Interim Treasury Accountant – Cairo, Egypt (Nationally Recruited Temporary Staff) 257 views0 applications

Nationally Recruited Temporary Staff

Reports to: Director of Finance

Location: Cairo, Egypt

Advertisement date: 5 February 2020

Closing date: 3 March 2020

(or until the position is filled)

Context and main purpose of position

ICARDA designs and implements research projects that are funded by a diverse set of international donors and a number of countries where ICARDA works. Those projects are implemented in a number of country offices.

Treasury management is an essential finance function at ICARDA. It should ensure that cash is available in the right amount at the right time at the right place, that donor funds are safeguarded at all time, that foreign exchange risks are mitigated and provide income by safely investing idle funds. It is also a complex function because of the legal, banking and operational environment in which ICARDA works.

The Treasury Accountant reports to the Director of Finance and works very closely with the HQ Accounting department, the Grant Finance department, country offices and banks.

A number of improvements are underway and others are planned to ensure that the Treasury function can play its role truly effectively and efficiently.

The current Treasury Accountant is expected to go on maternity leave as of mid-April. A minimum handover of two weeks would be necessary. ICARDA is therefore seeking to fill this vacancy with a qualified and experienced Treasury Accountant.

About ICARDA

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international autonomous, non-profit, research organization supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org

Main responsibilities

The Treasury Accountant ‘s role is responsible for the following:

1. Liquidity management: Coordinate long term and short-term cash planning across the organization to ensure optimal liquidity levels in different locations and minimize foreign exchange exposure. Ensure that cash levels across accounts and currencies minimize risks for ICARDA and supports its operations effectively. Provide support whenever problems related to cash holdings or payments arise;
2. Relations with banks and financial institutions: Maintain good relationships with banks and financial institutions and monitor quality and cost of services. Ensure documentation of banking relationships is accurate and up to date. Ensure e-banking parameters are up to date and accurate. Coordinate and problem-solve with them on a daily basis as needed;
3. Management of payments: Ensure timely and accurate payments to vendors, government services and country offices. Follow up on confirmation of payments and problem solve accordingly. Coordinate with country offices for payments made on their behalf. Support payroll payments. Arrange for related services (e.g. cashiers’ checks). Help manage petty cash funds;
4. Other cash management areas: Follow up on incoming transfers proactively, record them accurately and inform colleagues accordingly, recommend short term investment options, handle foreign exchange transactions in Cairo, monitor levels of imprest funds;
5. Credit cards: Together with the Accounting department, monitor the use of cards and satisfaction of users, monitor payments to the company and more generally help ensure that credits cards provide optimal benefit to ICARDA and its staff;
6. Supervision: Supervise Treasury Intern ensuring that the intern learns while providing effective support to the Treasury function;
7. Reporting: Provide weekly and monthly reports, provide analyses as needed;
8. Other responsibilities: Assist with any question related to banking operations or applicable legislation, provide suggestions to improve policies and procedures in Finance, be a proactive member of the Finance Team.

Education, qualifications and experience

Essential qualifications and competencies

· Bachelor’s Degree in Finance / Accounting/Commerce or related field;

· At least four years in accounting or treasury management, preferably in an international environment;

· Excellent written and verbal communication in English and Arabic;

· Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated service orientation;

· Ability to work effectively in a highly dynamic multidisciplinary and multi-cultural team;

· Proactiveness, initiative and good problem-solving skills;

· Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments and deadlines;

· Proven ability to identify which issues need to be escalated;

· Good team spirit

Terms of appointment, salary and benefits

This is a nationally recruited temporary position for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave. The successful candidate will be offered a contract for 7 months. The first 3 months will be probation period.

ICARDA is committed to increasing women representation in its workforce and strongly encourages applications from women.

Applications will be acknowledged, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.