Job Description
Country Accountant, Freetown
Job Purpose: The Country Accountant is responsible to manage all aspects of the finance function of the Concern Worldwide Sierra Leone country programme so that we achieve our objectives in line with Concern Worldwide's policies, procedures and standards.
Main Duties & Responsibilities: 2. A. General Responsibilities:
Ensure the efficient and transparent use of all Concern's resources in order to maximize the benefit to the targeted communities.
Promote and ensure compliance with the requirements of Concern's Programme Participants Protection Policy to ensure maximum protection to programme beneficiaries.
Promote and protect the reputation of Concern in external settings, ensuring that the organization's experience and expertise is well communicated and consistently presented, and that we are looked to as a professional organization.
B. Specific Responsibilities
.1. Financial Systems:
Ensure that country financial management systems & records are adequate in order to identify and protect the assets & interest of the organization.
Ensure that the systems in place, enhance, as far as possible, the efficiency & effectiveness of the manner in which assets are utilized
Ensure that the global accounting package (Microsoft Great Plains) is maintained in a proper manner, and utilized in an appropriate & effective manner.
Establish & maintain a donor financial management system in order to optimize funding & to ensure efficient & accurate reporting to donors.
Ensure adequate controls over cash & bank management are constantly monitored & updated to minimize the risk of fraud or misappropriation.
Undertake regular field visits in order to assess the financial systems in place & implement improvements wherever need
B.2. Finance Control and Financial Reporting:
Ensure that the Concern financial policies and procedures are implemented in a standardised manner by the country office in Freetown and the field offices in the districts
Manage the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by Concern headquarters in Dublin and donors
Provide the CD, ACD Systems, ACD Programmes and other budget holders with monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and analysis for all grants and budgets & facilitate the review and follow up of any issues /variances that might arise
Ensure that on a monthly basis balance sheet reconciliations are completed and quarterly FRPs are produced on a timely basis and reviewed with the CD
Closely monitor all financial activities, and keep the CD/Senior Management Team advised of all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial management performance
Prepare all donor financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and donor contractual requirements and ensure the timely review of such reports by the CD, ACD Programmes, and Dublin office prior to submission
Be responsible for coordinating external (donor, audit firm, partner organisation, government, etc.) and internal control audits, and initiate and implement actions necessary to correct weaknesses
In collaboration with the ACD Systems and logistics manager, oversee the protection of the country programme assets (cash, inventory, etc.) through the enforcement of internal control policies and procedures including that fixed asset inventories are updated regularly
Maintain up-to date knowledge of and ensure compliance with national government requirements and regulations related to financial matters including statutory deductions from national staff salaries such as income tax, social security, goods and services tax, employment and contract law, exchange controls, etc.
Undertake financial assessments & evaluation of partners, where appropriate, in line with Concern's standard financial policies
Participate in the review, monitoring and capacity building of partners
Ensure that partner finance reports are thoroughly reviewed in coordination with the respective Programme Coordinators and Partnership and Capacity Building Advisor.
2 B.3. Training & Staff Management
Be responsible for the management of the national staff of the finance department
Develop and implement staff development plans for the finance department staff both in the country and the field offices to develop their capacity
Ensure that job descriptions of the finance department staff are up-to date and staff are clear with their roles and responsibilities
Carry out timely Performance and Development Reviews (PDR) of all finance department staff.
Facilitate and provide basic training, technical support and guidance to the country programme staff, particularly budget holders, for skills improvement in the areas of budget preparation and monitoring, budget revision, reporting, and internal control.
Identify gaps & provide financial training to Concern partner finance staff as appropriate
B.4. Treasury
Supervise all country office bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates
In compliance with Concern Worldwide policies and procedures and in consultation with the CD and ACD Systems, ensure implementation and review of country specific policies such as authorisation limits, cash holding limits, cash movements, credit terms, advance payments, use of bank payment instruments, etc.
Oversee the timely preparation, review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliations
Design, implement, and monitor systems and procedures necessary to maintain accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments
Be responsible for timely preparation and follow-up/handling of Cash Transfer Requests both internationally from Dublin as well as nationally between the district offices and the head office, and ensure that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate programme implementation.
Ensure the development and implementation of a plan to minimize the country's foreign exchange exposure to currency gains and losses
Maintain up-to-date records of all grant payments made by donors and in consultation with the CD, ACD Programmes, Programme Managers, and the Dublin office, follow-up and supervise the timely collection of contractual and other receivables including outstanding payments from donors
B.5. Budget:
Be proactively involved and assist the CD, ACDs, and Programme/Systmes Managers with the preparation and revision of programme and project proposal budgets including multi-annual budgets
Coordinate and provide technical support and guidance to all budget holders in the preparation of the country operating annual budget and revisions;
Assist Programme managers with preparation of donor budgets, to ensure compliance with donor regulations and ensure their incorporation into the country annual operating budget & revisions
Ensure that all budgets (annual & donor) are reviewed & approved by the CD, and submitted to Dublin in a timely manner
B.6. Country Management and Programme support As a member of the Concern Sierra Leone Management Team (CMT), participate in and contribute to the development of the country programme by
Develop and manage a strong finance team, so that the finance function provides optimal support to the country programme;
Actively participate in the CMT meetings and be proactively involved in the decision making processes
Keep up to date on programme priorities and make frequent field trips to monitor finance and systems related issues and procedures
Regularly communicate with field management staff particularly in relation to finance issues, and assess how the finance department can provide optimal support to ensure effective programming
B.7. Other
Manage national staff team members
Provide on the job training and capacity building to Finance, other staff and, as required, by local partners
Review and advise on contracts (construction, leases, etc);
Supervise the management of Expatriate personal accounts
Authorise payments up to prescribed limit as required
PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:
Accountancy Qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA) Relevant time as practicing accountant (3 -5 years minimum)
DESIRABLE Education, Qualifications & Experience Required: Business management degree. Audit Qualification Worked in Concern Field or NGO experience
Experience working in complex social environments; Rigour and attention to detail; Excellent interpersonal skills; Ability to set priorities under pressure; excellent organisational and planning skills; strong communication, problem solving and analytical skills; Flexibility and ability to prioritise and handle a diverse, complex, changing and heavy workload; Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity; Empathy with organisational goals; Patience & a sense of humour; Willingness to travel frequently and live under fairly basic conditions; Team building; High respect for national staff; strong delegation and commitment for maintaining deadlines. Experience with computerized accounting packages, ideally Great Plains; Accounting and auditing knowledge; Experience of delivering training and of providing on the job coaching; Proactive; Analytical thinker; Personal integrity; Commitment to international development and an understanding of the role and responsibilities of INGOs in developing countries; Disposition that suits taking a mentoring and coaching role; Ability to meet deadlines; Fluent in English
Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries. Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern's core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents. Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List). Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office. Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
How to apply:
All applications should be submitted through and CV's should be no more than 4 pages in length. All candidates who are short-listed for a first round interview will be notified via email.
No Fee
AJS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND AJS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.
SOME EMPLOYERS MAY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR APPLICATION.
