Accountant (Grants, Peace Keeping and Others) at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Principal Accountant, Grant and External Funds Management, the incumbent shall be responsible for the General Ledger and ensure complete entry of accounting transactions are accurate in a timely manner.
• He/She shall also analyze the General Ledger account and prepare financial statements.

Role and Responsibilities

• Prompt vetting and processing of eligible payments/claims while ensuring completeness, accuracy and validity of supporting documentation in line with applicable policies and regulations to avoid incidence of ineligibility of expenditures.
• Prompt regularization and clearing of the assigned project advances in the ECO Link-SAP and periodic follow-up with banks and focal persons on all project outstanding advances in line with the ECOWAS Financial Regulation.
• Upload of approved project budgets/external funds into the ECO Link-SAP and communication of the same to the Technical Departments of the ECOWAS Commission.
• Monitor and track the project budgets/external funds implementation through periodic preparation of budget consumption/budget variance analysis reports including highlighting implementation challenges for appropriate remedial actions.
• Assist in maintaining regular review of Grants and External Funds Register with a detailed overview of status of the assigned agreements signed by the President of the Commission or his delegation.
• Create the Vendor IDs for approved project service providers in the ECO Link-SAP while ensuring completeness of the onboarding documentation.
• Assist in providing guidance to program staff regarding awarded terms and conditions and donor regulations, as well as assist in negotiating the terms and conditions of agreements with clients, contractors and sub-awardees.
• Participate in the periodic financial reporting closing activities such as deleting unutilized parked invoices, closing of purchase requisitions (PR), reconciliation of vendor and receivable ledgers, analysis of open item managed accounts in the ERP system (SAP) and initiate corrective action, etc.
• Follow up with banks to ensure prompt execution of approved transfer instructions
• Prepare the assigned project monthly bank reconciliation reports including investigation of long reconciling items in line with ECOWAS Manual of Accounting Procedures (MAP).
• Prompt preparation and submission of the assigned project financial reports to development partners in line with financing/grant agreements to boost partners’ confidence.
• Participate in planning and coordination of annual project audits including responding to audit findings by ensuring submission of audited reports before due dates in line with financing/grant agreements
• Review the work of Accounting Assistants to ensure proper documentation, proper approval, and use of appropriate transaction codes in accordance with the ECO link, ECOWAS Financial Regulations and the Manual of Accounting Procedures.
• Perform any other tasks that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or in a similar field from a recognized University
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting and budget
• Knowledge and technical competence in financial statements consolidation and ability to respond to internal and 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 payment 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 candidates

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• Ability to persuade or influence others to consider a certain point of view adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices
• Ability to lead a team of trainees or junior staff and instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well defined set of activities
• Ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate manner
• Ability to resolve challenges that occur with minimal direction and or to recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self others information and resources
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors colleagues and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance
• Contribute to maintaining organizational unit’s performance goals and standards
• Interpersonal skills with ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects relevant to timeline quality and quantity
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients and stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their needs mitigates issues and carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs
• Ability to counsel advise consult and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards
• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences fairness and ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds nationality gender ethnicity race and religion
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa with sensitivity to group differences ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy
• Ability to listen actively consider people’s concerns and apply judgement tact and diplomacy
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
• Ability to encourage empower and advocate for people in an unbiased and transparent manner
• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions sectors programmes and policies
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs projects services and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS associated with assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS culture structures and performance issues and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities
• Knowledge of member states development trends indicators challenges and opportunities as it relates to project or programme assigned to own position
• Ability to study data and information from a variety of sources identify anomalies trends and issues present findings and make recommendations
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service quality assurance compliance and performance targets
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and new approaches to meeting goals
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information including stakeholders regional institutions and internal committees
• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools
• Ability to make sound use of graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data write semi complex technical reports or proposals and edit or check templates letters and other documents
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means
• Exhibit interpersonal skills make presentations express opinions and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner
• Proficiency in information communication technologies ICT
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community English French or Portuguese Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage
• Ability to develop and implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals
• Ability to identify organize and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution
• Ability to contribute and or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques to coordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines
• Ability to organize work set priorities and work within timelines giving attention to details stakeholders indicators and risks
• Ability to identify collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required

ECOWAS Work Environment:

• ECOWAS provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and a healthy work-life balance.
• We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore, we encourage women to apply for positions that suit their competencies.
• Individuals from minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are also highly encouraged to apply.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of ECOWAS’s workforce.