Accountant, Treasury at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Job Code: ECW/CCJ/AcctT/007
Grade: P3 / P4

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Chief Accountant, the Accountant Treasury shall coordinate and manage activities relating to all book-keeping, process payments, conduct monthly reconciliations and surprise checks on the petty cash, perform regular postings into the ledgers (personal and general), prepare financial statements/budget performance reports and supervise all postings returns to ensure the preparation of budget proposals and planning records.

Role And Responsibilities

• Be responsible for all bookkeeping in a manner that ensures proper segregation of duties.
• Process all payments as approved by the president of the Court.
• Exercise close supervision of the Accounting Assistant responsible for the treasury by conducting surprise checks on the books and funds held at predetermined times to ensure proper and duly authorised usage of funds.
• Be responsible for all bank reconciliations monthly.
• Under the supervision of the Principal Accountant, prepare the Court’s Financial reports / budget performance reports.
• Ensure regular postings in the general and personal ledgers.
• Ensure that the Asset Register is up to date and in concordance with the Inventory managed by Administration.
• Prepare the draft budget proposals/planning records for the Court for each financial year.
• Perform any other duties assigned to him/her from time to time by the Principal Accountant.

Academic Qualifications And Experience
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Administration and Finance or in a similar discipline from a recognized university.

Experience:

• 5 years of professional experience in procurement, managing finance, and budget operations in international or multinational organizations.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS financial regulations, administrative procedures, procurement Tender Code, and staff regulations.
• Knowledge and technical competence to consolidate financial statements for inclusion in ECOWAS financial statements to be audited and ability to respond to internal / external audit observations.
• In-depth practical knowledge of cash management practices, policies and procedures, and the ability to make appropriate recommendations to improve their accuracy, security, timeliness and efficiency.

Ecowas Key Competences
Leadership:

• Ability to persuade/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/junior staff and instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• The ability to respect the 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 the organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.

Client Service Orientation:

• Interpersonal skills with the ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance 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/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their need, 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.

Multicultural Sensitivity And Advocacy:

• 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:

• 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 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 the project/programme assigned to own position.

 Analytical And Critical Thinking:

•  Ability to study data/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 / or internal committees.

Communication:

• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools.
• Ability to make sound use of graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.
• 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 & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage.

Planning And Implementation:

• Ability to develop and implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals.
• 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.

Eligibility:

• Must be a citizen of an ECOWAS Member State.
• Must not be more than 50 years of age at the time of recruitment. This does not apply to internal candidates.

Annual Basic Salary
USD 37,431.66 /  52,379.70.