Accountant at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Institution: ECOWAS Parliament
Grade: P2 / P3
Division: Finance
Slot: 2 Openings
Directorate: Adminsitration & Finance
Line Supervisor: Accountant, Financial Reporting & Treasury

Role Overview

• Under the supervison of the Accountant, the incumbent shall assist in delivering financial services to the Parliament.

Role and Responsibilities

• Check balances under the budget head to ensure sufficiency of funds before inputting transactions;
• Cast and cross-casts the arithmetical accuracy of input and output data;
• Prepare payment vouchers for payment of goods and services;
• Prepare on a monthly basis payment vouchers for staff salaries;
• File appropriately all authorized payment vouchers and commitment orders;
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Qualifications and Experience
Education:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Accounting or Finance from a recognized University.

Experience:

• 2 years progressive experience in Accounting, Finance, Budget, Business Administration or related area is required;
• Familiarity with administrative and financial policies and procedures with a basic practical understanding of broad theories, concepts and approaches;
• Ability to provide support services in collecting and analyzing data for anomalies, trends, errors, and answers using various methods and techniques.

ECOWAS Key Competencies
Leadership

• 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.

Client Service Orientation:

• 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.

Multicultural Sensitivity & Advocacy:

• 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 everyday 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.

Knowledge of ECOWAS:

• 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 interrelate 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.

Analytical & Critical Thinking:

• 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.

Communication:

• 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 database (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.

Planning & Implementation:

• 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;
• Ability to understand and contribute to team / work unit goals and plans as well as to collective decision-making.

Age Limit:

• Be below 50 years old.  This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

Annual Salary
The position is on Grade P2-1 with an Annual Salary of UA19,769, equivalent to US$31,191.