Country Accountant

Concern

Closing date: 30 Nov 2009
Location: Haiti - Port-au-Prince

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

We are looking for a:

Country Accountant in Haiti

Job Location: Port au Prince with visits to field offices Saut d’Eau and La Gonave
Contract length: 2 years
Start Date: January 2010
Status: Accompanied

Job Purpose:

- To record all financial transactions of Concern Haiti accurately and on time to meet all reporting deadlines.
- To provide financial reports and analyses as required by the field offices, the local head office management, the Dublin head office and the donors.
- To manage a system of internal controls that safeguards the assets of Concern Haiti and controls the level of expenditures to those approved by Concern Worldwide.
- To train and develop all personnel in internal control and budget procedures.

Main duties & Responsibilities:

It is imperative that the candidate is willing to become knowledgeable and perform all of the activities listed in order that s/he and the incumbent accountant can interchange tasks in the event of absences and so that the incumbent accountant becomes familiar with all the tasks of a Country Accountant.

- Forecast the organisation's monthly cash needs and have Dublin make a transfer of funds to Haiti. The objective is to minimise month end cash and bank balances, whilst at the same time having adequate funds available for operational needs.
- Make daily cash and cheque payments as requested. The objective is to ensure transactions are properly authorised, coded and that correct control and best accounting practices are being followed.
- Calculate the payroll and deposit funds to employees' bank accounts by the 21st of each month.
- Record transactions in the organisation's books of account.
- Set up major accruals and prepayments monthly.
- Close the books of accounts in a timely manner according to agreed schedules.
- Manage the budget process for Concern Haiti - draw up a schedule, establish deadlines.
- Consolidate and test budget data for reasonableness.
- Issue expenditure versus budget management reports on a monthly basis.
- Manage a central data base of key data about donors. Objective is to ensure funds are received when agreed, and in collaboration with the Head Accountant and General Systems Manager ensure that funds are properly reported, reporting deadlines are met and data is useful to project managers and co-ordinators.
- Actively participate in the proper use of the entire Microsoft Great Plains accounting package.
- Continue to roll-out and develop appropriate procedures for financial management and auditing of partner organisations.
- To feed back to Senior Management and Programme Coordinators via coordination meetings, levels of funding for each programme and project in relation to funding targets. Highlight potential funding shortfalls.
- Participate in the development of project budgets and ensuring that all appropriate financial components are included in a realistic manner.
- Manage relationships with banks and auditors.
- Manage communications between the Finance Group in Dublin and Concern Haiti.
- Hold training workshops in relevant topics as required in fulfilling the above activities.
- Continue to develop the financial management aspects for the Programme Coordinators and Project Managers’ work.
- Review and update the accounting and finance manual as required.
- Meet all reporting deadlines.

Additional duties
- Carry out other duties reasonably assigned by the CD

Person specification:

Essential
- Professionally Qualified Accountant
- Minimum 3 years in an area of commensurate responsibility.
- Proficient spoken and written English and French;
- Computer Skills : conversant with Microsoft Word and Excel;
- Prepared to work and live in challenging surroundings

Desirable
- Experience in working in the international development sector (overseas).
- Knowledge and experience with MGP package
- A valid driving license

Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

How to apply

Reference Code: RW_7VGLXR-32