Afghanistan: Programme Accountant, Afghanistan
Reference:
KK/PA/AFG
Country:
Afghanistan
Job Title:
Programme Accountant
Contract Grade: A
Contract Length: 12 months
Date needed By: ASAP
New Post or Replacement: New Post
Accompanied / Unaccompanied: Unaccompanied
Exact Job Location: Taloqan
Reports To: Country Financial Controller (CFC)
Responsible For: Finance Officers (FOs), Cashier
Liaises With: Country Director, Programme Director (PD), System Director (SD), Provincial Coordinators, Programme Managers, Emergency Programme Coordinator and PSO.
Job Purpose:
To provide support to the Country Finance Controller to ensure the effective functioning of the Finance department in Taloqan through providing day to day technical support. The post holder will coordinate finance issues and build the capacity of national staff and support national staff to manage and carry out the work on the finance function. The post holder will report directly to the Country Financial Controller.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
Controllership:
Guided by Country Financial Controller and his/her team, ensure that the Concern Worldwide financial policies and procedures are adhered to and implemented in a standardised manner.
Manage the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by donors and Dublin HQ.
Assist programme managers and teams are compliant with donors’ (especially EU, ECHO, Irish Aid, DFID and others) financial rules while budgeting, spending and reporting.
Forward to all budget holders draft reviewed monthly management accounts & his/her finance team on a timely basis and facilitate with programme staff review and follow up of any issues/variances arising.
Closely monitor all financial activities, and keep the PD and CFC advised of all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial management performance.
Assist the Country Financial Controller with external (donor, audit firm, partner organisation, government, etc.) and internal control audits as required.
In collaboration with all relevant staff, ensure the protection of all programme assets (cash, inventory) through the enforcement of internal controls and procedures, including regular updating of fixed asset inventories.
Maintain up-to date knowledge of and implement local government requirements and regulations related to financial matters including statutory deductions from national staff salaries such as income tax, social security, etc.
Training & Staff Management:
Train National Finance Officer/Finance Manager so that s/he can take programme accountant role upon completion of the international assignee’s contract period.
In collaboration with the HR Manager and under the oversight of the Country Financial Controller, ensure that job descriptions of the Finance department staff are up-to date and staff are clear on their roles and responsibilities.
Assist CFC in carrying out timely Performance and Development Reviews (PDR) of all Finance department staff but also develop and implement staff development plan for the Finance department staff.
Lead in facilitating and providing orientation, basic training, technical support and guidance to the country program staff, particularly budget holders, for skills improvement in the areas of Concern and donor budget preparation and monitoring, budget revision, reporting and its interpretation, and internal control. as per Concern’s standard practices
Treasury:
Supervise all programme office bank relations and bank account activities.
Oversee the timely preparation, review and approval of all bank account and cash reconciliations on as regular a basis as necessary for effective financial control.
Assist the PD and CFC in ensuring compliance with Concern Worldwide’s policies and procedures and assume responsibilities in the implementation of country specific policies such as authorisation limits, cash holding limits, cash movements, credit terms, advance payments, use of bank payment instruments.
Review funds transfer requests from the field and timely preparation and follow-up/handling of Cash Transfer Requests to the field offices to ensure that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate programme implementation
Budget:
Assist PD and other budget holders in conducting the budget process, ensuring that appropriate levels of technical support and guidance is provided to all budget holders during the process of preparing the annual country operating budget and subsequent revisions.
Assist budget holders with preparation of donor budgets; interpretation of budgeting guidelines; ensure compliance with donor regulations and to ensure their incorporation into the country annual operating budget & revisions.
Monthly Management Accounts:
Liaise with the Taloqan Finance Officer in reconciling balance sheet items, preparing monthly management accounts and month end process for review by the CFC.
Assist CFC to produce accurate monthly management accounts, engaging in necessary review work, posting of journals.
Assist the CFC in the process of obtaining explanations of variances between budget and actual spending, income and pass the necessary adjustments to ensure correct reporting.
Ensure a Month End reporting file is maintained in a timely and orderly manner.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
- Educational Qualification
Essential: Part or fully qualified Accountant
Desirable: Management Qualification
- Experience Required:
Essential: Two to three years finance experience including donor and management reporting, staff and partner management and some capacity building (coaching, mentoring or training). Some overseas experience in emergency or development contexts a distinct advantage.
Desirable: Experience of work in Afghanistan / conflict affected countries
Experience in working in a complex emergency context
Experience in working with partners.
- Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:
Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity
Empathy with Concern’s goals and a commitment to capacity building, protection and participation
Excellent communication and training / capacity building skills
Proven organisation, planning and management skills
Ability to work on own initiative and lead diverse teams
Quick learner, flexible and adaptable to a changing challenging environment
Strong interpersonal and team work skills with patience and sense of humour.
Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines
Knowledge of computer applications i.e. Microsoft packages: Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Knowledge of accounting software- knowledge of Microsoft Great Plains will be an added advantage.
- Any Other Special Requirements (e.g. international driving license, specific computer skills etc.)
Familiarity with humanitarian law and principles of humanitarian action (international code of conduct and humanitarian charter) Familiarity with Sphere guidelines and people in aid, code of best practice
How to apply:
All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date. CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.
Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.
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.
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