Consultant – Finance Officer at African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

Purpose of Job

• To provide technical support in financial Reporting, processing and settlement of imprest, prepare bank reconciliations, account for fixed assets and accounts receivable & payable in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and AU Financial Rules.
• Under the supervision of the Projects Finance Officer, the Consulting Accountant is charged with processing financial transactions and maintaining financial records, assist the unit with administrative matters and provide support to the Projects Finance Officer on finance functions.

Main Functions

• Prepares schedules for month and annual closure of accounts and provide input into the preparation of IPSAS Compliant Financial Statements;
• Settle imprest and make relevant adjustments/reversals in SAP;
• Prepare bank reconciliations on monthly basis and coordinate related audits;
• Maintain asset register in SAP and account for fixed assets in accordance with AU FRR, PPE Policy and IPSAS.
• Perform periodic review of accounts payable and receivable to ensure that outstanding payments are made and recoveries are made for receivables.

Specific Responsibilities

Financial Reporting:

• Work closely with the Finance Officer to ensure timely and accurate monthly close of financial records for AU-IBAR;
• Produce consistent and accurate supporting schedules and reconciliations for all general ledger accounts;
• Conduct a detailed periodic review of the general ledger activities and make accurate and timely corrections in the financial records to be audit-ready at all times;
• Ensure timely reconciliation of all controls accounts. Record and review journal entries, analyzing general ledger accounts, recording adjusting journal entries and accruing expenses each month;
• Ensure all monthly closing schedules are audit ready. Provide information and documentation to the Internal and External Auditors; Assist in the implementation of internal and external audit recommendations;
• Responsible for the day to day accounting functions relating to accounts payable and accounts receivable;
• Oversee the timely reconciliation of all accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions, including analyzing regularly the aged analysis and take remedial actions to address long outstanding issues;
• Responsible for the calculation of the accruals and prepayments and the adjustment of transactions in line with IPSAS. Ensure accounts receivable and accounts payable balances are IPSAS compliant at all times.

Accounts Payable and Receivable:

• Settles imprest, travel claims and other advances and clear commitments;
• Analyses Imprest and travel claims on a regular basis to keep clean and up to date;
• Responsible for month/year-end closure activities for accounts receivable and accounts payable;
• Produces consistent and accurate supporting schedules and reconciliations for all general ledger accounts;
• Records and reviews journal entries, analyzing general ledger accounts, recording adjusting journal entries;
• Prepares timely reconciliation of all accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions, including analyzing regularly the aged analysis and take remedial actions to address long outstanding issues and keep the accounts current;
• Prepares responses to external and internal audit queries and assist in the implementation of audit findings;
• Prepares memo to Payroll for signature of head of division for salary deduction of outstanding amounts from staff;
• Complete clearance form for separating staff on outstanding debt.

Bank Reconciliations:

• Prepares Timely Bank reconciliation reports;
• Follows up on all outstanding items on bank reconciliation statements and resolve them;
• Responds to internal and external auditors query related to any reconciliation issues raised in reports;
• Follows up periodic currency revaluation procedures on SAP system;
• Journalize monthly exchange and bank charges on the various payments effected through Foreign and Local bank accounts;
• Adjusts the local bank balance at the end of each month.

Fixed Asset Accounting:

• Undertakes analysis for fixed assets on a regular basis and oversees the proper maintenance of financial records in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE) Policy and related African Union Financial Rules;
• Provides guidance in relation to PPE accounting and makes appropriate recommendations for changes in accounting policy;
• Acts as knowledge expert on SAP Fixed Asset Module and shall be responsible for asset settlement processes and assists with the maintenance of fixed asset ledgers within the SAP fixed asset management module, which includes configuration, master data maintenance, depreciation calculations and reporting.
• Lead and coordinate implementation of internal and external audit findings relating to Fixed Assets;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

Qualifications

• A masters degree in Accounting or Finance or related field.
• Fully qualified professional certification such as CPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent is added advantage.

Experience

• Candidates must have a minimum of ten (10) years working experience in a similar role specifically in donor funded projects. At least seven (7) of those years should be in an international environment.
• Experience and knowledge of reporting requirements for EU, USAID, SIDA and similar funding partners
• Previous working experience with donor-funded projects is added advantage.
• Proficiency with finance modules of SAP is required
• Proficiency in French and English

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria Max Score

• Masters degree in accounting, finance or related field 15
• Fully qualified professional certification such as CPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent 10
• Minimum of ten (10) years working experience in a similar role specifically in donor funded projects 20
• Seven (7) of those years should be in an international environment 10
• Experience and knowledge of reporting requirements for EU, USAID, SIDA and similar funding partners 15
• Previous working experience with donor-funded projects is added advantage 10
• Proficiency with finance modules of SAP 15
• Proficiency in French and English 5