Kenneth Akortsu
Accountancy
Accra,AA
Summary
Dynamic Accounting and Finance Professional with over 20 years of comprehensive experience, holding an MBA in Accounting and Finance and a BSc in Accounting. Expertise includes Financial Management, Risk Management, and monitoring and auditing of donor-funded projects, ensuring timely implementation and adherence to project timelines. Strong advocate for independent assurance in Risk Management, Internal Controls, and Governance Processes, with proven competence in Risk-based Internal Auditing. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, thriving in multicultural environments while adeptly managing multiple tasks to achieve results.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Accounting, Auditing and Finance Consultant
Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP)/World Bank
Accra
09.2024 - Current
- Directed project risk management initiatives to proactively identify and mitigate potential challenges.
- Analyzed existing internal controls and recommended improvements to strengthen organizational compliance and efficiency.
- Monitored and reconciled project fund expenditures to uphold accurate financial reporting.
- Developed comprehensive financial accounts and reports to support informed decision-making and strategic planning.
- Facilitated timely disbursement of funds to beneficiaries while optimizing fund utilization.
- Managed oversight of bank reconciliation activities, account ledgers, and reporting systems to enhance operational efficiency.
- Ensured adherence to generally accepted accounting principles and regulatory requirements.
- Analyzed financial information and resolved discrepancies, facilitating informed decision-making through quarterly reporting.
- Advised on risk management strategies to minimize potential financial losses.
- Reviewed and verified numerical data to maintain accuracy in financial reporting.
Head, Internal Audit
Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training-C TVET
Accra, Ghana
12.2020 - 08.2024
- Conducted audits of donor-funded projects including GTVP, GJSP, GSTDP, DANIDA, GIZ, and DSIP to ensure compliance and accountability.
- Evaluated and tracked financial expenditures related to grants, ensuring compliance and accountability among institutions, learners, facilitators, and assessors/internal verifiers.
- Analyzed internal controls and governance processes to identify potential risks and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
- Developed and executed comprehensive internal audit strategies to strengthen organizational risk management.
- Compiled internal audit reports with actionable recommendations to enhance operational efficiency.
- Evaluated and presented detailed reports to senior management, the board, and the audit committee to ensure informed decision-making.
- Analyzed existing standards and formulated proposals to enhance policies and procedures for internal audit functions within the organization.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of audit and evaluation report recommendations.
- Monitored and evaluated corporate strategic plan to identify and mitigate risks.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
Senior Internal Auditor
Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training COTVET
12.2019 - 08.2020
- Organization-wide risk management
- Support the development of Donor Funded Project Implementation Manuals (PIM)
- Financial monitoring of training facilities of Training Providers (TPs), i.e. review of accounting records of grantees, such as enrolment lists, signed attendance sheets, Bank statements etc.
- Audits of the Voucher disbursements to trainees of beneficiary training institutions under the Ghana TVET Voucher Project (GTVP).
- Prepayment audit of Payment Vouchers of Training Providers (TPs), Trade Associations (TAs) and Training Coordinators (TCs).
- Develop Petty Cash policy for the GTVP
- Support Financial management of GTVP
- Ghana TVET Voucher Project - GTVP
Internal Auditor
Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training COTVET
12.2014 - 12.2019
- Risk identification and assessment
- Financial Monitoring of the use of Training Grants disbursed to Beneficiary institutions, Learners, and Facilitators, Assessors/Verifiers.
- Audits of the Ghana Skills and Technology Development Project (GSTDP), & Development of Skills in Industry Project (DSIP).
- Financial audit of programs and interventions such as, the Institutional Production Units (IPUs) & Students in Entrepreneurship Business Model (SEBM) under (DSIP) of AfDB.
- Physical inspection and audit of furniture procured for beneficiary institutions under DSIP.
- Review of accounting records of grantees, signed attendance sheets, Bank statements etc.
- GSTDP/DANIDA/DSIP
Finance Officer/Bank Rep
Somotex Ghana Limited
02.2008 - 09.2014
- Identification and assessment of the training needs of staff and management of business risks.
- Facilitated Foreign Currency Purchases/Interest Rate Bargains and Processing of Bank Loan Facilities and Letters of Credit
- Stock Audit and Inventory management.
- Bank Reconciliation Statements.
- Worked with Bank’s Treasury to facilitate Remittances to suppliers.
- Monitoring and evaluation of the Transfer of Remittances/Payments to Suppliers.
Education
Accounting
University College of Management Studies
Accra, Ghana01.2013
RSA stage III (Advanced) - Business Administration
Accra Polytechnic
Accra, Ghana01.1987
MBA - Accounting And Finance
University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA)
Accra, Ghana06-2018
Skills
- Risk management analysis
- Financial statement analysis
- Risk management expertise
- Account reconciliation
- Cash flow management
- Accounts payable management
- Team leadership and negotiation
- Effective conflict resolution
- Effective written communication
- Problem-solving skills
- Effective organizational skills
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Collaborative teamwork skills
- Analytical problem-solving
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 4 staff members.
- Developed Risk Management Framework and Risk Policy for the Commission for TVET and its Projects and Programs. Compiled and reviewed Risk Register for the Commission for TVET.
- Developed and documented Petty Cash Policy for Ghana TVET Voucher Project, which resulted in efficient cash management.
- Streamlined Financial, Operational Compliance and Audit of Donor-funded Projects to meet timelines.
- Review and make recommendations for improvement of Internal Controls processes.
- The Policy and Register are in use and has since improved and added value to the operations of the Commission and its Projects and Programs.
- Ensure the implementation of recommendations contained in Project monitoring and Audit reports. efficient achievement of project deliverable and objectives.
Certification
Certificate in “Evaluating Governance, Risk Management & Control Activities”,
Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), Accra Ghana 2016
Certificate in “Risk Management for Corporate Leadership”, Ghana Institute of
Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Accra-Ghana 2016
Certificate in “Interviewing Skills”, Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG),
Accra-Ghana 2016
Certificate in “Enterprise Risk Management”, Internal Audit Agency, Ghana (IAA), Accra-Ghana 2016
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
French
Elementary (A2)
Thai
Elementary (A2)
Timeline
Accounting, Auditing and Finance Consultant
Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP)/World Bank
09.2024 - Current
Head, Internal Audit
Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training-C TVET
12.2020 - 08.2024
Senior Internal Auditor
Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training COTVET
12.2019 - 08.2020
Internal Auditor
Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training COTVET
12.2014 - 12.2019
Finance Officer/Bank Rep
Somotex Ghana Limited
02.2008 - 09.2014
Accounting
University College of Management Studies
RSA stage III (Advanced) - Business Administration
Accra Polytechnic
MBA - Accounting And Finance
University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA)
Membership In Professional Associations
- Institute of Internal Auditors, Ghana (IIAG)
- Internal Auditors Association of Ghana (IAAG)
Short Courses
- Training on Public and Project Financial Management, Trust Training Limited, Accra-Ghana, September 2022
- Effective Financial management of Donor-funded projects, Role of Internal Audit & Risk, Accra-Ghana September 2022
Additional Information
My hobbies include, but not limited to:
*Reading
*Cooking
*Gardening
*Listening to Music
*Watching Games of Soccer, Tennis, Golf