Junior Accountant- Disbursements at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Accountant, Disbursement, the incumbent has a responsibility for the execution of the financial policies and regulations in the area of production of financial statements including income and expenditure statements, balance sheets and other reports as may be required by IPSAS and Financial Regulation
• Ensure all ledger reconciliations and maintain an updated record of all accounts.

Role and Responsibilities

• Prepare and process payments checks, electronic transfers for invoices, vendor claims, and employee expense reports
• Pre audit expense claims, verify invoices for accuracy, ensure proper authorization, and code financial data
• Update and maintain accurate financial records, including accounts payable, cash disbursements, and general ledgers
• Reconcile bank statements, petty cash, and vendor statements to ensure accuracy
• Assist in month end closing, prepare reports, and assist with tax payments eg VAT, Withholding Tax
• Review and process invoices, employee expense claims, and vendor payments
• Coordinate with internal teams, vendors, and banks to facilitate bank transfers, check issuances, and payroll disbursements
• Reconcile cash disbursement accounts, bank statements, and general ledger GL accounts to identify and resolve discrepancies
• Maintain accurate payment logs, filing systems, and proper archiving of financial and contractual documentation for audit trails
• Ensure all disbursements comply with internal and statutory tax regulations like VAT or withholding tax

Academic Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting or Finance from a recognized university
• 2 years relevant work experience in accounting, finance, administration, budgeting, 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.

Age limit:

• Be below 45 years old This provision does not apply to internal candidates. 

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• 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 the chain of commands in an appropriate manner
• Ability to lead in management of own career and performance and to seek assistance or coaching when required
• Well developed client service skills including a positive attitude, creative thinking skills, good work ethic, teamwork experience, time management skills, and flexibility
• Ability to take initiative to resolve problems and improve quality and or quantity of work by identifying alternative solutions and discussing appropriateness or 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 or stakeholder management standards and objectives of pertinence to assigned responsibilities
• Ability to perceive the moods and feelings of others from various cultural backgrounds, and to understand interests, needs, and perspectives so as to prevent or 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, and recognizing and releasing preconceived notions and stereotypical views of certain groups and individuals
• 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 or agency including knowing where data resides in the system, the ability to see how the data in the system interrelates 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 and to accept and implement changes as directed
• 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 eg 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
• 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 databases eg access, spreadsheets eg excel, inter or 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 and Portuguese Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage
• Well established time management skills with the ability to make well considered or 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 or work unit goals and plans as well as to collective decision making

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.