Plan International Sierra Leone

Job Announcement (1 Position for nationals only) 

24-08-2022 Country Senior Accountant

Plan International is an independent non-profit development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

We are currently seeking to recruit:

Title:                Country Senior Accountant

Grade: D2

Location:         Country Office

Reports to:      Country Finance Manager

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

This position is to ensure that all Country financial operations are conducted in line with the Plan International Operations Manual (OM) and other approved policies and procedures at the IH, RO and CO levels.

DIMENSIONS OF ROLE

• Helps CFM to control Country Annual Budget
• Accounts Officer reports directly to the role
• Area of Responsibility – Country program
• Provide support for and implement operational plans to agreed standards
• Assist with the development of solutions to diverse and complex problems and develop solutions to more

routine problems.

• Apply information received in a variety of formats primarily from internal sources
• Flexibility to anticipate and resolve challenges within the operational context
• Impact of this role is significant within the department and the wider country office
• Influence functional/ operational or specialist planning

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Prepare Financial and other Reports to aid the preparation of the overall country’s financial report for dissemination and decision making:

• Assist the Country Finance Manager (CFM) in preparing Financial Reports
• Assist the CFM in the preparation of quarterly and year-end financial schedules.
• Prepare and provide comments on the Country financial reports i.e. Monthly GL Account balances, CMP Advance Register Analysis, Budget vs. Actual reports etc.
• Prepare and update Country sub ledgers for all balance sheet accounts ensuring they tally with the account balances.
• Drive the implementation of the cashless policy of Plan International Sierra Leone
• Prepare the quarterly severance and holiday pay provision on a quarterly basis and at year end

Support Budget preparation and Budgetary Control for the effective implementation of financial plans:

• Participate in the preparation of the Country’s annual budget.
• Assist in the monitoring of Country, Programme Implementation and Impact Area (PIIA) Offices and Project budgets.
• In charge of the Finance department budget preparation, modification and monitoring.
• Consolidate monthly Budget, Expenses and Project commitment report.

Coordinate Treasury Management and Cash Forecasting for the country to ensure the availability of funds for country operations:

• Ensure Prompt transfer of funds to Project dedicated bank accounts.
• Monitor Country Treasure and ensure that there is always funds for Country Operations.
• Prepare monthly TBB reports and ensure that there are no excess cash in bank accounts
• Monitor project cash flow and advise the grant team on reimbursement requirement of donors

Manage the operation in SAP to meet Plan’s spending and financial reporting requirements:

• Ensure that payments are only made on approved budgets and active Projects.
• Accuracy checks are undertaken to ensure that all transactions entered into the Financial System are correct.
• Review packed documents from PIIA Accountants and ensure they are correct before posting them.
• Review and manage Intercompany Recharges within country and outside countries.
• Country GL balances especially balance sheet accounts are accurate before closing the period for month end
• Ensure the SAP monthly reports are printed and attached to Sub Ledger Accounts for sign off.
• Analyse Country GL Account balance especially expense accounts before period closure and recommend the necessary corrections to CFM.
• Ensure that a digital filling is maintained a good filing for all Country Financial document.

Implement Internal Financial Controls & Payment processes for the attainment of value for money at all times:

• Proactively undertake reconciliations, controls and investigations in order to confirm the integrity, accuracy and validity of financial information.
• Facilitate the weekly payment list based on the Cash forecast requirement approved by the Regional Office.
• Ensure all payments are made as per approved policies and procedures.
• Review all the vouchers and cheques issued before signed off by Plan Managers.
• Cheques should not be issued if it does not form part of the weekly payment list, exceptions should be approved by CFM.
• Supporting the CFM in during audits,
• Monitor and submit quarterly report on CO financial risk.
• Country accounting is processed and prepared based on the accrual accounting principle.

Control the administration of staff payroll for the accurate and timely payment of staff salaries:

• Ensure National staff’s payroll correctly prepared and promptly entered in SAP
• Preparation of LSW for all International staff.
• Prepare the monthly salary reconciliation report.
• Maintain a good filing for payroll report in a restricted area.

Supervisory duties:

• Supervision of Accounts Officers.
• Provide training and share good experience/practice among the team to strengthen team capacity.
• Keep CFM informed of any initiative or difficulties relating to the job’s responsibilities.
• Fulfil Plan’s Child Protection Policy at all times to protect children from all forms of abuse
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time to support the achievement of organizational goals.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• High level contact with the banks to ensure effective treasury
• Medium contact with Plan partner organizations to ensure Plan receives value for money and the financial requirements are adhered to.
• Work closely with HR and Grants department
• Has high contact with all country office and program Admin staff to support smooth compliance of the finance and accounting functions
• Maintains medium contact with other staff from the program unit and country offices to offer support for compliance with finance and accounting procedures

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualification and Experience:

Essential

• University Degree in Accounting/Finance plus ACCA/CIMA/ACA Part qualification
• At least 5 years’ experience in a similar role.
• Knowledge is SAP is an advantage
• Fair knowledge of project management
• Excellent Microsoft excel skills
• Attention to details
• Good management skills
• Problem solving skills
• Good team player
• Good negotiating, facilitating and influencing skills
• Ability to be multi-tasked
• Ability to facilitate participative processes.
• Independence, objectivity and integrity.
• Organized, methodical and meticulous

Desirable

• Develops, motivates and coaches direct reports.
• Promotes innovation and learning.
• Gains, develop and retain credibility about his/her Performance
• Flair with numbers
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills
• Working in a team where there is a diverse cultural environment.
• Ability and willingness to undertake additional assignment not outlined here.
• NGO sector or Project Management experience

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

This position entails 20% travelling within the program unit

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Ensure staff understand Plan International’s commitment to driving a feminist agenda within the organization, and the ambition for gender equality and gender transformative leadership is embedded in our value-based leadership framework.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES 

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Applications: 

Last date for submission of Application (CV and cover letter) is: 6th September 2022 by 5:00 pm

Your application should include:
·         A cover letter
·         A comprehensive CV including details of two referees, one of whom should be your current of 

           most recent supervisor Send applications to the below link:

 Sierra-Leone.Recruitment@plan-international.org

Only short-listed candidates shall be contacted. References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People’s Policy.

Plan International follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity welcoming applications from all especially women and people living with disability.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.