Christopher Onyuta
Gulu
Summary
As an accountant with over a decade of experience in the NGO world, I am dedicated to applying my knowledge and skills acquired over the years to strengthen the financial, accounting and administrative structures of an entity I work for, effectively improving the lives of the most vulnerable persons around the world.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
24
24
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Program Accountant
Care for Population Health Services (CAPHS)
Gulu
11.2019 - 10.2022
- Carried out routine financial accounting functions including recording and processing all transactions on QuickBooks in line with organizational policy, international accounting standards (IAS) and GAAP, ensuring timeliness, efficiency and completeness
- Reviewed and monitored partners’ financial reporting and compliance
- Provided technical assistance to partners as necessary to ensure high levels of compliance
- Ensured the safety and effective use of CAPHS financial assets and inventories
- This includes monitoring of vehicle fuel consumption, ensuring accurate recording and updates, recovery information and performing periodic cash counts and stock counts
- Followed up and monitored staff cash advances to ensure that the advances were liquidated in line with organizational policies and procedures
- Prepared and submitted accurate schedules of statutory deductions and accounts within government timelines
- Participated in internal, external and other audits and was part of implementers of recommendations from the audit action plans
- Prepared monthly reconciliation of donor funds and submitted to Director for approval
- Supported the Director in any other finance function as assigned from time to time.
Finance & Administration Manager
Forum for Rights Awareness & Monitoring Organization- Uganda (FORAMO-U)
Gulu
08.2016 - 06.2019
- Oversaw and managed the daily accounting and finance functions for FORAMO (U) program including the timely recording of transactions, cash management, banking, inventory, payroll, receivables, and payables management
- Kept abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules & regulations; and compiled and updated applicable local procedures and policies; and trained FORAMO (U) staff and partners on the same
- Developed, maintained, and implemented local office policies and procedures for finance and accounting and made sure that all staff was aware and trained on compliance
- Performed internal audits and reviews as required, ensuring compliance to FORAMO (U) and donor requirements and corresponded to external auditors in the conduct of external audits as well as providing feedbacks on audit queries
- Provided support to the preparation of monthly standard accounting submissions, including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by cost-center/project, required sub-grantee reporting, as well as other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner
- Provided the respective monthly management reports to the Executive Director, including expenditure by cost-center/project/office, consolidation of sub-grantee reporting, and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner
- Prepared financial consolidated reports to the Secretariat and to donors as required by donor conditionality
- Aligns internal and external reporting with financial regulations, FORAMO(U) financial standards, guidelines, and donor requirements
- Assists in the management of intercompany projects
- Manages the Year-end financial closing, External & Internal audits, Financial data reviews and other audits
- Developed annual fiscal year budgets and developed and implemented grants budgeting and forecasting systems focusing on budget planning, preparation and control
- Planned and implemented systems for financial operations in accordance with FORAMO(U) Finance Manual and donor regulations, including systems for cash-flow management, budgeting, consolidation of accounting information, internal controls, financial reporting, financial record-keeping, grants management and compliance
- Reviewed and monitored partners’ financial reporting and compliance
- Participated in the hiring, training, development, employee relations, performance management, and supervision of all finance staff
- Maintained banking relations and planned for and monitored country cash-flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of all projects and programs
- Provided technical assistance to partners as necessary to ensure high levels of compliance
- Maintained appropriate local insurance covers to ensure that FORAMO (U) was not at risk
- Analyzed compensation packages, taxation and statutory requirements, and all HR benefits making sure that HURAMO (U) takes to account for the comprehensive financial impact of such obligations and benefits
- Ensured that all procurement of goods and services complied with FORAMO (U) procurement systems, policies, and procedures.
Finance & Administration Officer
Agency for Cooperation & Research in Development (ACORD)
01.2010 - 06.2016
- Provided oversights in the budgeting process for the programme
- Undertook budget monitoring of the programme and advised the Finance Manager, other staff and partners accordingly
- Supported staff and partners’ accountants under the Northern Uganda Human Rights Partnership (NUHRP) and Citizen Election Watch- IT (CEW-IT), a consortium of six organizations on financial management through regular trainings and one-on-one engagements
- Maintained and implemented local office policies and procedures and made sure that all staff was aware and trained on compliance
- Participated in the hiring, training, development, employee relations, performance management, and supervision of all finance staff
- Facilitated economic procurement of goods and services according to the laid down ACORD procurement procedures
- Managed petty cash basing on petty cash imprest system
- Ensured proper accountability of advances by staff and partners
- Prepared payrolls ensuring compliance to statutory requirements, including NSSF, PAYE, LST as well as compliance to V.A.T and WHT requirements
- Reviewed and consolidated financial accountabilities and reports of partners for H/O
- Maintained up-to-date assets register and ensured security and proper usage of ACORD assets
- Ensured that all cash and bank transactions of the programme were properly managed and reconciled
- Arranged for timely bank transfers to the partners and keenly followed on accountabilities of the advances.
Ag. Head of Finance and Administration
Agency for Corporation & Research in Development (ACORD)
07.2009 - 12.2009
- Supervised and coordinated the planning, preparation and approval of ACORD annual budget
- Ensured the approved estimates or expenditure on votes were controlled
- Kept a watch on the expenditure of votes controlled by other officers and advised them accordingly
- Regularly informed the Country Director about the expenditures incurred or likely to have been spent under each vote, and where necessary helped prepare supplementary estimates and reallocation warrants
- Maintained approved system of accountability throughout the administration
- Supervised all support staff of ACORD Northern Uganda Area Programme
- Prepared financial consolidated reports to the Secretariat and to donors as required by donor conditionality
- Coordinated the preparation of financial reports for audit
- Ensured security of ACORD financial resources and other assets
- Together with Project Officers (Programme Team) developed proposals for funding.
