Job: Charities Accountant | Overseas Volunteer ( 2 to 12+ Weeks)

A f I D works in conjunction with UK charities offering their partners a completely free and impartial coaching and mentoring programme designed to strengthen their financial management and planning capabilities of small grass root community led organisations; orphanages & street child centres, micro-finance schemes, local enterprise initiatives, gender & disability rights groups, conservation projects, rural cooperatives, community health clinics and schools - organisations that are doing amazing work to tackle extreme poverty and inequality in their communities but sadly have little or no access to these vital skills and services.

We are currently supporting partners in 11 African countries (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi and Tanzania & Ghana) India, Nepal and Cambodia.

Assignments typically range from 2 to 12 weeks depending on the agreed objectives, the diversity and depth of skills required and of course the volunteer’s availability. Longer assignments are available.

They will typically have at least one of the following 3 primary areas of focus:

1.Conducting a Financial Health Assessment / Needs & Capacity Audit.

This is a simple set of questions specifically designed for small and medium sized NGOs. By the end of the assessment you and your NGO partner will be able to tell if the financial management of the organisation and its projects are healthy and where it may need attention. This will also act as an invaluable benchmarking tool for the organisation to assess the progress of its long-term development strategy.

2. Tutoring, Coaching and Developing Local Talent

Each volunteer will coach and develop the basic accounting and financial management skills of the local staff responsible for the long-term financial management of the programme; building confidence and instilling a strong sense of direction amongst the team. Tasks may include reviewing expenses, project income, bank reconciliations and cashbooks; resolving discrepancies, celebrating economies and demonstrating the benefits of transparent and consistent reporting.

3. Financial Planning and Budgets

In collaboration with local finance staff volunteers will help create and review workable, easy to understand project, monthly and one year financial plans and budgets; providing guidance on their use to finance and programmes staff, including variance analysis.

Additional responsibilities may include:

•International donor relations.

•Sourcing new local NGO partners.

•Online reporting to all stakeholders.

•Encouraging partners & beneficiaries to submit blog entries.

•Assisting partners with funding proposals and assessments.

To help volunteers prepare for the challenges and complexities they are likely to encounter they will receive a full day’s training with our specialist training team.

Sadly in these financially challenging times funding for even the most worthy causes is in swift decline, therefore travel costs are the responsibility of the volunteer but living costs are small and in some cases will come without a charge. In a small number of cases we do have partners that are able to support their volunteer’s subsistence and travel costs.

Please visit our website for more details: www.afid.org.uk

Our next two Development Workshops will be held on Friday 09 April & Friday 07 May at the UnLtd Head Office (123 Whitecross Street, London EC1Y 8JJ) and delivered by John Cammack. John has been involved with international development work for over 20 years, previously as Head of International Finance at Oxfam GB and then Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Financial Management at Oxford Brookes University.

The workshop runs from 10am - 4.30pm with 10-12 other accountants in attendance, some with an assignment and some still considering volunteering. It’s a great way to learn about development, the role of our volunteers, meet and network with like-minded people, share experiences and allay your fears.The day is carefully designed to prepare each volunteer for the challenges and complexities they are likely to encounter.

For those attendees that go on to take a voluntary assignment the £99 workshop cost will be deducted later from their placement fee.

For more information please email anna@afid.org.uk