Senior Accountant Position at USAID Africa Trade and Investment Activity

Project Overview

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Activity is strategically crafted to enhance the U.S. Government’s capacity to stimulate meaningful trade and investment both to and from the diverse African continent. This continent-wide initiative represents USAID’s premier endeavor in alignment with the Prosper Africa initiative, aiming not only to broaden but also to expedite two-way trade and investment flows between various African nations and the United States, fostering economic growth and development.

Driven by robust market demand, ATI employs cutting-edge, innovative strategies to realize its ambitious objectives. Operated as a small and efficient core of centrally coordinated technical and institutional support, ATI is complemented by a vast, adaptable performance-based subcontracting and grants under contract capability. This structure is specifically designed to address the emergent needs and lucrative opportunities identified by USAID Missions alongside private sector partners.

Position Description

The Senior Accountant will assume a crucial role in ensuring compliance with financial policies, project protocols, regulations, controls, and comprehensive reporting systems. This vital position will extend accounting and financial analysis support to the project office, guaranteeing the timely submission of accurate financial reports based on internal deadlines. Additionally, the Senior Accountant will uphold compliance across all facets of accounting and financial reporting, enhancing the project’s financial integrity. Responsibilities include meticulously recording costs, managing day-to-day general accounting tasks, overseeing accounts receivable and payable, payroll duties, and risk management. The Senior Accountant will also nurture partner relationships, ensuring that all backup documentation is prepared to meet audit standards, while adeptly troubleshooting any accounting-related issues that arise. Furthermore, the individual will conduct thorough cash flow analyses to ensure the project’s financial stability and overall well-being.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Reporting

• Develops and maintains detailed reports outlining the status of financial management activities, including precise monthly and quarterly reporting timelines.
• Ensures the project assets/inventory report is diligently balanced against the general ledger and systems like VFER/SAP before submission to USAID, guaranteeing accuracy and accountability.
• Responsible for identifying and adhering to any and all contractual financial reporting requirements, ensuring compliance in both timely and accurate manners.
• Meticulously documents tax reporting procedures to facilitate efficient preparation and submission on schedule.
• Monitors and submits advance, commitment, and grant reports as pertinent to the project’s financial landscape.
• Develops and submits project reports required by local authorities based on registration mandates, ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Maintains oversight of partner/vendor payment schedules and obligations to strengthen financial relationships.
• Provides comprehensive annual budgets for expenditures alongside quarterly forecasts in relation to budget statements, including accruals and pipelines.
• Consolidates and scrutinizes financial reports generated by the Finance Officer before finalizing submissions to the Associate Finance Director for final review.
• Offers guidance on the intricacies of the accounting function while operating under the direction of the Associate Finance Director.

Audit

• Supports meticulous preparations for both internal and external audits, ensuring the project upholds rigorous standards.
• Assists in addressing internal audit comments, fostering responsive actions to enhance compliance.
• Conducts daily evaluations of backup documentation to verify completeness, accuracy, and full compliance with all governing regulations and the Field Operations Manual (FOM).
• Implements regular spot audits on the project’s files to maintain financial integrity and accountability.
• Ensures that adequate backup documentation is consistently uploaded to the relevant system in accordance with established deadlines.

Policies & Procedures

• Guarantees that accounting policies and practices are executed in strict alignment with GAAP standards. Establishes and implements project internal controls in accordance with DAI policies, USAID rules and regulations, and contractual terms.

