Accountant at Kesho Kenya

Main duties and responsibilities:

Transactions and General Accounting Procedures 

• Undertake and oversee as appropriate, all accounting and financial activities ensuring they are timely, accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and with Kesho’s Financial Timelines Policy. 
• Document and maintain complete and accurate supporting information for all financial transactions. 
• Prepare and/or oversee the preparation and issuance of cheques including those for the payment of student fees. 
• Develop and maintain accounting systems for cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit control, petty cash and payroll. 
• Ensure effective and accurate bookkeeping and orderly filing systems for personnel and financials. 
• Conduct and review with the ED the monthly cash flow. 
• Undertake reconciliations on required accounts. 
• Manage the acquisition of capital assets and ensure that assets are properly recorded, amortized, and disposed of as appropriate. 
• Maintain the chart or accounts. 

Compliance 

• Comply with local, statutory and legal financial and reporting requirements. 
• Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors for the annual audit. 

Risk Management 

• Monitor legal issues affecting civil society organisations and ensure Kesho complies with all legal and regulatory requirements. 
• Report risk issues to the ED and Board. 
• Construct and monitor reliable control systems over accounting transactions. 
• Maintain appropriate insurance coverage. 
• Ensure record keeping meets the requirements of auditors and government agencies. 
• Maintain relations with external auditors and investigate their findings and recommendations. 

Financial Management and Reporting 

• Ensure timely and complete reporting of financial statements, metrics, management accounts, cash flows and other relevant reports to meet the requirements of the ED and Board. 
• Calculate variances from the budget and report significant issues to management. 
• Timely and accurate external reporting in line with relevant contract agreements with Donors. 
• Manage and advise ED on financial investments. 
• Ensure access of key financial data and reports to the ED and Board through Dropbox. 

Budgeting and Forecasting 

• Support the ED in providing the necessary information to establish guidelines for budget and forecast preparation, and to facilitate the preparation of the annual budget. 
• Provide assistance to the persons responsible for preparing budgets for funding applications. 
• Prepare and monitor cash balances and cash flow forecasts. 

Systems, Policies and Procedures 

• Develop, strengthen and automate systems for (a) General Accountancy Procedures, (b) Financial Reporting and (c) the Preparation of Management Accounts. 
• Develop, strengthen and ensure adherence to all relevant financial policies and procedures including those for minimizing financial risk

Payroll 

• Oversee all payroll functions to ensure that employees are paid in a timely and accurate manner. 
• Timely and accurate processing and submission of statutory, insurance and benefits remittances. 

Supervision

• Provide training and supervision to assistants supporting the accounting framework. 

Other 

• Prepare all supporting information for annual audits and liaise with the Board's Finance SubCommittee and the external auditors as necessary. 
• Ensure storage and back-up of all financial information through Kesho’s information storage and back-up system. 
• Advise on income generating activities and financial services available to the Organization. 
• Contribute to the development and oversee the implementation of a strategic and operational plan for the Financial Department, ensuring it conforms with Kesho’s mission and strategic goals. 
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time. 

Knowledge, Skills , Experience and Personal Attributes
Qualifications & Experience 

• Bachelors Degree in Accounting or Finance 
• CPA minimum Section 2, CPA K is desirable 
• At least 3 years experience in a similar position preferably within the NGO sector. 
• ICPAK member desirable