Accountant job at Save the Children

OVERVIEW

Are you passionate about being an advocate for children? Do you want to use your expertise to bring about lasting change for children and be a part of an inspiring, dynamic global movement?

THE ROLE:

The position holder will support the country office by managing supplier payments, staff advances, liquidations, petty cash, mobile money, and bank transactions, while maintaining an organized filing system and facilitating audit processes through document retrieval. Key responsibilities include preparing and registering journals in line with established policies and procedures. Additionally, the position will assist with budgeting and reporting, including reviewing NAF & Impact fund, performing recoding and reclassifications, preparing VAT reports, supporting the effort reporting process, and contributing to award clean-up activities.

Under the supervision of the Country Finance Manager and Head of Budgeting and Reporting, the post-holder will ensure the efficient and accurate collection and entry of financial data into the financial systems for seamless onward processing.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Bank and Petty Cash Management:

• Adhere to SCI finance policies and procures, including chart of accounts, while processing transactions.
• Maintain and reconcile petty cash balances, ensuring adherence to internal controls as outlined in the finance manual.
• Ensure timely recording of transactions including internal transfers, supplier payments and refunds.
• Record daily GLACOS entries and submit them to Senior Accountant for review and import in Agresso by the end of the last working day of the week.
• Ensure sufficient cash availability in all designated accounts including mobile money wallets.
• Coordinate with all bank signatories to approve bank payments.

Effort Reporting:

• Collaborate with the HR team to track and ensure timely timesheet submissions from all staff.
• Consult with the Head of Budgeting & Reporting to assign accurate budget codes for monthly effort charges.
• Clear and accurately allocate temporary timesheet postings, such as those under NAF X019.

Accounts payable:

• Initiate weekly payment processing in Agresso upon remittance confirmation from the Finance Manager or designate.
• Investigate bounced payments and collaborate with supply chain and accounts payable teams on bounced payments for timely resolution.
• Manage TM5 payment system: approve payment batches, troubleshoot issues, and keep users updated.
• Maintain supplier data on ProSave and Agresso, including bank details and emails, in partnership with the supply chain/finance team.
• Retrieve supplier payment proofs as needed for audits and other purposes.
• Work with Centre accounts payable team to obtain proof of payments for transactions made at Centre.

Month-End Process and Compliance Reporting:

• Prepare quarterly VAT reports for awards per donor requirements, collaborating with field teams to ensure VAT compliance.
• Follow up on outstanding programmatic advances for timely submission and accountability.
• Review, reconcile, and consolidate withholding tax and VAT schedules from field offices for tax filing.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts weekly, ensuring accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements, including tax and social security details.
• Generate and share Withholding and Value Added Tax credit certificates with suppliers as needed.

Shared Cost Allocation Methodology (CAM) Accounting and periodic reviews

• Ensure preparation and registration of journals on shared source of funds (SOF) appropriately meet cost allocation methodology criteria.
• Liaise with the Senior Accountant over any issues that require changes within the office to enhance the accuracy of the cost Allocation methodology within the office.
• Advise staff over the appropriate costs that go through shared SOF and how the direct costs are charged to the awards directly.
• Review the transactions in the shared SOF on a weekly basis and make appropriate accounting entry adjustments to that effect where necessary.

Managing Filing system

• File documents in a manner that enables easy retrieval of documents and filing back.
• Manage the document management system (DMS) by ensuring that documents are scanned and uploaded timely.
• Ensure safe custody of physical documents under archive on both on data management system and physical file.

Internal Controls and Compliance:

• Enforce internal controls over cash & bank handling and ensure compliance with organizational policies.
• Verify that all transactions meet statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Support audits by providing necessary documentation and explanations on payment related activities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

To be a strong supporter and advocate for children in this role you will need to have;

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in commerce (BCOM), Business Administration (BBA-Accounting), Science in Accounting or any other related field.
• Ability to speak local language and directly interact with target group will be an added advantage.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Excellent time management and planning capacity
• Commitment to Save the Children values

• Adhere to SCI finance policies and procures, including chart of accounts, while processing transactions.
• Maintain and reconcile petty cash balances, ensuring adherence to internal controls as outlined in the finance manual.
• Ensure timely recording of transactions including internal transfers, supplier payments and refunds.
• Record daily GLACOS entries and submit them to Senior Accountant for review and import in Agresso by the end of the last working day of the week.
• Ensure sufficient cash availability in all designated accounts including mobile money wallets.
• Coordinate with all bank signatories to approve bank payments.
• Collaborate with the HR team to track and ensure timely timesheet submissions from all staff.
• Consult with the Head of Budgeting & Reporting to assign accurate budget codes for monthly effort charges.
• Clear and accurately allocate temporary timesheet postings, such as those under NAF X019.
• Initiate weekly payment processing in Agresso upon remittance confirmation from the Finance Manager or designate.
• Investigate bounced payments and collaborate with supply chain and accounts payable teams on bounced payments for timely resolution.
• Manage TM5 payment system: approve payment batches, troubleshoot issues, and keep users updated.
• Maintain supplier data on ProSave and Agresso, including bank details and emails, in partnership with the supply chain/finance team.
• Retrieve supplier payment proofs as needed for audits and other purposes.
• Work with Centre accounts payable team to obtain proof of payments for transactions made at Centre.
• Prepare quarterly VAT reports for awards per donor requirements, collaborating with field teams to ensure VAT compliance.
• Follow up on outstanding programmatic advances for timely submission and accountability.
• Review, reconcile, and consolidate withholding tax and VAT schedules from field offices for tax filing.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts weekly, ensuring accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements, including tax and social security details.
• Generate and share Withholding and Value Added Tax credit certificates with suppliers as needed.
• Ensure preparation and registration of journals on shared source of funds (SOF) appropriately meet cost allocation methodology criteria.
• Liaise with the Senior Accountant over any issues that require changes within the office to enhance the accuracy of the cost Allocation methodology within the office.
• Advise staff over the appropriate costs that go through shared SOF and how the direct costs are charged to the awards directly.
• Review the transactions in the shared SOF on a weekly basis and make appropriate accounting entry adjustments to that effect where necessary.
• File documents in a manner that enables easy retrieval of documents and filing back.
• Manage the document management system (DMS) by ensuring that documents are scanned and uploaded timely.
• Ensure safe custody of physical documents under archive on both on data management system and physical file.
• Enforce internal controls over cash & bank handling and ensure compliance with organizational policies.
• Verify that all transactions meet statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Support audits by providing necessary documentation and explanations on payment related activities.

• Computer literacy
• Excellent documentation skills
• Time management
• Planning capacity
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations
• Ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures

• At least a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in commerce (BCOM), Business Administration (BBA-Accounting), Science in Accounting or any other related field.
• Ability to speak local language and directly interact with target group will be an added advantage.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.
• Commitment to Save the Children values