Accountant

1.     Background

The Rajo Kaaba project’s comprehensive approach, focused on basic literacy and numeracy, skills training, and higher education, recognizes the potential for a virtuous cycle of women’s success up and down the educational system and to improve their labor force participation, enhance their informal and formal sector job success and self-employment, and expand their leadership roles across all sectors of the society.  Component 1 will support adolescent girls and women to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills, cross-cutting socioemotional and life skills, and skills to improve their livelihoods. Component 2 will support the government to create a consortium of women’s colleges and women’s development centers (WDCs) to support a systemwide expansion of women’s higher skills and leadership development across the federal member states (FMS) and Somaliland through participation in higher education. Component 3 will support systems strengthening efforts, technical assistance, and project management, including on data systems, policy and strategy development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and capacity building at the federal and state level.

Objective and Scope of Work:

The Project Accountant is responsible for providing accounting and financial support to the project in compliance with the Government of Somalia and World Bank financial management requirements. The role is operational in nature and functions under the leadership of the Financial Management Specialist (FMS) and the supervision of the Project Manager. The Project Accountant supports the execution of financial processes, the preparation of reports, and the maintenance of accurate records to ensure smooth and accountable project implementation.

Responsibilities

Accounting and Finance Support

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date accounting records per International Accounting Standards, World Bank, and Government of Somalia regulations.
• Prepare and submit periodic financial reports (monthly, quarterly, annually) in formats approved by the World Bank and FGS.
• Process payments and disbursements as per approved budgets and work plans, ensuring proper documentation and adherence to procedures.
• Ensure payments to beneficiaries are made on time, once approved, and are properly supported and recorded.
• Maintain and organize a comprehensive and auditable filing system for all financial documents.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations for the project’s bank accounts.
• Assist in compiling data for quarterly IFRs and annual financial statements, under the guidance of the FMS.
• Monitor expenditures to ensure they remain within approved budget limits and promptly alert the FMS of any potential variances.

Budget and Forecasting Support

• Support the preparation of annual work plans and budgets by gathering and organizing financial data.
• Assist in reviewing project expenditures against budget forecasts and escalate concerns to the FM Specialist.
• Help monitor cash flow forecasts and report variances to the FM Specialist and Project Manager.

Compliance and Audit Support

• Ensure compliance with all applicable accounting procedures, policies, and financial regulations.
• Support audit readiness by maintaining records, responding to audit queries, and assisting in preparing audit documentation as directed by the FMS.
• Report any suspected financial irregularities or risks to the FM Specialist promptly.

Coordination and Reporting

• Provide regular updates to the FM Specialist on operational accounting matters.
• Assist in compiling data and preparing summaries for monthly progress reports, including any financial knowledge shared with MDA counterparts.
• Participate in training or capacity-building sessions organized by the FM Specialist.
• Carry out other project tasks as assigned by the FM Specialist or Project Manager.

Key Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected from the selected consultant:

1. Work Plan: Support the FM Specialist and Project Manager in preparing a work plan within the first month of the assignment.
2. IFR Support: Timely input into quarterly unaudited Interim Financial Reports (IFRs).
3. Annual Financial Statement Support: Contribute to the preparation of Annual Financial Statements within three months of the fiscal year-end.
4. Monthly Financial Reports: Prepare internal monthly progress summaries on accounting activities, risks, and observations for review by the FM Specialist.
5. Audit Support Documentation: Provide clean, well-organized accounting files for external or internal audits.

Recruitment Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business administration (accounting focus).
• At least 5 years of practical experience in accounting or financial management.
• At least 2 years of experience working on donor-funded or government projects is preferred. Prior experience with World Bank–funded initiatives would be an added advantage.
• Proficiency in accounting software and MS Office, especially Excel.
• Familiarity with ERP systems is an asset.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Somali.

Language Requirements

Excellent command of Somali and English languages (oral and written)

Duration of Service

The accountant will be engaged initially in a 1-year contract appointment with an extension based on project duration, budget availability, and satisfactory performance.

Reporting Obligations

The Project Accountant will report to the Financial Specialist.

Location of assignment: The duty station is the MoECHE Office in Mogadishu, with field visits when it's necessary.

In line with the Rajo Kaaba requirements, the PMU seeks to establish gender parity. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Input/facility provided by the Client

The PMU will provide office space with necessary furniture and other facilities, such as a printing facility, etc., to enable the consultant to perform day-to-day work. The Client shall also provide soft and hard copies of any existing procurement/financial manuals, if any, upon signing of the contract.

How To Apply

The Expressions of interest (EOI), CV with 3 reference persons and certificates of academic qualifications must be delivered (in person to the address below or by [email protected] The deadline for applications is 20th, Aug 2025 at 12:00 Hours (Mogadishu Time) – marked clearly as “Accountant - Somalia Empowering Women Through Education and Skills (Rajo kaaba)”.

 Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education

Mogadishu – Somalia