Company Accountant

Our clients – Zengamina Power Limited are looking for an accountant to join their team.

About Our Client

Zengamina is a fully integrated private utility in Ikelenge District, North-Western Province, Zambia, serving approximately 4,500 Zambians since 2007. Its power grid connects community households, institutions, and businesses across the district with power sourced from its 700 kW run-of-river hydropower plant and 39 km of MV distribution lines. Zengamina has recently started it ~$5 million expansion project that will hybridize the existing hydro scheme with Photo Voltaic generation, battery storage and add over 3,000 new connections, having a mission to electrify the whole of the rural Ikelenge District.

About the role:

Zengamina is looking for a capable and experienced company accountant to ensure maintenance of accurate financial records for the Company and support the Company on all accounting processes.

The successful candidate will have a working knowledge of internationally accepted accounting principles, use of accounting software, preparation of financial statements and ad-hoc reports, and general knowledge of compliance requirements in Zambia.

She or he shall be able to work autonomously, shall take initiatives and be a good communicator.

The Company Accountant will report to the Zengamina General Manager or CEO, and to the Group Finance team.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting & Financial Analysis

• Upload and post transactions in the accounting system (Quickbooks)
• Ensure accurate maintenance of all ledgers & sub ledgers for the group subsidiaries: account payables, account receivables, deferred revenue, fixed assets, inventories and bank accounts
• Process monthly billing and manage receivables till recovery
• Perform monthly close of book procedures on all company ledgers
• Ensure journals and account reconciliations are completed accurately and timely
• Payroll management: compute salaries, prepare payslips, set up payments, declare contributions
• Perform cash reconciliations
• Petty cash management
• Set up bank transfers
• Purchase request management
• Expense management
• Assist in budget planning and cash management
• Prepare the annual financial statements
• Handle the annual statutory audit
• Report management accounts to the Group
• Work with the Group Finance team in strengthening the control environment and improving the internal processes to improve the quality of accounting records
• Create and maintain various spreadsheets and dashboards to analyse data

Tax & Compliance 

• Ensure accurate and timely filing of all taxes and contributions, and annual returns. The filing will be done by a 3rd party accounting service company, but the early preparation of the information is the responsibility of the Company Accountant.
• Prepare necessary paperwork for tax declarations and payments
• Facilitate communication with the administrations
• Keep up to date with the regulatory environment
• Ensure compliance with the local jurisdiction requirements (filings, renewal of licenses)
• Collect financial and power generation KPI feeds for ERB reports
• Assist in general administrative tasks

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Five-plus years of experience in a similar role
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting, Economics, Finance, or similar (Full Grade 12 Certificate, ACCA level 2, ZICA Licentiate, CIMA level 2)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), QuickBooks, Odoo and other relevant accounting software
• Experience with accounting for infrastructure projects and/or energy project development, especially Power & Utilities

Competencies:

• Knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping procedures
• Solid understanding of accounting and IFRS knowledge
• Strong fluency with Excel formulas and reporting
• Detail-oriented and strong data gathering skills
• Good communication skills with team members
• Strong written and spoken English skills are required.
• Effective organizational and prioritization skills
• Commitment to professionalism and high standards of integrity and ethics
• Ability to work autonomously and with minimal instruction
• Takes initiative, positive and proactive, hands-on
• Able to work in a multicultural environment
• At ease working remotely and with online collaboration tools

Compensation:

This role offers an opportunity for an ambitious, self-driven individual to develop their all-round professional experience by working in a wide ranging and challenging role in a fast expanding Zambian company that is part of an international group.  ZPL’s mission to electrify the whole of the rural Ikelenge District should be a motivation for the applicant.

Salary will  be in line with market and experience, and will include a variable element based on KPIs to allow the candidate to show their potential and get rewarded. High quality accomodation is available for a single person or couple, a housing allowance will be provided for a larger family. Relocation support will be provided. Company Laptop and mobile phone and talktime will be provided. Local transport is not provided.

To Apply:

If you are interested and feel that you meet the criteria outlined above, please email the following to:  [email protected]

• A copy of your current CV, file name should include your full name
• A cover letter including the following:
• Why this role is of interest and why you are suited
• List Accounting softwares you have competency in , and IFRS proficiency level (basic, good, expert) and Excel proficiency level (basic, good, expert)
  Confirmation you can live/work in Ikelenge, and eg. example of previous rural posting, local languages spoken (Lunda ideal)
• Any international experience (studied or worked abroad, or with international company)
• When available to start