Job Description

Helen Keller International

Job Announcement

Senior Finance Officer

Job Type: Full time

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Start Date: 1^st June 2022

End Date: 30^th June 2023; Annual contract (renewable)

Reports to: Finance Director (FD)

Open to Expatriates: No

Grade: J

Introduction:

Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty. Helen Keller Intl partners with communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty and is devoted to scaling up evidence-based, cost-effective solutions to improve care practices and ensure that basic health interventions reach vulnerable people, with a focus on women, youth, and children.

Helen Keller Intl has been operating in Sierra Leone for nearly 20 years in support of the Food, Nutrition and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) components of the National Health Development Plan of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, as well as food security component of the ministry of Agriculture.

Job Summary: The Senior Finance Officer’s overall responsibility is to support the finance functions for HKI Sierra Leone Country Office. The Senior Finance Officer’s responsibilities include internal control, accounting data base management, reconciliation and verification of payment, management, budget and treasury and cash management functions.

Key Responsibilities

Cash/Bank Management

• Support processing of bank and cash transactions
• Review payment vouchers to ensure completeness and accuracy of documentation
• Coordinate timely preparation of payments, bank reconciliations, accounting closure and maintenance of accounting books

Internal control

• Ensure that all processes and deadlines are in compliance with HKI and donor requirements
• Support processing of bank and cash transactions
• Monitor and keep current knowledge of Government of Sierra Leone regulations that affect operations including taxes and other statutory requirements and escalate as needed
• Participate in preparation of project internal, external and donor audits
• Assist in preparation of budget and financial statement
• Contribute to formulation/revision of internal financial guidelines, SoPs, procedures, etc.

Grant management & reporting

• Lead the preparation and analysis of monthly Budget Vs Actuals (BvA) reports for the grants assigned to the position
• Prepare and regularly update spending plans for the assigned grants in collaboration with the program lead
• Participate in and contribute to grant opening and closing meetings
• Lead preparation of financial reports for grants for review by Finance Director
• Review procurement related documents to ensure compliance with policies, SoPs and procedures
• Support management and tracking of sub-grants
• Monitor and support all/any budget excesses

Payment processing & payroll

• Ensure timely processing of payment to vendors, suppliers and beneficiaries
• Review and ensure timely processing of staff payroll
• Represent finance team in procurement meetings, as needed
• Review and update program financial records and track payments

Document Management

• Ensure proper record of documentation including support forms, etc.
• Control access to financial records to authorized staff

Qualification and experience

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, commerce or finance
• At least 4 years’ experience at a senior level of finance department of an international organization of comparable size
• Extensive experience and ease of working with different computerized accounting systems, database programs, excel sheet, etc.
• Must be able to work in a dynamic and complex environment
• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal support
• Must be able and willing to work in a diverse office in terms of language, culture, etc.
• Good written and verbal English language skills

Interested candidates should send a detailed CV, Application letter stating clearly on the subject line of your email “Application for Senior Finance Officer”, names and contacts of three references, a daytime telephone/mobile contact to HR/Administration Manager, 22 New Signal Hill Road, Congo Cross, Freetown or email to SierraLeone.Recruitment@hki.org by the close of business on 3^rd  June 2022.

Helen Keller International is an Equal Opportunity Employer, promoting gender, equity and diversity.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of HKI’s vision, and we encourage people from all backgrounds, especially women, to apply.

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