Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Other Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic
Rufus Lassannah Cole

Rufus Lassannah Cole

Monrovia

Summary

Dynamic Access to Finance Specialist with a proven track record at BRAC Liberia, enhancing financial access for over 4,000 households. Expert in financial modeling and strategic planning, I excel in building capacities and driving growth, achieving a 25% increase in cooperative financing through effective negotiation and leadership skills.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

Access to Finance Specialist- Food Security, Nutrition, and Resilient Activity(FSNR)

BRAC Liberia
06.2023 - 06.2025
  • Ensure activities under FSNR activity Sub-IR# 2.3: Increased access to finance and capital assets to cooperatives, VSLAs, vulnerable households, and agribusinesses are fully implemented.
  • 4,077 people, representing 41% of FSNR activity targeted 10,000 households, participated in village savings and lending activity and increased access to finance through capacity strengthening of 110 VSLA groups on improved business management and VSLA best practices.
  • Expanded 28 VSLA groups access to external financing as a result of strengthening their capacities on improved business management.
  • Expanded 10 cooperatives and 5 agribusinesses access to finance as a result of building their capacities on improved business management and developing business plans.
  • Collaborated with BLMCL and linked 150 VSLA group members to BLMCL Agri-Finance loan scheme to access bigger loans to invest in their agri-enterprises.
  • Expanded functional cooperatives access to finance by 25% within one year through targeted business development initiatives and the successful execution of strategic marketing campaigns.
  • Achieved 10% increase in cooperatives members access to agricultural inputs by building their capacities on contract farming development and administration.

Business Services Specialist

Catholic Relief Services(CRS)
08.2021 - 08.2022
  • Build capacities of farmer groups and agricultural SMEs to access finance to increase productivity, drive growth, and ensure sustainability.
  • Achieved 25% increase in the operational and managerial capacities of 30 farmer organizations, 25 agricultural SMEs, and 25 VSLA groups by building their capacities on improved business management.
  • Expanded 20 farmer organizations and 15 agricultural SMEs gross sales revenue by 25% after strengthening their capacities on marketing and product branding.
  • Achieved 20% increase in agricultural inputs supply to 15 farmer organizations and 10 agricultural SMEs after strengthening their capacities on contract farming development and administration.
  • Collaborated with formal financial institutions for 15 farmer organizations and 10 agricultural SMEs to access finance after strengthening their bankability matrix.
  • Achieved by 20% farmer organizations, agricultural SMEs, and VSLA groups cash flow cycles management and projection capability after strengthening their capacities in financial management.
  • Achieved 15% increase in farmer organizations and agricultural SMEs ability in market report generation after strengthening 20 marketing officers’ capacities in business intelligence, data analysis, and reporting.
  • Achieved 35% increase in farmer organizations fundraising ability after strengthening 10 CEOs capacities in business pitching and business plan development.
  • Achieved 25% increase in farmer organizations and agricultural SMEs lead generation by building the capacities of 25 CEOs on how to generate leads and capitalize on valuable business opportunities to grow business revenue and improve bottom line.

Business Development Specialist

CNFA - Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture
01.2019 - 02.2020
  • Build capacities of farmer organizations, processors, agro-dealers, and aggregators of the USAID funded Liberia Agribusiness Activity (LADA) project on improved business management to access finance and establish guaranteed business and market linkages.
  • Achieved 10% increase in input supply to 10 farmer organizations, 8 processors, 20 agro-dealers, and 15 aggregators by building their capacities on contract farming development and administration.
  • Achieved 20% increase in gross margin of 10 farmer organizations, 8 processors, 20 agro-dealers, and 25 aggregators by building the capacity of 45 Marketing Officers in market lead generation and sealing sales.
  • Enabled 10 farmer organizations, 8 processors, 20 Agro-dealers, and 15 aggregators to raise US$135,000.00 through debt-financing by developing their business plans.
  • Achieved 15% increase in profitability of 10 farmer organizations, 8 processors, 20 agro-dealers, and 15 aggregators by strengthening their capacities on marketing strategy development.
  • Achieved 20% increase in access to finance for agriculture enterprises after synergizing the capacities of 4 Rural Finance Institutions on agricultural loan products design, loan pricing, risk mitigation, market research, and cash flow cycles management and projection.

