OVERVIEW

Position: Accounts Assistant 

Reports to: Senior Finance & Accounting Officer (SFAO) 

Duty Station: Shinyanga 

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is necessary to ensure that the project can deliver the required level of reporting to country office, Lifewater headquarters and pertinent local government stakeholders. The Cashier will work closely with the Senior Finance and Accounting Officer (SFAO) at the Country Office to ensure there is accurate and timely Field Office Finance reporting, Country Office Finance reporting, audits and any ad hoc reporting requirements and provide the required level of detail and rigorous financial and other analyses. Also, will ensure close coordination with other units to ensure quality of budgetary information at the time of proposal development as well as monthly reviews as well as streamlining Program financial accountability requirements.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Process monthly Income Tax, Provident and Pension Contribution, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Insurance including office assets, and staff health insurance.
• Reconcile and maintain balance sheet accounts.
• Payment of monthly and quarterly WASH facilitator stipends.
• Process vendor payments and reconcile vendor accounts in the system.
• Preparing staff advances and reconciling staff accounts in the system.
• Monitoring day to day petty cash transactions in the office.
• Provide all relevant financial data on the program area to project management team on a monthly basis
• Ensure that all budgets are utilized according to the approved project document.
• Work with SFAO to prepares books of accounts for external audit in time.
• Provides acknowledgment receipts for wires from LI HQ to project account.
• Support SFAO on fixed assets documentation, inventory management, and reporting.
• Provide weekly briefs to SFAO /APM.
• Participate in Staff/Skype meetings.
• Carry out any other responsibilities assigned by SFAO.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The cashier works closely with the SFAO to process staff salaries and benefits while maintaining confidentiality of staff information. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Diploma in any of the following fields: Business Studies, Accountancy, Business Administration or any other related field. Ability to use MS Excel, and other accounting software packages such as QuickBooks will be an added advantage.
• Ability to use the internet and e-mail.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience preferably in an NGO setting, and preferably an International Christian Organization is desired.
• Knowledge of financial accounting and of report development.
• Excellent understanding of the reporting requirements of senior managers plus ability to convey financial concepts to non-financial staff.
• An understanding of organizational internal controls.
• Experience in managing Staff health insurance schemes, PAYE, NSSF, GPA, provident fund.
• Demonstrated experience managing master budgets with many different funding streams.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Must be a committed Christian, able to cope with cross-cultural and denominational diversities.
• An energetic, flexible and proactive approach with the ability to work both independently and cooperatively within a team setting.
• Well organized and efficient in time management whenever there is task pressure.
• Commitment to the core values of Lifewater International.
• Strong team working skills and ability to develop and maintain effective working relations at all levels both within and outside the team.
• Ability to contribute towards resource stewardship.
• Excellent command of the English language.
• Punctual, honesty, dependable, servant leader, trustworthy, encourager, peacekeeper, multi-tasking, and self-starter.