Accounting Specialist

Job Description

EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION PROGRAMME  

A project | programme funded by the EU and German Government and implemented by  Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. 

Sustainable, innovative, effective 

GIZ offers customized solutions to complex challenges. We are an experienced service  provider and assist the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of  international cooperation. We offer demand-driven, tailor-made, and effective services for  sustainable development. 

GIZ GmbH is supporting the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development of the  Government of Sierra Leone in the implementation of the Employment Promotion  Programme (EPP). The overall objective is to create employment for the younger generation  through business development in the agricultural and other sectors and to enhance the  employability of young people in the but not limited to rural areas of Kailahun, Makeni and  Bo. Our approach is gender and inclusion oriented.  

Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to women with equal  experience, comparable education, and test scores. 

As this position comes with important responsibility, we only ask candidates to apply who  meet, exceed, or come very close to the following requirements. Please read the job  advertisement carefully, especially the exclusion criteria. All applications must be written  electronically and include a covering letter (1 page), a clearly chronologically structured CV  (education first, then professional career starting with the last position), reference contacts  and certificates. Non-compliance leads to exclusion from the application process. 

Responsibilities:

The Accounting Specialist provides support in  

• Is responsible for internal EPP operational accounting in Bo district office • Assisting the Accounting Specialist and Finance Manager in all aspect of   accounting and financial transactions. 
• Preparing vouchers for final processing in the Country Office. 
• Assisting the Accounting Specialist in Freetown to follow-up on liabilities and  ensuring the safe keeping of all receipts, contracts, invoices, and bank   statements for audit purposes. 
• Supporting and supervising implementing partners to comply with GIZ   accounting procedures and financial reporting. 
• Assisting EPP staff in Freetown and the District Offices with the preparation  of, budgets, vouchers and disbursement requests. 

The accounting professional performs the following tasks: 

Tasks  :

The accounting professional  

• Liaising / Contact person with GIZ Country office for all financial matters and  support with their banks 
• Prepare and validate all Project income and expenditure vouchers ensuring  account coding is correct, approved budget exist, balances outstanding on the  budget lines is sufficient and that all financial documents are correct  
• Preparation & follow up of monthly budgets to receive funds from Country Office. • Prepare accurate bank reconciliation with the bank statements of EPP journals in  Bo district office, ensuring complete supporting documents are properly filed in  the correct journal. 
• Carries out bank book and cash book (petty cash) accounting on the basis of  winpaccs programme, responsible for all payments to suppliers by bank, cash and transfer. 
• Follow up and clearing of receivable, payable by the project. 
• Preparing vouchers for final processing. 
• Calculations and disbursement of project staff & Partners for travel claim payments in the designated district 
• Verifies correction of vouchers in compliance of GIZ finance procedures • Maintain proper and confidential filing of all project bank statements and  vouchers 
• Signature of arithmetically correctness on the voucher stamp. 
• Contact person for Bank accounts of the project in Bo office and receiving credit  advise 
• Working closely with District Coordinator/Advisor and Office Manager • Guiding procurement and liaising with suppliers for payments and assurance of  right payment methods and document. 
• Responsible for IC and Error sheet feedback and contact person for  IC/Internal/External audit. 

Other duties/additional  

• Performs other duties and task at the request of the Supervisor
• Required qualifications, competences, and experience Qualifications 

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting/banking and finance or financial services. 
• Proven experience working as an Accountant/Finance officer in NGO or  Development sector for at least 3 years 
• Additional certification in the field of Accounting and Finance will be given  advantage 
• Good working knowledge of ITC technologies (accounting software) and  computer  

 applications (e.g., MS Office, especially in MS Excel, Outlook and Teams) Other knowledge, additional competences  

• Willingness and ability to work in remote areas of Sierra Leone 
• Good communication skills in English 
• Team player that can coordinate with other staff members. 
• Strong pro-active self-starter who likes to fix issues 
• Committed to deadlines and goal-oriented person.
• Committed to stringent accounting process and procedures by GIZ
• Committed to stringent anti-corruption procurement rules 
• Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with the supervisor.  

Mode of Application: 

GIZ is an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from individuals regardless of gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic. We  embrace diversity and believe that inclusivity in the workplace is essential to our success  and committed to creating a work environment where all employees are valued and  respected. Qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.  

Please send ONLY a cover letter, CV and copies of education certificates to recruitmentsl@giz.de by 13.12, 2024. No applications will be accepted after this deadline.  

Applications will be reviewed when received. Early applications are strongly encouraged, your application e-mail subject, please write: “Accounting Specialist”.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.