Nobert Kwizeera Atiwine
Grants and Contracts Coordinator
Phone: +256
- Location:
- Central Region, Uganda
- Sector:
- Fundraising Coordination
- Profile Created:
- 3 weeks ago
About me
I am Atiwine Nobert Kwizeera, an executive MBA graduate of Quantic School of Business and Technology, who loves to make numbers talk. I complete your story with appropriate statistics, for numbers don’t lie. With 10+ years in financial operations, business development, statutory and tax audits, I am committed to using my skills towards contributing to the causes with positive impact to the majority members of the community
Between 2022 and 2024, I worked with researchers in agriculture and climate action at Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT to develop winning grant proposals, increasing the value of business development within the Africa region from $18.5M to $127.5M in 1 year, and improving the success rate from 27.8% to 60.9%. My contribution enabled researchers to focus on the science /technical requirements, as I took care of the financial compliance. Since June 2024, I have been managing sub-grant contracts, monitoring financial compliance, tracking and reporting on a £3 million funding that aims at improving laboratory capacity for diagnosis and surveillance of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in low-income countries.
I leverage technology for the execution of my assignments through both hybrid and on-site arrangements, with proficiency in use of various ERP and project management systems such as Oracle JD Edwards, NAVISION, Unit4 Business World (Agresso) and other accounting packages like Sage Pastel and QuickBooks. My early professional years were shaped by the audit firm deadline-driven environment; and experiences from different duty stations around the East African region that have enabled me to have high respect for cultural differences and develop people management skills.
My other major accomplishments include the following:
- As a Project Financial Analysis and Support services (PLANS Analyst) at the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, I contributed to proposal management harmonization initiative, that included supporting creation of a data-base/content library of more than 50 major donors, and developing SOPs for proposal development. This improved response time for business development opportunities from weeks to days.
- While at Positivo BGH Rwanda in 2020, I led a team of analysts to defend the authenticity and accuracy of forex and costing related transactions, reducing the originally assessed tax liability by 48%. This saved the company more than USD 71,000.
- Between 2018 and 2019, I worked with the Business Operations and Finance teams, at Bioversity International – Uganda Office, to come up with an implementation plan for the audit recommendations, that involved the reviewal of Travel policy, and introducing clauses on the maximum amount an individual staff member can take at any one moment.
Let’s connect and work on the next winning grant proposal or business plan or financial statements.
Skills
Education
- Quantic School of Business and Technology 2023 - 2024
Executive Master of Business Administration
With keen focus on Entrepreneurial financing, Business communications, Strategic Leadership, I passed and was awarded the Executive Master of Business Administration by Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington DC. My final Capstone project focused at bringing opportunities (education, business, community development) nearer to the majority in the sub-Saharan Africa, through narrowing down the internet usage gap.
- Makerere University 2009 - 2012
Bachelor of Business Administration
I passed and was awarded the Bachelor of Business Administration by Makerere University, Kampala. This three year degree equipped me with the basic knowledge and skills in Business Communication, Administration, Accounting, Auditing, ICT, Finance and Human Resource Management.
Experience
- Baylor College of Medicine Children Foundation Uganda. 2024 - Present
Grants and Contracts Coordinator
Managing sub-grant contracts, monitoring financial compliance, tracking and reporting on a £3 million funding that aims at improving laboratory capacity for diagnosis and surveillance of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in low-income countries. My position also palys a big role in development for proposals by ensuring compliance to the donor financial requirements.
- Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT 2022 - 2024
Project Financial Analyst - Proposal Focus
Provided financial support to the projects that were being developed by the Alliance Research Areas and Programs in Africa, with special focus on the initial phase of the project proposal and opening stage of agreements. For the two years, my focus was on budgetary analysis for proposals to ensure full cost recovery on the prospective projects and compliance to the funder/donor financial guidelines, building donor data-base, and putting in place SOPs/guidelines for proposal development. Major achievements. 1. Developed financially sound grant proposals, increasing the value of proposals submitted from $18.5 million in 2021 to $127.5 million in 2023, and improving the success rate from 27.8% to 60.9%. 2. Led the proposal management harmonization initiative in Africa, that included supporting creation of content library to ensure high quality information and improved response time for business development opportunities and proposal response with the region and at the global level.
