Land O’Lakes Venture37 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening local agriculture, helping agribusinesses create jobs and linking farmers to markets. Since 1981, it has implemented over 315 integrated dairy, livestock and crops development programs in nearly 80 countries — creating lasting impact by linking farmers, businesses, and the public and private sector in local and global contexts. Land O’Lakes Venture37’s longstanding affiliation with Land O’Lakes, Inc. sets it apart. Land O’Lakes, Inc. is one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives. It supports Land O’Lakes Venture37 project implementation with nearly 100 years of expertise in dairy, animal nutrition, crop inputs and agricultural insights and technologies. This gives Land O’Lakes Venture37 development projects a unique global view of agriculture, food and the power of well-functioning market systems. Land O’Lakes, Inc. supports these efforts as part of its enterprise purpose of Feeding Human Progress at home and around the world.
Project Description:
Land O’Lakes Venture37 is the lead project implementer for the Nourishing Prosperity Alliance (NPA) project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The purpose of the NPA project is to establish commercially viable and sustainable forage markets that equitably strengthen the regional competitiveness of the dairy industries in Kenya and Ethiopia. Forage markets will be developed through the implementation of integrated activities that drive demand for and use of optimized forage varieties among small-scale dairy producers, as well as improve the supply of climate-smart forage rations that are marketed to small-scale producers. Activities also aim to strengthen the enabling environment for forage market development over the life of the project, from July 2023 to June 2028.
Position Summary:
The Assistant Accountant supports financial accounting and reporting, payment transactions, and carrying out administrative operations to support project implementation in Kenya.
Primary Responsibilities:
Primary responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the following:
• Responsible for the processing of all local payments, including payroll, and recording payments in internal systems
• Prepare payment vouchers and ensure all supporting documents are included with each payment in accordance with Venture37 and donor policies and procedures
• Complete monthly Kenya operating funding requests to ensure it includes NPA project needs
• Follow up on the settlement of advances to staff in a timely manner
• Communicate with local suppliers and hotels and obtain invoices and other supporting documents
• Assist the Senior Finance Manager with preparing the monthly end financial reporting package
• Reconcile monthly balance sheet accounts
• Upload documents monthly on financial document repository site
• Contribute to the completion and submission of timely required salary statutory deductions to the relevant government authorities on a monthly basis
• Assist with the filing of all required tax returns, VAT reporting and other official documents to the local government
• Review and process approved cost share collected by other V37 staff
• Assist in maintaining monthly financial files in both hard and soft copies
• Assist with any external audits by completing requested materials and assigned schedules
• Assist in procurement processes, including soliciting quotes for local items and compiling supporting documentation
• Assist in the recording and updating of the project’s fixed assets.
• Other finance and accounting tasks as assigned by the Senior Finance Manager
Reporting & Supervision: The Accountant reports to the Senior Finance and Accounting Manager in Ethiopia. The position does not supervise other staff.
Required Skills and Experience:
• Degree in accounting or business-related field or 4 years relevant work experience in lieu of degree.
• Minimum of 2 years of related work experience.
• Advanced skills in using word processing and spreadsheet programs, as well as electronic communications programs.
• Oral and written fluency in English.
• Attention to detail.
• Demonstrated initiative and self-motivation in handling all assigned tasks.
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
• Prior experience working in accounting or procurement for a US-based development organization.
• Demonstrated knowledge of US government or US foundations’ financial and / or procurement compliance regulations.