POSITION: Accountant
BASE OF OPERATIONS: Monrovia, Liberia
GRADE: 9
POSITION REPORTS TO: Director of Finance and Operations
Position is open to Liberian Nationals Only
The USAID Good Governance Activity (GGA) will support the Government of Liberia (GOL) in building a well-functioning governance system with effective DRM and fiscal decentralization, budget transparency, and local governance frameworks. An Integrated Governance Systems Approach will serve to facilitate synergies across the Activity’s three objectives:
- Domestic Resource Mobilization improved; the Activity will prepare the GOL to analyze potential tax policy reports, implement the transition from GST to VAT and other tax administration improvement and enable greater fiscal decentralization
- Budget Transparency Improved; the Activity will increase the GOL’s systems for budget and financial reporting and sharing to work towards greater measures for fiscal transparency
- Local Development and Service Delivery Improved; the Activity will help the GOL continue building local systems and local governments’ core competencies to improve the functionality of Country Service Centers and the counties as a whole.
1. Objectives of the assignment
The Accountant is a key member of the finance team. S/he will play a pivotal role in assuring adherence to financial policies, activity policies and procedures, regulations, controls, and reporting systems. The Accountant will provide accounting and financial analysis support to the activity office and will ensure submission of financial reports based on internal deadlines. This position will ensure compliance of all accounting and financial reporting functions. Responsible for recording costs and day to day general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, risk management, managing partner relationships, assuring all backup documentation is audit ready, and troubleshooting accounting issues. The individual is also responsible for cash flow analyses, and the overall financial well-being of the activity.
2. Tasks & Responsibilities
The following comprise main responsibilities of the accountant:
Financial Compliance:
- Support the FOM to ensure that DAI finance and operations policies and procedures are fully operationalized, developing where needed, standard operating procedures (SOPs), guidelines, checklists, and workflows to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
- Support in ensuring implementation of strong financial systems to guide GGA operations, and ensure they are adapted and maintained throughout the project period of performance.
- Support in highlighting and providing the need for any adjustments to the GGA Field Operations Manual, TAMIS workflows, and other policy and procedural documents.
Accounting and Finance:
- Prepares vendor and payroll tax forms and ensure these are submitted in a timely manner
- Prepares and submits monthly reconciliation reports for review
- Monitors and reports on partner/vendor payment schedules and obligations
- Assists in preparing information for any contractual financial reporting requirements (if applicable)
- Conducts daily reviews of backup documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and full compliance with DAI’s regulations
- Ensures backup documentation is uploaded to relevant system according to set deadlines
- Ensures that accounting policies and practices are carried out in accordance with the Liberian Tax Code; activity internal controls are established and implemented in accordance with DAI policies, USAID rules/regulations, and the terms of the contract
- Initiates wire requests for field activity implementation
- Verifies vendor invoices for accuracy
- Verifies accuracy of expenses, and activity accounting codes
- Ensures accurate and timely processing of invoices, advances and reimbursements, checks, and wire transfer payments
- Performs monthly bank reconciliations and routinely monitors bank account balances
- Compiles backup documentation for all activity related transactions, and ensures completeness and appropriate review and approvals are documented, scans and uploads the backup documents in DAI archiving systems
- Responsible for maintaining file management systems for soft and hard copy documentation
- Ensures petty cash is maintained according to maximum petty cash policy, and that all petty cash procedures are followed
- Uses DAI’s Field Accounting system (FAS), cloud software for backup documentation, and DAI’s operations system (TAMIS)
- Communicates with the Director of Finance and Operations and Project Management on troubleshooting technical issues
- Manage travel and project advances and ensure timely advance liquidation
- Prepares project expense vouchers (for all offices) ensuring accuracy of expense coding
- Ensures that taxes are paid, tracked, recorded, and reported to Liberian tax authorities and USAID.
Relations Management:
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships among both internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to GGA staff, bank officials, among others.
- Support the FOM to undertake capacity building efforts and knowledge sharing to staff for enhanced functioning of financial performance and compliance.
- Provide support to the sub-grants team as needed.
3. Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, or related field (business, finance, etc.) at a minimum
- 8+ years of relevant experience and progressive responsibility in finance and accounting; experience working on USAID-funded activities preferred
- Demonstrated knowledge of internal controls and audit processes (e.g. procurement, local subcontract agreements, etc.)
- Relevant professional accounting qualifications
- Demonstrated report writing skills in English is required
- Computer literate with e-mail and Microsoft Office suite, including but not limited to Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as any finance/accounting software used to track transactions
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks and work as part of a team
- Ability to communicate/collaborate effectively across teams, cultures, including with team members based in other countries and time zones.
Women and persons of minority groups are encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to apply via this link: https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/irjepeypu1/index