Senior Accountant 293 views0 applications

Overview

The Senior Accountant is responsible for assisting the Finance and Administration Manager with safeguarding the assets (financial and physical) of MSH and ultimately the U.S. Government or other donor against fraud, loss or misuse. The Accountant is responsible for ensuring that any money expended in the field is done in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, MSH policy, and any cost principles imposed by the donor agency. The Accountant is aware of, and adheres to, MSH’s procurement integrity standards in all activities.

The Senior Accountant will oversee accounting needs for MSH work in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, DRC, Cameroon, and Cote d’Ivoire, and will work closely with the Finance and Accountant Specialist in each country to ensure all accounting and financial procedures are properly executed.

Specific Responsibilities

General Responsibilities

• Prepare payment vouchers.
• Properly code all transactions.
• Control and enter all expenses from the petty cash,
• Payment of expenses, including per diem and transport to participants during activities in the field.
• Prepare and control advances.
• Assure balances of unused portions of advances are deposited into the MSH account.
• Prepare deposit slips for cash to be deposited into the bank account.
• Reconcile advances, including review of receipts, coding of expenses on the general voucher and entering into QuickBooks.
• Maintain accounting files.
• Follow up on outstanding advances and assure timely reconciliation.
• Control consumption of project (petrol, electricity, water, telephone, etc.)
• Participate in the improvement of the accounting system and the system of internal control.
• Create all financial reports as requested by supervisor.
• Preparation of forms for payments of taxes and social security.
• Other tasks as requested by supervisor
• Ensure that payments are processed accurately, timely, and safely (to minimize MSH’s risk exposure).
• Ensure that treasury practices in country minimize MSH’s cash exposure.
• Ensure that entries are entered into financial system accurately and timely.
• Ensure that month and year-end accounting activities are done accurately and in compliance with MSH policies and procedures.
• Support the Finance & Admin Manager in performing the Month End/ Year Close procedures in line with MSH Close checklist.

Financial Management System Administration

• Ensure full audit trail is respected as required and the required physical documents are attached to the financial management system.
• Ensure accurate and timely posting of Invoices/bills, bill payments, deposits and journals in the correct modules assigned by MSH.

Treasury/Cash Management

• Ensure a file is maintained for each bank account held in the MSH office. This includes bank opening, modification, signatory additions & removals, and bank closure details. This file should be securely kept in a safe or lockable drawer.
• Working closely with the Finance & Admin Manager to provide any necessary administration support in coordinating documentation between the bank and MSH. This includes providing support to MSH treasury on submitting documents to the bank.
• Support the F&A Manager in collating cash projections for the month from the project staff and draft the Monthly Top-Up request form for review and approval from the Finance & Admin Manager ensuring compliance with MSH treasury cash threshold requirements.
• Ensure timely and accurate inputting of beneficiaries details ahead of payments on the Online banking
• Prepare/Collate accurate & complete documentation relating to Mobile money to staff, participants and beneficiaries for approval.

Financial Accounting & Closing Period Responsibilities

• Support MSH Financial Accounting monthly & annual close processes.
• Respect the detailed reporting calendar deadlines approved by HQ finance/Regional Management unit.
• Support the Finance & Admin Manager in performing the Month End/ Year Close procedures in line with MSH Close checklist.
• Perform some level of balance sheet reconciliations where necessary. Ensure receivables and payables are tightly controlled.

Supports Internal & External Audits

• Identify and submit required documentation to the auditors ensuring that all the necessary paperwork is adequately attached and audit trail is clear.

Supporting Financial Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely posting of expenses (payments, accruals, bills) in the MSH financial management system to provide the most up-to-date position of expenditure performance.
• Assist in preparation of project budgets and pipelines and in collaboration with the program team, estimate upcoming cash needs, prepare expense projections and accrue expenditures as appropriate.

Financial Administrative Support

• Receive and review approved advance requests, invoices, travel expense forms (TEFs), advance reconciliation forms and other payment requests ensuring documentation is complete as per defined checklist.
• Ensure staff and vendors are paid timely in line with the agreed payrun days of the week.
• Ensure accountabilities are cleared on the financial system timely and any outstanding refunds made in the same accounting period with the accountability.
• Support project activities by ensuring the timely payment of participants and vendors through use of mobile money and online banking options.
• Ensure the timely payments of staff salaries and benefits in line with the calendar deadlines.

Qualifications and Experience

Education and Experience

• University Degree in Accounting or equivalent certification from a Business Technical School. Masters Degree in accounting will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience as an Accountant
• Understanding of key aspects of accounting
• Experience with U.S. government projects
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel spreadsheets, or comparable software
• Ability to use basic accounting software (i.e. Quickbooks)
• Demonstrate good judgment and sound financial “common sense”
• Ability to create and monitor budgets. Understanding of the basic tenets of Cash Control, Asset Management, and Bank Reconciliation
• Understanding of principals of adequate documentation and of audit, and performance necessary to ensure audit compliance.
• Written and verbal proficiency in English including business terminology

Knowledge and Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel spreadsheets, or comparable software.
• Strong written and oral presentation skills in English
• A creative and proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude, in line with MSH’s values
• Strong team working orientation with a flexible and adaptable approach to work demands across the whole organization
• Commitment to accuracy and attention to detail
• Collaboration Skills

Competencies

• Financial Management
• Good ethical conduct
• Monitoring/assessing performance to make improvements or take corrective action
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally
• Ability to plan, balance and cope with competing priorities
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage teams, initiate and organize work
• Ability to establish priorities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines

Travel requirements: Availability to travel domestically and internationally as needed (5% of travel)