Applications should be sent to: accountantfr@courtecowas.org

ROLE OVERVIEW

Under the direct supervision of the Head Section Accountant Financial Reporting, the incumbent shall be responsible for all book-keeping, supervision of Account Assistants; ensure the preparation of monthly bank reconciliations and postings into the general and personal ledgers. Be in charge of salaries posting, asset register and ensure proper filing of all supporting documents on receipts and payments. Responsible for the preparation of monthly and annual closing of account and the preparation of the financial statements.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• ·      Responsible for the  processing of financial claims and expenses in line with ECOWAS financial rules and regulations on a timely basis;
• ·      Create and maintain all vendor master records in the financial system;
• ·      Ensure and train the Accounting Assistants for maximum efficiency and output in a manner as to ensure proper segregation of duties;
• ·      Scrutinize supporting documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of requests in line with applicable policies, procedure, rules and regulations;
• ·      Review the work of Accounting Assistants to ensure proper documentation, proper approval, use of appropriate transaction codes in accordance with the ECOlink, ECOWAS Financial Regulations and the Manual of Accounting Procedures;
• ·      Monitor ageing and due dates of payables in a timely manner;
• ·      Act as liaison between Vendors, other departments and the Finance Directorate and offer impeccable customer service;
• ·      Review/reconcile vendor statements on a regular basis;
• ·      Review and/or prepare monthly reports on receivables and collections
• ·      Prepare and submit monthly reports for management review;
• ·      Investigate Vendors and Employee inquiries and track down delinquent invoices;
• ·      Ensure the timely filing of all related vouchers and records to enable easy retrieval of documents and ensure proper archiving of prior fiscal year documents;
• ·      Retrieve and furnish all relevant vouchers and details for internal and external audits
• ·      Responsible for  the review and analysis of various accounting data;
• ·      Responsible for the analysis of open item managed accounts in the ERP system (SAP) and initiate corrective action;
• ·      Assists with the data extract for and preparation of various reports to management;
• ·      Supervise the processing of all approved payments, reconciliations of bank accounts statements on a monthly basis, and postings into the ledgers.
• ·      Maintain and update the Asset Register including proper asset modification in SAP (sales, write off, Master data modification)
• ·      Maintain records of all donor funds received and prepare report for Donors as may be required.
• ·      Supervise the postings of all regularization vouchers and returns received from programme Officers.
• ·      Supervise timely  filing of all supporting documents relating to ECOWAS and Donor Funds;
• ·      Prepare the monthly and annual closing of account process
• ·      Assist in the preparation of  the monthly and annual financial statement

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in accounting or finance from a recognized university; Professional qualification (ACA, ACCA) will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• ·      5 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting and budget;
• ·      Knowledge and technical competence in  financial statements consolidation and ability to respond to internal/external audit queries;
• ·      Knowledge of cash management practices, policies and procedures, and the ability to make appropriate recommendations to improve their accuracy, security timeliness and efficiency;
• ·      Knowledge of various payments systems, banking terminologies, pension fund practices and relevant financial management processes and policies.

AGE LIMIT:

Be Below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidate

ECOWAS KEY COMPETENCIES

• ·      ability to motivate self and/or others to engage in and successfully complete tasks at hand;
• ·      demonstrated experience leading conversations that will either provide participants with new information, ideas or awareness or elicit feedback;
• ·      ability to positively influence co-workers when faced with challenges and work problems to help trigger solutions and build confidence;
• ·      ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate manner;
• ·      ability to lead in the management of own career and performance and to seek assistance/coaching when required;
• ·      well-developed client service skills including a positive  attitude, creative thinking skills, good work ethic, teamwork experience, time management skills, flexibility;
• ·      ability to take initiative to resolve problems and improve quality and/or quantity of work by identifying alternative solutions and discussing appropriateness/approach with supervisor;
• ·      strong desire to help others and capacity to empathize to generate mutual understanding;
• ·      ability to work as part of a team in supporting and addressing the needs of clients and stakeholders;
• ·      ability to multitask and to meet client service/stakeholder management standards and objectives of pertinence to assigned responsibilities;
• ·      ability to perceive the moods and feelings of others from various cultural backgrounds, and to understand interests, needs, and perspectives so as to prevent/address misunderstandings and complaints;
• ·      well-developed ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds and sound understanding of diverse cultural differences especially within west Africa;
• ·      ability to listen attentively to people’s ideas, requests and concerns and to understand and internalize the need for diversity management in every day workplace practices;
• ·      ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;
• ·      ability to factor in diversity when providing services, responding to requests, recognizing and releasing preconceived notions and stereotypical views of certain groups and individuals;
• ·      basic understanding of the ECOWAS organization mandate and its functions;
• ·      ability to explain the ECOWAS programs and projects relevant to tasks and demonstrated understanding of data used by the department/institution/agency, including knowing where data resides in the system, the ability to see how the data in the system interrelates and how data entries and changes may impact data in other parts of the system.
• ·      knowledge of ECOWAS routine procedures and practices as it relates to assigned responsibilities;
• ·      ability to apply ECOWAS standards in emailing, reporting, correspondence, etc. and to accept and implement changes as directed;
• ·      excellent numeracy skills with the ability to collect, collate, classify and summarize data systematically.
• ·      demonstrated ability to assist in conducting primary and secondary research activities in accordance with instructions and/or best practices in research techniques (e.g. interviews, tests, desk research);
• ·      ability to identify inconsistencies in reasoning and to articulate findings clearly;
• ·      ability to use creativity and initiative in the generation of alternative solutions to a problem;
• ·      ability to gather, analyze and arrange information in a logical sequence;
• ·      ability to provide useful feedback when asked and to use feedback constructively when given;
• ·      demonstrated ability to use computers with superior word-processing skills and proficiency in the use of data base (e.g. access), spreadsheets (e.g. excel), inter/intranet, email and social media;
• ·      tact, diplomacy and well-developed interpersonal skills;
• ·      ability to write accurate, clear and well-organized text;
• ·        proficiency in  information communication technologies(ICT);
• ·        Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage;
• ·      well established time management skills with the ability to make well considered/reasoned decisions regarding own work and to follow them through;
• ·      ability to use action planning skills, set priorities, develop work goals and identify the steps needed to achieve goals of relevance to own work area;
• ·      ability to work well and meet objectives of tasks when under pressure or when exposed to uncertainties, challenges and/or changing work environments;