About WWF

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.

All around the world, people are waking up to deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realization that nature is our life-support system. And that nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping tackle this enormous global challenge. Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and Finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.

What we do

We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path of recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife and make the way we produce and consume sustainable.

Job Summary

The Project Accountant is responsible for full financial management, compliance and reporting for assigned donor-funded project(s) ensuring that funds are used in line with donor rules, organizational policies and the local legal and regulatory framework. provides support in the implementation of conservation work under the guidance of the Senior Accountant while working closely with the Grants and CSO Partnership Manager and the project implementing team.

In this regard, the Project Accountant will;

Leadership Project Financial planning and Budget Management.

• Support preparation of budgets for funding proposals to donors as assigned from time to time liaising with the Finance Manager to ensure core cost recovery is accurately embedded in the budgets
• Maintain updated approved project budgets, and coordinate project budget revisions/forecasts
• Review concept notes and purchase requisitions to ensure budget availability and expense eligibility before financial commitments are made
• Support the review of implementing partner proposals and accompanying budgets with reference to the donor approved budgets, raise payment requests for disbursements and follow up on timely disbursement of funds to partners

Project Financial Reconciliations and Reporting

• Prepare and submit donor reports for assigned projects in collaboration with the project team in accordance with contractual timelines
• Coordinate and respond to emerging report review comments from donors in a timely manner
• Support the Senior Accountant in validating the accuracy of the monthly burn-rate report to budget holders
• Maintain a reconciliation of the periodic approved donor reports to the General Ledger ensuring that adjusting entries for any unapproved or mis-posted expenses are processed appropriately
• Prepare project funds requests in accordance with disbursement schedule in the contracts and maintain a register of projects funds requests and Receipts in donor contract currency to aid easier review of the SWISSGAAP Accounting entries
• Follow up, review and post to the finance system the periodic partners’ accountabilities for assigned projects
• Prepare quarterly project Trial balance for each assigned project
• Support data entry of payments, staff accountabilities, accruals to the Finance system as may be requested from time to time by line manager

Audit, Risk and donor Compliance

• Maintain a compliance checklist (allowable costs, audit requirements, reporting deadlines, special procurement guidelines, branding requirements, special conditions related to sub-granting, asset management, deviations from local statutory requirements etc) for each donor as extracted from the contract documents and conduct routine compliance checks
• Coordinate project specific compliance and annual donor audit processes as per donor agreements with regarding document provision and timely responding to emerging clarifications. Maintain a register of audit recommendations and provide leadership in following up on agreed management actions
• Prepare in coordination with the project Managers, Grants specialist and Finance Manager, project close-out plans for each assigned project at least 6 months before project closure and coordinate with project teams and other supporting functions to ensure this is strictly complied with
• Conduct pre-audit of reported expenses to ensure proper filing, archiving, and accessibility of all requisite supporting documents and accounting records (Vouchers, timesheets, reports etc)
• Ensure all submitted and approved periodic reports are archived in a central location possibly in PDF format to limit any erroneous edits post approval.
• Proactively identify, communicate and escalate financial, compliance and operational risks affecting project delivery and recommend appropriate mitigation actions through an updated Project risk register for each assigned grant
• Create opportunities for freshwater program staff to ensure they are equipped to effectively deliver on their mandate.
• Responsible for performance management of all staff under the freshwater department to deliver on their assignments

Project field monitoring and Capacity Building for staff and partners

• Hold regular structured project financial management capacity-building/training sessions for project staff and partners. This may cover WWF and donor financial management policies or guidelines, other compliance expectations, recommendations from audits and due diligence reviews etc
• Conduct financial monitoring field reviews for both partners and work done directly by WWF Staff and maintain a partner monitoring calendar
• Support the grants specialist in the periodic due diligence assessment for existing and potential partners

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Management or related field
• At least three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial accounting, preferably in an international environment (NGO or Company).
• A full accounting qualification, i.e. CPA, ACCA is an added advantage.
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office applications, particularly advanced level in MS excel is required;
• Experience in using ERP systems is highly desirable.
• Experience working with government or donor funded projects;
• Good team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; and to maintain strong relationships at all levels, as required, with external stakeholders;
• Strong ability to establish priorities, work within tight timelines and multi-task.
• Able to work under minimal supervision with high level of resilience
• Excellent communication skills both in spoken and written English.
• Strong ability to establish priorities, work within tight timelines and multi-task;
• High ethics and a personal commitment to transparency and accountability
• Adherence to WWF’s values, which are: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.

• Support preparation of budgets for funding proposals to donors and liaise with the Finance Manager to ensure core cost recovery is accurately embedded in the budgets.
• Maintain updated approved project budgets, and coordinate project budget revisions/forecasts.
• Review concept notes and purchase requisitions to ensure budget availability and expense eligibility before financial commitments are made.
• Review implementing partner proposals and budgets, raise payment requests for disbursements, and follow up on timely disbursement of funds to partners.
• Prepare and submit donor reports for assigned projects in collaboration with the project team in accordance with contractual timelines.
• Coordinate and respond to donor report review comments in a timely manner.
• Support validation of monthly burn-rate reports to budget holders.
• Reconcile approved donor reports to the General Ledger and ensure adjusting entries for unapproved or mis-posted expenses are processed appropriately.
• Prepare project funds requests and maintain a register of project funds requests and receipts in donor contract currency.
• Review and post periodic partners’ accountabilities to the finance system.
• Prepare quarterly project trial balances and support data entry of payments, staff accountabilities, and accruals.
• Maintain donor compliance checklists and conduct routine compliance checks.
• Coordinate project-specific compliance and annual donor audit processes, maintain a register of audit recommendations, and follow up on management actions.
• Prepare project close-out plans at least 6 months before project closure and coordinate their implementation.
• Conduct pre-audits of reported expenses and ensure supporting documents and accounting records are properly filed and accessible.
• Ensure submitted and approved periodic reports are archived centrally.
• Identify, communicate, and escalate financial, compliance, and operational risks and recommend mitigation actions through project risk registers.
• Create opportunities for freshwater program staff to support effective delivery of their mandate and manage the performance of freshwater department staff.
• Hold project financial management capacity-building and training sessions for project staff and partners.
• Conduct financial monitoring field reviews for partners and work done directly by WWF staff, and maintain a partner monitoring calendar.
• Support periodic due diligence assessments for existing and potential partners.

• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and MS Office applications.
• ERP systems experience.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Ability to establish priorities, work within tight timelines, and multitask.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision with resilience.
• Excellent spoken and written English communication skills.
• High ethical standards and commitment to transparency and accountability.
• Adherence to WWF’s values of Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Management or related field.
• A full accounting qualification, i.e. CPA, ACCA is an added advantage.
• Experience working with government or donor funded projects.