Account Assistant Job Vacancy

Job Description: Account Assistant, Hargeisa 
 
About Action Africa Help International: Action Africa Help International (AAH-I) is an African-led, regional organisation, working in East and Southern Africa to improve the lives of livelihood-challenged communities. 

AAH-I has country programmes in Kenya, Somaliland, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia. 

It brings over 20 years’ experience working with communities in conflict and post-conflict situations, including refugees, internally displaced people and host communities. 

More recently, it has expanded its activities to work with other marginalised communities, including pastoralist communities and communities in urban slums. 

AAH-I works with communities, local governments and other development partners in:
  • Basic services (health, education, water, hygiene and sanitation)
  • Food and income security
  • Environmental management and responsiveness to climate change
  • Governance, civil society strengthening and peace building
  • Humanitarian relief and recovery
  • Research to provide the evidence base for, and to improve delivery of, the above.
Job Role: The Account Assistant, Hargeisa is responsible for ensuring that project accounts are managed effectively according to AAHI and donor financial policies and procedures. The job holder works with the Project Manager and Country Finance Manager to prepare periodic financial reports as required. 

Contract Terms: The Accounts Assistant, Hargeisa, will report to the Country Finance Manager for Somalia. The post is based in Hargeisa and will be for 40 hours per week. Her/his performance will be reviewed bi -annually as part of AAH-I’s performance appraisal process. 

Duties & Responsibilities
  • Ensure accurate and up to date financial systems are implemented in the project
  • Assist  the Project Manager to prepare  budgets based on planned project activities using the approved finance guidelines or given donor regulations
  • Establish controls using fund codes in line with finance  policies and procedures established by AAHI and donors
  • Prepare any budget realignments/adjustments in collaboration with the Country Finance Manager
  • Monitor project expenditures and flag any issue of concern to the Country Finance Manager and Project manager and engage them to address these issues.
  • Use the approved guidelines to assist  the Project Manager to prepare and monitor budgets
  • Prepare monthly finance and variance reports for the project under implementation. 
  • Collate donor financial reports and submit to the Country Finance Manager in advance to allow adequate time to discuss, edit and make necessary modifications before final approval and submission.
  • Analyse and advise the Project Manager on project cash flow management
  • Prepare “ad hoc” management and financial information and reports required internally.
  • Track in detail all commitments, purchases and outstanding items and prepare status reports
  • Analyse the financial situation of the projects in and advise the Project Manager accordingly.
  • Record on a timely basis all financial transactions and monitor them to ensure that they are accurate, complete and reliable as entered in the ledger.
  • Responsible for all cash and bank reconciliations
  • Lead project audits with support from the Country Finance Manager
  • Ensure compliance to all statutory requirements
  • Facilitate processing of advances and liquidation of project  costs
  • Work with the project manager to consolidate  monthly cash projections of the project
  • Work within the fiscal year definitions of AAH and donors
Expected Results
  • Accounting systems are maintained and up to date
  • Compliance to all organizational and legal requirements
  • Bank and Cash statements reconciled and up to date
  • Project audits supported and gaps closed (audit recommendations implemented).
  • Financial  reports from the field are prepared on time and submitted to the Project Manager, and Country Finance Manager
  • Cash flow is monitored and maintained at acceptable levels
  • Finance systems are accurate and maintained as per laid down financial procedures
Essential skills and experience
  • Certified Public Accountant 3 or equivalent
  • Understanding of computer applications in respect to accounting, budgeting and cash control.  As a minimum, this would include an understanding of MS Office & financial software
  • A good command of both written and spoken English, Somali and Arabic
  • High degree of integrity and analytical skills.
Additional Considerations
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
  • Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 
  • Only Somaliland National candidates can apply for this vacancy. 
  • An application letter should include contact information for three work – related referees.
Method of Application 
 
If you meet the above qualifications and requirements and interested in the Job, please apply in confidence. 

The deadline for applications is 31st July 2016 at 04:30 pm. 

Applicants should send with a cover letter and their CV to the email address recruitsomaliland@actionafricahelp.org 

Please put “Accounts Assistant – Hargeisa as the subject heading. 

CVs should not be longer than 3 pages 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. 

Female candidates are encouraged to apply!