Finance Manager

LICORPA - Liberian Council on Rural Poverty Alleviation
04.2013 - 12.2017
  • Managed the accounting and financial management operations of the organization in accordance with policies and procedures and in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) Principles.
  • Expanded the financial management and regulatory compliance of the organization by ensuring that payments are made in compliance to the organization policies and procedures.
  • Achieved 25% increase in procurement management by managing key suppliers.
  • Achieved 20% increase in DSA management by introducing pre- approval work plan concept by Supervisors and the M&E Lead.
  • Achieved 75% increase in cash flow cycles management and projection by ensuring full liquidation of outstanding and submission of cash request by the last week of every month.
  • Achieved 75% increase in budget performance reporting by preparing monthly and ad-hoc budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
  • Collaborated with other line managers to prepare and review cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from the Donors and LICORPA.
  • Achieved increase in accuracy and completeness of financial management, financial reporting, and internal control systems by verifying and validating payment vouchers and ensuring timely processing.
  • Analyze accounts and review/evaluate regular financial reports.
  • Achieved 75% increase in outstanding cheques ageing to less than 30 days outstanding by introducing the concept of phone calls to clients for encashment.
  • Collaborated with other line managers for strategic inputs in RFP Scope of Work and vendor selection.
  • Improved efficiency and reduced redundancies through variance analysis and communicating recommendations to management for adjustment.

Chief Accountant

Former ExxonMobil (Liberia) Incorporated
06.2003 - 12.2012
  • In consultation with the Chief Financial Officer, oversaw the accounting and financial management policies of the entity, ensure audit recommendations are implemented, enhance transparency and adduce relevance to the company financial reports.
  • Achieved 20% increase in gross revenue and net income earnings by monitoring administrative and general operating expenses, compliance to the Company’s financial management policies, ensuring regular analysis of accounts, and timely reconciliation of bank statement to cash book.
  • Achieved key performance indicators (KPIs) of the Company by allowing the accounting department staff to set result-oriented objectives. This process promoted merit-based management and effectiveness.
  • Improved month-end reporting process to the 8th calendar day of every other month by ensuring on-time reconciliation of bank statement to cash book, analysis and reconciliation of General Ledger accounts to Subsidiary accounts and passing of adjustment entries in cash book and bank statements.
  • Maintained a robust and an adequate accounting, financial, and cash management systems by verifying accuracy, ensuring validity and legitimacy of all payments, completeness of financial documents, ensuring proper coding and approvals for payment before payments are processed.
  • In collaboration with the Global Information System (GIS) Manager, created a stainless computerized accounting system that added relevancy to the company’s accounting, financial and reporting systems.
  • Increased use and quicker decision-making trends and variance analysis by working with department heads to understand how they want to receive their budget to actual information and designed reports that met their needs.
  • Reduced assets theft by formulating rigorous risk management strategies and ensured adherence to audit recommendations through weekly follow-up meetings.
  • Integrated financial information into business decision-making, budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning processes.
  • Managed centralized accounting functions, financial reporting and internal audits in compliance with GAAP.
  • Managed and prepared journal entries and reconciliations to support monthly general ledger closing activities.
  • Collaborated with Controller and external Auditors to conduct year-end closing process.

Education

BBA - Accounting

University of Liberia
01.1993

Skills

  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Word
  • ACCPC
  • Analytical skills
  • Conceptual skills
  • Budget development and management
  • Solution-oriented
  • Communication skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Negotiation skills
  • Independent work
  • Teamwork
  • Leadership
  • Operational planning
  • Strategic planning
  • Reporting support
  • Controls
  • Financial Reporting
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Accounting Records Analysis
  • Financial Modeling

Other Skills

Excellent user of Microsoft Office Suite and accounting software like ACCPAC, Loan Performer and QuickBooks., Analytical and conceptual skills to plan and monitor budgets against actual., Practical and a solution-oriented person capable of undertaking initiatives and exercising sound judgment., Excellent communication skills, both written and oral., Good interpersonal and tactful negotiation skills and capable to work independently as member of the team., Accountable with strong vision, leadership and motivational skills., Outstanding capabilities and ability in identifying trends and integrating 'lessons-learned.', Good knowledge of operational and strategic planning processes, reporting support and controls during implementation., Financial Reporting & Financial Statement Analysis., Accounting Records Analysis., Financial Modeling.

Accomplishments

  • Facilitated the establishment of a financial ecosystem that enhanced access to finance for cooperatives and other agribusinesses
  • Facilitated the establishment of a VSLA federation that enables VSLA groups to overcome the challenge of limited access to finance
  • Developed a funding proposal for AFriLand First Bank Liberia Limited to establish an agro-cluster processing center in Zozor District, Lofa County, for cooperatives and other smallholder cassava farmers.The Agro Cluster Processing Center aimed at helping the Zorlayea Rural Financial Institution mobilize rural savings for wealth creation

Timeline

Access to Finance Specialist- Food Security, Nutrition, and Resilient Activity(FSNR)

BRAC Liberia
06.2023 - 06.2025

Business Services Specialist

Catholic Relief Services(CRS)
08.2021 - 08.2022

Business Development Specialist

CNFA - Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture
01.2019 - 02.2020

Finance Manager

LICORPA - Liberian Council on Rural Poverty Alleviation
04.2013 - 12.2017

Chief Accountant

Former ExxonMobil (Liberia) Incorporated
06.2003 - 12.2012

BBA - Accounting

University of Liberia

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Rufus Lassannah Cole