Job Description
Role Purpose
The accountant is a dynamic and strategic leader involved in all aspects of accounting and financial reporting under Emerge Livelihoods. The accountant will report to the Finance Director with key objectives including managing financial accounting/operations, grants management, policies and procedures for Emerge Livelihoods. The accountant will coordinate all external accounts and relationships whilst ensuring Emerge Livelihoods provides excellent client services.
The accountant will oversee effective cross functional management with members of other departmental units and lead in projects requiring high level finance and accounting skills, solid cost and managerial accounting knowledge and ability to train other non-finance staff. The accountant will ensure strong transparency and accountability across Emerge Livelihoods service delivery and community engagement focused on the implementation of the strategic plan 204-2029 strategic plan.
Scope of Responsibilities
Role Responsibility
1: Strategic management accounting and audit
- Manage all general ledger and subsidiary journals including the cash and online receipts, cash disbursements, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounts, cash flow forecasting, grants management and reporting
- Establish effective accounting and bookkeeping systems and procedures and oversees all accounting services
- Establish and implement internal controls, and administrative systems, policies and procedures to ensure efficient and effective delivery of day to day operational activities well aligned with approved strategies and budget allocations
- Manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, grants and donations processing and acknowledgement, invoice payments, payroll and bill payments
- Maintain organisational records highlighting income and expenditure in financial database
- Ensure adequate cash flow for organizational requirements by monitoring grant funding remittances, and preparing requests for funds as required
- Prepare and present quarterly and annual financial budgets and cash flow forecasts, working hand in hand with the Finance Director to actively monitor and understand budget variances
- Ensure and review all monthly financial statements from the Finance and accounting officers and prepare narrative reports for review by the board directors
- Manage bank accounts and monitor bank reconciliations, all transactions including online transfers and keeping track of signing authorities
- Manage liquidity, investments and foreign exchange according to policies and procedures
- Reconcile accounts payable and accounts receivable on a monthly basis
- Manage the purchase order process under Emerge Livelihoods
- Process general ledger transactions and post new entries on a periodical basis
- Perform all cash account reconciliations for all relevant bank accounts
- Support in preparation of materials for and attend the Finance subcommittee meetings
- Assist in the annual budgeting process and annual reporting requirements across the organisation
- Assist with strategic budgets for long- or short-term planning for the organisation
- Assist with financial models and project management support as needed
- Coordinate annual financial internal and external audits (including donor check-in audits) through preparing documents and schedules for annual audit and liaise with auditors timely
- Ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
Person Specification
Education and Certifications
Essential Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Finance, Accounting with relevant training and certification under the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (ICAM).
- Postgraduate in a relevant discipline is highly preferred.
- A minimum of 5 years relevant with relevant experience in a renowned and reputable organisation preferably in the nonprofit sector
- Experience in management accounting, monitoring and reporting on the financial performance of the organisation and projects
- Experience in applying accounting procedures and protocols inbudget administration and financial forecasting, analysis and reporting
- Proven experience working with government agencies, development partners, media and research organisations at national andinternational level