Deadline: 07 November, 2020

Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

African Development Bank (AfDB) is seeking to fill the role of Principal Financial Accountant.

AfDB’s mission is to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in its regional member countries (RMCs).

Responsibilities

• Manage system development and upgrade activities for the division
• Perform verification of all types of payments and journal vouchers to ensure correctness and proper application of international accounting standards in the processing of transactions except for loan-related and pension payments
• Supervise and effect timely and accurate payments of invoices/expenses related to contractors and vendors, consultants, travel advances and settlements including   prepayments, accruals and provisions to ensure compliance with international accounting standards and the bank’s policy and procedures
• Manage the payment proposals process by ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of proposal confirmations to treasury for disbursement
• Establish procedures and controls to improve service efficiency to identify cost savings and promote the efficient use of AfDB’s resources in the context of decentralisation
• Provide guidance on accounting treatment and classification of financial transactions to all documents of the bank
• Monitor payment processing times and ensure that they are complied with at the division and all country offices and generate appropriate statistics to monitor key performance indicators related to payment requests
• Monitor open items in the SAP system for services rendered but not paid for
• Ensure that general ledger and vendor accounts are regularly analysed, and that required entries are made
• Carry out adequacy checks and analytical review of administrative expenses by comparing expenses of one period to another, provide explanations and reports on the discrepancies and information for monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements
• Generate and/or prepare various SAP and other reports and follow-up of outstanding issues with other departments
• Participate in the review and formulation of accounting procedures, policies and practices, drafting proposals or parts thereof and reviewing proposed drafts by other staff members
• Advise management on methods to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the control environment in the department in particular and the bank in general

Requirements

• Master’s degree or its equivalent in Accounting, Auditing or Finance
• A professional qualification obtained from an internationally recognised professional accounting body, e.g., CA, CPA, ACCA or Expert Comptable, is an advantage
• Six years, minimum, of practical experience in an accounting firm or in international financial organisation
• Experience in the field of accounts payable gained in the private sector or in an international financial organisation is an advantage
• Ability to visualise, articulate and solve complex problems, concepts and make reasonable decisions based on all available information, particularly problem-solving in an automated accounting environment
• Ability to quickly analyse accounting data structures and data interrelationships and make recommendations on process, system and control improvements
• Ability to work towards achieving and exceeding targets against internal and external standards of excellence
• Sound knowledge of accounting and International Accounting Standards (IFRS) and strong data analytic skills

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: AfDB