Job purpose : 

The Accountant, reporting to the Senior Finance Officer for Head Office General Accounts, performs the following activities. This includes, but not limited to, monthly fund request for the country programme, focal person for the country’s bank account detail and signatory changes, timely settlement of monthly statutory obligations for the head office such as taxes and pension payables, ensuring timely reconciliation of Advances, Expat Accounts, Local and Foreign Currency Transfers, Income taxes (payroll and withholding) and Pension accounts. The post holder reviews head office payment requests for such as procurement documents, medical expense claims, insurances, flights, cessation benefit claims, expat personal accounts, and field office fund requests in consideration of the authorized bank balances for each location. The post holder also performs other related finance activities as requested by the line manager/s. 

Main Duties & Responsibilities : 

A)  A)     Financial System:

·       In compliance with Concern’s policies and procedures, assist implementation of country specific policies at the head office, such as authorization limits, cash holding limits, cash movements, advance payments, use of bank payment instruments, etc.

·       Focal person for processing all bank account detail and signatory changes for the country program and timely update of the bank detail database.

·       Ensure timely closing of inactive bank accounts and track that the bank signatories are active by timely removing terminated ones

·       Ensure that all the country office monthly cash counts and bank reconciliations are received timely, as per the month-end time task timetable. Liaise with the file clerk for checking filing of these reconciliations in the ‘Month-end’ box file.

·       Focal person for reviewing all the medical documents, insurance, flights, and lease payments and keep database for them for easy tracking.

·       Print out the daily Fx rates and file them accordingly.

·       Responsible for settlement of tax liabilities (payroll and withholding taxes) to the relevant government office.

·       Prepare Cessation Benefit payments for staff attaching necessary documentation, including copy of the updated Cessation Benefit schedule. Ensure that the necessary project and CB codes are used in the payment forms.

·       Review procurement paperwork, payment request forms and other finance documents for the head office general accounts, per the assigned threshold, to ascertain that they are in line with applicable policy and procedures.

·       Responsible for timely completion of ‘Expat Monthly payroll form’, approval, filing, and submission of the scanned copy to the CFC. The monthly ICS request / Expat monthly payroll form should be supported with email confirmations received from the individual expat staff when presented for approval.

·       Responsible for maintaining Expat Personal Accounts file and advise the SFO/FM/CFC for timely clearance of their balances when submitting the monthly ICS requests to HQ. This includes, completing mandatory ‘Monthly Activity Summary’.

·       Consolidate fund requests for the country office monthly and submit for approval.

·       Send confirmations to HQ treasury team timely for funds received during the month.

·       Monitor the balances in all Concern Ethiopia bank accounts and facilitate timely fund transfers within the authorized bank limits for Concern office locations.

·       Carry out other related activities in line with month-end and year-end task plans.

B)      Budget & Financial Reporting:

·       Liaise with the file clerk in updating the month-end document handover-tracking sheet and when there are delays, follow up with the finance officer/s copying the line management.

·       Ensure monthly balance sheet reconciliation reports are produced with adequate level of details and approval for Income taxes (payroll and withholding), Pension, Expat Personal Accounts, and Local and Foreign Currency Transfer accounts.

·       Participate in Year-end account closing activities as assigned by the line management.

C)      Audits and Compliance:

·       At year-end, prepare final Cash/Bank Statement and Reconciliations for all locations.

·       Provide financial information, related to the role, at the time of internal and external audits.

D)     Other Duties:

·       Cover Cashier role whenever the cashier is away.

·       Representative in special task forces and committees.

·       Actively participate in periodic inventory process, report and keep track of findings.

·       Adhere to the standards of conduct outlined in the Program Participant Protection Policy and Concern Code of Conduct.

·       Ensure Concern WWE’s safeguarding, anti-fraud and whistleblowing policies are adhered to all the times.

Gender : 

Demonstrate understanding of Concern Ethiopia’s Gender Equality Strategy

Contribute to ensuring that Concern Ethiopia is a place where men and women are treated equally and with  dignity and respect

Demonstrate gender equality awareness and gender sensitivity and an ability to integrate a gender equality perspective into tasks and activities.

Concern Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies

·       Concern has an organizational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These 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 behavior 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 Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies.

Person Specification : 

Essential:

·       Bachelor’s degree in Finance/ Accounting.

·       A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role.

·       Adequate knowledge of financial and tax regulations and processes.

·       Strong attention to detail.

·       Acceptable knowledge of MS Excel.

·       Very good written and verbal communication skills.

·       Ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.

·       Honesty and Integrity.

·       Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Desirable :    

·       Knowledge of Microsoft Great Plains (MGP) software.

·       Experience with NGO accounting and finance system.

·       Ability to motivate others and promote accountability among staff.

·       Skills in time management and prioritizing.

·       Problem solver and ready to develop and train others.

Highly motivated, energetic and enthusiastic.

What we offer : 

Competitive salary and benefit package

Excellent medical benefits (100% cover including dependents)

20 days annual leave

26 weeks (paid) maternity leave, 18 weeks (unpaid) parental leave