Accountant

ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

The five-year (2020-2025) USAID Local Impact Governance Activity (Local Impact) will help Zambia build up a sub-national system of governance for devolved service delivery more responsive to citizen needs. The program will engage national and sub-national authorities to expand the capabilities of district-level governance bodies to deliver sustainable development outcomes, increase effective citizen and private-sector involvement in development planning and monitoring, and improve public financial management and domestic revenue generation.

The activity will work toward three objectives:

• Objective 1: Citizens improve their collective skills to effectively assess service-delivery needs and performance and constructively engage with government.
• Objective 2: The sub-national governance system becomes more responsive to citizen needs, generates, and accountably expends revenue, and improves service-delivery outcomes.
• Objective 3: The program generates learning and facilitates problem solving that supports the development of an effective, financially viable sub-national governance system for devolved services, capable of being scaled up throughout Zambia.

PURPOSE

The Accountant is a key member of the finance team. He/She will play a pivotal role in assuring adherence to financial policies, project policies and procedures, regulations, controls, and reporting systems. The Accountant will provide accounting support to the project office and ensure compliance of all relevant accounting and financial reporting functions. Responsible for recording costs and day to day general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, assuring all backup documentation is audit ready, and supporting the Finance Manager with all financial functions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Policies & Procedures

• Ensures that accounting practices are carried out in accordance with GAAP standards; project internal controls are implemented in accordance with DAI policies, USAID rules/regulations, and the terms of the contract.

Financial Administration

• Uses DAI’s Field Accounting system (FAS), cloud software for backup documentation, and DAI’s operations system (TAMIS)
• Communicates with the Finance Manager and Project Management on troubleshooting technical issues
• Conducts daily reviews of backup documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and full compliance with DAI policies and procedures
• Maintains file management systems for soft and hard copy documentation
• Performs regular spot audits on project files
• Scans and uploads voucher files to DAI’s repository for the electronic archival of financial documentation
• Assists in preparing information for any financial reporting requirements, or internal reports as necessary

General Accounting/Financial Support

• Prepares weekly cash-flow forecasts for approval and prepares fund replenishment wire requests
• Prepares invoices, advances and reimbursements, checks, and wire transfer payments for approval and processing, ensuring accuracy and timely execution
• Prepares project expense vouchers (for all Zambia offices) ensuring accuracy of expense coding
• Prepares payroll, ensuring leave balances and taxes are accurately recorded
• Prepares tax and other remittances
• Ensures the timely deposit of cash receipts
• Acts as a bank agent securing petty cash replenishments and other cash needs as instructed
• Records approved costs in DAI’s Field Accounting System (FAS)
• Prepares monthly bank reconciliations
• Prepares backup documentation for all project-related transactions, and ensures completeness and appropriate review and approvals are documented
• Ensures petty cash is maintained according to maximum petty cash policy, and that all petty cash procedures are followed
• Supports periodic cash counts
• Audits travel requests and expense reports for accuracy and compliance and follows procedures to ensure accurate and timely payment and reconciliation of travel advances, reimbursements for staff and partner travel

Other duties

• Provides leave of absence cover for staff as required
• Escalates any issues to his/her supervisor immediately
• Prepared to travel to project provincial offices as required
• Performs any other duties as assigned

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE AND REPORTING

• The position will be based in the Local Impact Activity’s main office in Lusaka, Zambia and will report to the Finance Manager
• There may be some travel to provincial offices

QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Accountancy Qualification (completed)
• B.A. Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent.
• 4+ years of relevant experience in an accountancy position
• Minimum 2 years’ experience supporting USAID-funded projects in an accountancy/finance role
• Demonstrated understanding of applicable finance-related USG contracting regulations
• Accuracy in working with large amounts of data
• Ability to respond effectively to the time sensitive inquiries
• Experience with enterprise accounting software, and Microsoft office suite
• An energetic, forward-thinking and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus
• Fluency in English is required

APPLICATION

• Use the URL provided in the advertisement to apply
• Applications must be received before the closing date
• Only short-listed candidates will be notified
• No phone inquiries