General Accounting

• Initiates wire requests for field project implementation, adhering to DAI’s stringent cashflow management policies.
• Verifies vendor invoices for accuracy to prevent financial discrepancies.
• Confirms the precision of expenses and project accounting codes to ensure compliant tracking.
• Performs regular cash flow analyses to confirm fund availability and maintain accurate bank balances.
• Ensures the prompt and accurate processing of invoices, advances, reimbursements, checks, and wire transfer payments.
• Validates that requests for payments receive appropriate approvals to uphold financial accountability.
• Oversees the timely deposit of cash receipts, safeguarding project funds.
• Records and allocates costs based on the approved budget in the field accounting system (VFER/SAP), ensuring accuracy.
• Conducts thorough reviews of payments to ensure correct billing codes are applied.
• Executes monthly bank reconciliations and routinely monitors bank account balances to maintain financial oversight.
• Verifies backup documentation for all project-related transactions, ensuring completeness and appropriate review and approval processes are documented effectively.
• Manages petty cash in compliance with the maximum petty cash policy, assuring adherence to all procedures.
• Maintains the security of bank checks and cash receipts, ensuring robust financial safeguards.
• Coordinates periodic payments to local authorities such as Income Tax and Social Security, ensuring completion in a timely and accurate manner.
• Acts as the primary local contact for all inquiries from the Tax Authority and for all related communications regarding the Project.
• Ensures the availability of bank checkbooks while coordinating periodic updates for checking account signers to maintain operational efficiency.
• Prepares, reviews, and submits comprehensive project cost data prior to finalizing Oracle data reports for DAI Washington, ensuring data integrity.
• Maintains both soft and hard copy documentation through efficient file management systems.
• Conducts regular spot checks of financial vouchers to ensure both completeness and proper filing practices are upheld.
• Maintains organized files on grant, procurement, and subcontractor documents and any applicable modifications.
• Coordinates the schedule of financial activities to ensure that budget-related reports are prepared timely and accurately.
• Performs periodic cash counts to ensure accuracy in financial dealings.
• Records non-billable expenses accurately and ensures thorough reviews to minimize excess costs.
• Tracks, records, and reports any foreign taxes paid to USAID in accordance with ADS guidelines to maintain compliance.
• Regularly analyzes and reconciles project inventory, ensuring that the values in the register align with the total shown in the cumulative Non-Expendable account balance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or equivalent discipline is essential.
• A minimum of 9 years’ experience supporting international donor-funded projects is required to ensure a robust understanding of such environments.
• SAIPA professional qualification is an added advantage, enhancing the candidate’s profile.
• Relevant experience with increasing levels of responsibility in finance and accounting is crucial, particularly pertaining to USAID projects.
• Demonstrated understanding of finance-related USG contracting regulations is imperative for compliance.
• Proficiency in managing large datasets with a high degree of accuracy is necessary for success.
• Experience with enterprise accounting software and the Microsoft Office suite is expected for efficient financial management.
• Proven ability to thrive in dynamic environments while achieving desired development outcomes is essential.
• Excellent organizational skills complemented by a proactive approach are highly regarded.
• Ability to perform high-level duties autonomously while effectively managing time-sensitive inquiries.
• Articulate individual with exceptional communication and personnel management skills, capable of fostering relationships at various organizational levels.
• Well-organized and self-directed individual with strong technical skills, analytical abilities, sound judgment, and a strong operational focus are key attributes.
• Proficient writing, speaking, and reading skills in English are required for effective communication.

Reporting/Supervisor

The Senior Accountant will report directly to the Associate Finance Director or an appointed designee, ensuring aligned oversight and direction.

ABOUT DAI

DAI stands as a global development company with corporate offices strategically located in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine, while our project operations extend across various global regions. We actively address fundamental social and economic development challenges stemming from inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and regional instability. At the forefront of global development, DAI is dedicated to transforming innovative ideas into impactful actions, thereby contributing to the evolution of a more sustainable and livable world.

At DAI, we are resolutely committed to confronting racism and embracing accountability to foster positive change within our organization and in the communities we engage with. We strive to attract and retain the most qualified employees, regardless of race and background, as part of our continuous effort to evolve into a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards, proactively preventing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment while guarding against other ethical breaches. Consequently, all our positions are subject to rigorous vetting and reference checks.

How to apply

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APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

To apply, select the position you wish to pursue, complete the required fields, and upload your CV. Applicants should indicate their preferred location clearly. We encourage prospective candidates to apply promptly, as interviews will commence soon. Please note that due to the high volume of applications received and the urgency in filling these roles, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted regarding the next stages of the recruitment process.

DAI⁤ global

, and ​various⁣ locations across Africa​ and Asia.⁤ Our mission is ‌to help ‌people live healthier, more productive lives by addressing ⁣complex global ⁣challenges through innovative solutions. With extensive experience in international development, DAI is committed to delivering impactful results that ​enhance economic growth, strengthen ‌governance, and improve ⁣social outcomes.

We leverage expertise ‍in various sectors like economic development, health, education, and governance, ensuring that our efforts create sustainable change in the communities we serve. DAI values inclusivity, collaboration, and results-driven approaches, striving to empower local partners ⁢and stakeholders to achieve their goals.

As part of our dedicated team, the Senior Accountant will contribute significantly to our mission by ensuring the financial⁢ integrity of projects​ like the USAID‌ Africa Trade and Investment Activity. The role calls for ⁤an individual ⁢who is not only skilled and experienced‌ in ⁤accounting but is also passionate about​ fostering economic growth ‌and development opportunities in Africa and​ beyond.

If you are ready to make a difference and align your career with a purpose-driven organization—apply today to join us in our impactful work at DAI!