Senior Project Accountant/Finance Officer

Job Description

Department: Finance and Administration
Location: Head Office

Purpose of the Job

The Senior Project Accountant (SPA) is responsible for detailed review, posting, summarizing and reporting of all financial transactions of the EU project. The SPA prepares journal entries, review all TOR & requests, monitor budgets, check fixed assets register & reconcile with books, and submits period reports. The SPA also prepares invoices to bill the donor for project related expenses.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reviews all assigned reports submitted from branch offices and funded by donors, considering accuracy of information, supporting documentation and compliance of expenses with the budget and donor regulations.
• Follows up with field office staff on errors or unallowable expenses.
• Prepares journal entries for expenses into commission’s General Ledger for review by the Finance and budget coordinator and approval by Finance & Admin Director.
• Research and documents donor disputes in a timely manner and provides recommendations for action or adjustments to the coordinator
• Reconcile the monthly bank statement
• Reconcile the budget consumption monthly and share the status update with the project coordinator and project team
• Reconcile the expenditure, fund balance and cash at bank
• Make sure that all expenditures are recorded as per the budget classification of the project
• Reconcile quarterly all fixed assets register with the financial report
• Record VAT payments separately and request for refund from the MoF as deemed necessary
• Notifies the Controller of significant problems such as significant variance with the approved budget, cost share issues, or unallowable costs.
• Prepares billings to donors based on financial reports submitted from city offices in a timely manner and in accordance with contractual agreements.
• Follows up with donors on questions or problems regarding invoices; and Provides guidance to the project accountant as needed.
• Assists with project related inquires for the annual audit and works with the Finance & Budget Coordinator and Finance & Admin Director  to prepare schedules and respond to questions.

Qualifications and Experience

• BA Degree in Accounting and Finance
• 6 years of relevant experience
• Experience and knowledge of IFMIS, IFRIS is required
• Experience working with various donors is a plus
• Experience working with EU projects is Advantageous
• Computer literate
• Knowledge of Amharic is required. Knowledge of other local languages is advantageous.