- Positivo BGH Rwanda 2019 - 2022
Senior Financial Analyst
Supported financial decision making by collecting, analyzing, investigating, and reporting financial data and trends, in coming up with financial statements. I ensured the correct usage and management of the ERP system through assisting and training of other employees and reporting related user needs to HQ through the corporate system. I oversaw the implementation of cash and procurement controls, monitored AP, AR, cash and bank reconciliations for cash flow management and office operations management. Major achievements. 1. Led a team of analysts to defend forex and costing related transactions, reducing the original assessed tax liability by 48%. This saved the company more than USD 71,000. 2. Provided a linkage between Head office ERP Systems Team and the Users in Rwanda, by filling the training gaps. 3. Supported Management in financial decision-making by collecting, analysing, investigating, and reporting financial data in time, and preparing annual financial statements for the years ended 30 June 2020 and 30 June 2021.
- Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT 2018 - 2019
Accounts Officer
Supported a variety of financial operations in the Bioversity Uganda Office (BUO), as well as in the hosting offices in DRC, Tanzania, Benin, Burundi, and Cameroon. On behalf of the Country Office Manager, I made fund requisitions for the projects in hosting offices, and oversaw the accountability cycle of the funds sent to the partners. Major achievements. 1. Reviewed and closed accountabilities worth $138,997 in the first 3 months of my contract. This was 75% of the amount that was committed in travel and activity advances for the period. 2. Worked with the team to review policy on Travel and activity advances, by introducing clauses on the maximum amount an individual staff member can take at any one moment. 3. Together with the team, drew strategies on the implementation of audit recommendations on procurement, with our proposals being adopted by the management. 4. Timely financial reporting to Head Office and strict compliance to the national fiscal timelines. As result, the organisation never incurred any penalty from the Tax Authority for non-compliance during my tenure.
- Positivo BGH Rwanda. 2016 - 2018
Financial Analyst
Did full cycle accounting roles using the Oracle JD Edwards (ERP), internal control implementation, and costing of the produced ICT products by apportioning of overheads among different cost center. I also reviewed petty cash and travel advance accountabilities for proper balance sheet account reconciliation and year-end close procedures. Major achievements. 1. Reduced the time spent on month end procedures by developing excel schedules to most balance sheet accounts for updating and reconciling the balances. This resulted into 50% reduction in processing time. 2. Meeting fiscal compliance and management reporting timelines, that is 15th day and 5th day following month end. As, result, the company never incurred any penalty from the Tax Authority for non-compliance during my tenure.
- Positivo BGH Rwanda. 2015 - 2015
Consultant – Finance Operations
I analyzed the company operations in Rwanda for the first six months and matched them to the group Chart of accounts, setting up the basis for the financial reporting structure in the country. Major achievements. 1. Together with the Finance team, successfully analyzed the six-month operational data, categorised, and entered it into the Oracle system, forming a basis for the opening balances. 2. Set up supporting schedules for all Balance sheet Accounts, hence easing future reference to the figures that formed Opening Balances in the system. 3. Reviewed the filing system of the physical supporting documents to easy future retrieval.
- Garry Whiteknight CPA 2014 - 2015
Senior Accounts Officer
Performed full cycle accounting duties, analyzed financial data and compiled monthly reports for more than 10 clients. Major achievements. 1. Effective communication with clients, through email and phone calls. This enabled the firm to meet reporting timelines since supporting data would be obtained in time and clients would remain satisfied with the service. 2. Meeting fiscal compliance and management reporting timelines, that is 15th day and 5th day following month end.
- Garry Whiteknight CPA 2013 - 2014
Audit Assistant
Participated on over 14 assignments in period of 1 year and together with the team members successfully collected audit evidence, compiled audit files that were reviewed and closed, accompanied by management letters and audit reports. Major achievements. 1. Proposed several internal controls to various clients, through management letters, regarding inventory, petty cash system, procurement, Accounts payable and Accounts Receivable management and General journal management. Clients that adopted and implemented the recommendations greatly strengthened their control systems and audits in proceeding years showed about 70% improvement. 2. Collected audit evidence through a, e, i, o, u (analytical, enquiries, inspection, observation, and recalculation) method. The evidence collected was always taking the following forms DADA3 (Documents, Assets, Directors/ Management Representation, Accounting systems/books and 3rd Party confirmations). This helped in obtaining reasonable assurance and the reporting partner to come up with evidence deduced audit opinions.