Accounts Officer
Agency for Corporation & Research in Development (ACORD)
01.2007 - 06.2009
- Acted as a line person in the budget planning and preparation for the field office and kept a watch on the expenditure of votes and advised the Finance Manager accordingly
- Ensured that the books of accounts were up-to-date
- Helped in the preparation of quality final accounts
- Ensured the stores were properly managed and reported any anomaly to immediate Supervisor
- Ensured and encouraged best practices in the management of bookkeeping
- Management of bank accounts
- Supported the project managers in preparation of budgets.
Accounts Assistant
Agency for Cooperation & Research in Development (ACORD)
07.1999 - 12.2006
- Ensured that the books of accounts were up-to-date
- Kept a watch on the expenditure of votes and advised the Finance Manager accordingly
- Regularly informed the Finance Manager on the requirements needed for proper bookkeeping
- Helped in the preparation of quality final accounts
- Ensured the stores were properly managed and reporting any anomaly to immediate Supervisor
- Ensured and encouraged best practices in the management of bookkeeping.
Education
Masters of Business Administration (Accounting & Finance) - undefined
Gulu University, Uganda
01.2011 - 04.2013
Certified Public Accountant (Accounting & Administration) - undefined
Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPA-U)
01.2014 - 04.2024
Bachelors of Business Administration (Accounting) - undefined
Gulu University, Uganda
01.2006 - 04.2009
Uganda Diploma in Business Studies (Accounting) - undefined
Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda
01.1991 - 04.1993
Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) - undefined
St. Aloysius Nyapea, Uganda
01.1989 - 04.1991
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) - undefined
Pakwach Secondary School, Uganda
01.1985 - 04.1988
Skills
Budget planning, preparation and control
Managerial finance
General ledgers
Balance sheet review
Financial performance
Financial planning and regulations
Financial documentation, reporting, analysis and presentation
Accounting and compliance management
Audit process management
Cash management
Human resources and personnel management
Internal control
Logistic planning and management
Payroll management
Procurement management
References
- Musa Nabende Wanchendu, Finance and Administrative Coordinator, ICCO Cooperation, Master Card Foundation, STARS Project, Kampala, +256 772558785/702558785/700781835, musahnwa@yahoo.com
- Odong Geoffrey, Executive Director, Forum for Rights Awareness & Monitoring Organization- Uganda (FORAMO-U), P.O. Box 317, Gulu, +256 782 557 673/ +256 755 258 902, ojibo79us@yahoo.com
- Oringa Patrick Redeemer, Director, Care for Population Health Services (CAPHS), Gulu, +256 772 294861, oringapatrick@hotmail.com
Training
- Oct 2007: Project inception training under USAID Uganda Program for Human and Holistic Development (UPHOLD) integrated HIV/AIDS, health and education grants in Kampala, Uganda.
- July 2007: Sun System Accounting Package user training workshop organized by ACORD International in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Aug 2009: Training on Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) under WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Project held at Ranch on the Lake Country Club and organized by UNICEF in Kampala, Uganda.
- Sept 2011: Training on guidelines & procedures of project implementation under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) of the European Union organized by Democratic Governance & Accountability Programme (DGAP) in collaboration with the National Authorizing Officer (NAO) and the Delegation of the European Union in Kampala, Uganda.
- Nov 2012: QuickBooks Accounting Package training organized by CEW-IT (Citizen Election Watch-Information Technology) in Kampala, Uganda.
- Aug 2013: Project inception training under USAID-SAFE (Supporting Access to Justice, Fostering Equity and Peace) Project in Kampala, Uganda.
- Jan 2020: Project inception training under Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) – Supporting Women Groups to improve on their Economic Livelihoods in the Northern Districts of Gulu, Nwoya, Kitgum and Pader.
- Jun 2014: Conducted trainings on compliance to donor requirements for partners’ accountants under Northern Uganda Human Rights Partnership (NUHRP) and Citizen Election Watch- IT (CEW-IT) in Gulu, Uganda.
- Sept 2016: Master thesis on Human Capital Development and the Quality of Financial Reporting of Non-Governmental Organizations in Gulu District, Uganda.
- Apr 2018: Conducted training on QuickBooks Accounting Package for CEED Uganda finance staff and set up QuickBooks Accounting System for the organization in Gulu, Uganda.
Timeline
Program Accountant
Care for Population Health Services (CAPHS)
11.2019 - 10.2022
Finance & Administration Manager
Forum for Rights Awareness & Monitoring Organization- Uganda (FORAMO-U)
08.2016 - 06.2019
Certified Public Accountant (Accounting & Administration) - undefined
Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPA-U)
01.2014 - 04.2024
Masters of Business Administration (Accounting & Finance) - undefined
Gulu University, Uganda
01.2011 - 04.2013
Finance & Administration Officer
Agency for Cooperation & Research in Development (ACORD)
01.2010 - 06.2016
Ag. Head of Finance and Administration
Agency for Corporation & Research in Development (ACORD)
07.2009 - 12.2009
Accounts Officer
Agency for Corporation & Research in Development (ACORD)
01.2007 - 06.2009
Bachelors of Business Administration (Accounting) - undefined
Gulu University, Uganda
01.2006 - 04.2009
Accounts Assistant
Agency for Cooperation & Research in Development (ACORD)
07.1999 - 12.2006
Uganda Diploma in Business Studies (Accounting) - undefined
Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda
01.1991 - 04.1993
Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) - undefined
St. Aloysius Nyapea, Uganda
01.1989 - 04.1991
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) - undefined
Pakwach Secondary School, Uganda
01.1985 - 04.1988