Finance Officer

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Receive the monthly accounting journals and confirm their correctness by reconciling all entries with the supporting documentation. Ensure entries have been properly coded and allocated to enable direct import to SUNSYSTEM. Prepare/review the journal entries to offset prepayment, intercompany and payroll accounts as required. Collect the information and documentation from the operations to update the accounting journals of accrued expenses (staff leave, severance pay, outstanding bills…).
• Daily oversee bank and cash transactions. Ensure suppliers are paid in accordance with a valid contract or a purchase order. Ensure payments of local taxes and payroll are reconciled monthly. Collect cash needs of field offices and prepare bank transfers. Ensure that adequate controls on cash management are in place in all sites. Follow-up and update bank signatures as required. Confirm all cash counts and bank reconciliation are routinely performed and witnessed.
• Monitor open advances and deposits in the balance sheet and recoup aging amounts.
• Maintain a secure filing system of the original accounting documentation. Oversee the repatriation of original documents from field offices. Confirm completeness of the supporting documentation in all respect, organize and archive them in an accessible manner. Support the Finance Manager in the provision of the documentation during financial audits.
• Act as a point of contact of field offices for finance queries and provide financial support to team members.
• Undertake specific tasks on internal controls, budget planning, proposals, and financial reporting as they have been assigned by the Finance Manager. Prepare reports on actual versus budget. Works closely with Departments on forecasts so that the SMT has an accurate and timely information. Prepare financial reports for grants reporting and timely submit the reports to the Finance Manager for review.
• Partake training of staff with financial functions. Time to time travel to field offices to deliver orientation to officers and assistants newly recruited. Orient the Accountant and/or the Finance Assistant in their functions.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience, preferably in similar roles with NGOs
• A Degree in finance, accounting, or relevant field
• Experience in financial software systems, and proficiency in Microsoft Office,
• High attention to detail
• Ability to process large amounts of data
• In depth knowledge of financial regulations and account processes.
• Ability to handle budget
• Donor/contract management experience and donor policy knowledge (preferably ECHO, FCDO, SDC and or BHA)
• Good English language skills, both written and verbal.
• Time management skills