Finance Assistant at Wildlife Conservation Society

Job Purpose

• The primary purpose of this position is to provide support and assistance to the Finance team in managing the financial affairs of the Nigeria program of WCS.
• The Finance Assistant works under the guidance and supervision of the Assistant Finance Manager.

Major Responsibilities
The main responsibilities of a Finance Assistant may include:
Internal Control and Documentation:

• Maintain complete accounting records, including completing vouchers, obtaining proper authorizations, and preparing reconciliations.
• Responsible for daily maintenance of petty cash and petty cash replenishment requests.
• Process financial transactions related to office and project expenditures and maintain an effective filing system for financial transactions.
• Prepare journal voucher templates for all cash and field retirement transactions.
• Assist the Assistant Finance Manager in ensuring proper tracking of project advances for staff.
• Assist with other accounting tasks, as assigned by supervisor.

Budget and Annual Plans:

• Assist in preparing budgets for funding proposals and annual institutional budgeting.
• Support preparation of monthly reports/reconciliations and year-end reconciliation of accounts.

Minimum Requirements and Job Skills

• Education: A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is usually required.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in a similar background.
• Basic Accounting Knowledge: Strong understanding of basic accounting principles, concepts, and practices is essential. This includes knowledge of debits and credits, financial statements, and basic financial analysis.
• Computer Skills: Proficiency in using accounting software such as QuickBooks, Excel, and possibly enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems is important for managing financial data.
• Attention to Detail: Accuracy is crucial in accounting. S/he must be meticulous in their work to avoid errors in financial records.
• Communication Skills: Being able to effectively communicate with team members, and other stakeholders is important, as s/he often needs to explain financial information and collaborate with different units.
• Organizational Skills: S/he will often work on multiple projects simultaneously. Good organizational skills are necessary to keep track of various financial data and deadlines.
• Analytical Skills: S/he will analyze financial data, identify trends, and make recommendations based on their findings.
• Time Management: Meeting deadlines is a critical aspect of the role. S/he must manage their time well to ensure timely completion of tasks.
• Ethical Standards: A strong sense of ethics and integrity is important when dealing with financial information.
• Problem-Solving: S/he must be able to identify issues and propose solutions.
• Team Player: S/he must be able to often work as part of a larger team. Collaborative skills are valuable for smooth workflow and communication.
• Certifications (optional): Certifications like ICAN or ANAN are an added advantage.

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to WCS Nigeria
• Embracing cultural diversity
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results
• Being accountable
• Working in teams/ managing ourselves and our relationships
• Communicating for impact

Functional Skill Set:

• Providing logistical support
• Managing data
• Managing documents, correspondence, and reports
• Managing information and workflow
• Planning, organizing, and multitasking.