidation and submission of monthly, quarterly and annual firancial reports for project activities in the province as specified in the financial guidelines of the project;
• To monitor financial compliance and control expenditure vis-a-vis budget ceilings in financial operations of the project in the province;
• To actively participate in the preparation and consolidation of judgets and annual work plans for the project in the province;
• To facilitate timely preparation and submission of withdraw applications for disbursement of funds from the donors to the project designated account;
• Consolidate annual financial statements for audit and ensure that audited financial statements are prepared on time;
• To review district budgets and facilitate processing of funding request to the Project Implementing stations, and other beneficiaries;
• To ensure project financial transactions are appropriately processed and recorded in the financial management system;
• To sensitize staff on the adherence to financial regulations in handling project finances and ensure adherence to the Public Finance Management Act, 2018 or as may be revised; and
• To undertake any other duties as may be assigned by the Provincial Project Operations

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, full Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), or Chartered Institute Management Accountants (CIMA) or Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) prcfessional or CA Zambia or any other related accounting professional qualification;
• Proof of a full Grade 12 Certificate or its equivalent;
• Member of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA)
• Five (5) years” experience in Finance and Financial Reporting, experience working in a Donor-funded organization will be an added advantage;
• Knowledge of the World Bank financial management and disbursement guidelines will be a very strong advantage;
• Excellent computer skills and be conversant in using accounting packages such as Pastel, SUN System, NAVISION, QuickBooks or similar Software;
• Self-starter and ability to work independently, pay careful attention to detail and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment and
• Should have good communication skills and fluency in English.

DURATION

The engagement is for an initial 2 years with possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance.

REPORTING

The Project Accountant shall report to the Project Operations Officer PIU: In addition, the Project Accountant shall collaborate with the Financial Management Specialist at the NPCU.

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