Senior Accountant at Management Sciences For Health - MSH

Project Overview
PMI-S is a five-year PMI/USAID flagship malaria project implemented through a consortium led by MSH. The project is supporting the Government of Nigeria through its agencies at the federal, state, LGA and community levels to reduce under-five and maternal mortality by delivering quality services for management of malaria, its complications, and prevention. PMI-S project focuses on strengthening the capacity of the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) and State Malaria Elimination Programs (SMEPs) for the implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2014-2020

Main Purpose of Job

The Senior Accountant is part of the finance and operations team responsible for working closely with country accountants and the HQ GL accountants in ensuring timely and accurate financial accounting records are maintained. The Senior Accountant will be fully knowledgeable on the MSH finance & accounting policies and procedures and key donor regulations i.e., U.S government, Global Fund, Key US foundations, and others.

General Responsibilities 

• Maintain the QBO helpdesk platform ensuring timely quality response to users

• Maintain the MSH QuickBooks Online administrative rights for MSH countries.

• Integration of QBO and Cost Point Financials ensuring timely update of financial data in the cost point system.

• Manage access controls of Cost Point financials for country offices and conduct the necessary spot checks and trainings, as necessary.

• Ensures review of payment vouchers, proper coding of all transactions.

• Ensure payroll preparation and ensure statutory remittances of all payroll liabilities,

• Provide oversight function to the State Offices to strengthen internal controls,

• Responsible for maintaining accounting files and follow up on outstanding advances and assure timely reconciliation.

• Coordinate together with the Finance Manager to train mentor and build capacity of state offices staff and other staffs.

• Participate in the improvement of the accounting system and the system of internal control.

• Lead the process of tax payments of taxes

Financial Accounting

• Ensure that payments are processed accurately, timely, and safely (to minimize MSH’s risk exposure).

• Ensure that treasury practices in country minimize MSH’s cash exposure.

• Ensure that entries are entered into financial system accurately and timely.

• Ensure that month and year-end accounting activities are done accurately and in compliance with MSH policies and procedures.

• Upload financial data accurately & timely on online payment platforms for onward approval and payment.

• Conduct bank reconciliations and ensure that outstanding items are addressed.

• Ensure quality of financial data is consistently improving across countries.

• Ensure that financial data between QBO and Cost Point Financials is reconciled weekly/monthly.

Capacity Building Support

• Develop training materials for key accounting processes.

• Set up regular and Adhoc training sessions with state accountants on key financial accounting concepts.

• Coordinate together with the Finance Manager to train mentor and build capacity of state offices staff and other staffs.

• Identify training needs for finance and accounts staff in state offices and develop a training plan

Oversight and Monitoring

• Conduct regular spot checks of state transactions for compliance with MSH regulations and rules but also look out for suspicious transactions that may need investigation.

• Provide regular feedback to the state teams on meeting key performance indicators.

• Develop and maintain regular KPI rating for country performance.

• Serve as focal person in the development and preparations budgets and review of fund utilization/QBO transactions

• Support Internal and External Audits:

• Provide timely and complete financial information to internal and external auditors.

• Support the country to put in place controls that ensure compliance with donor regulations and hence a significant reduction in questioned costs and disallowances.

• Provide support (participate) in country internal audits as needed by the Internal audit team.

Financial Reporting

• Provide consolidate exception reporting for MSH country offices on a quarterly basis based on quarterly performance of the country teams. 

Required Minimum Education  

University Degree in Accounting or equivalent certification from a Business Technical School. Master’s degree in accounting will be an added advantage. A professional qualification is appreciated.

Required Minimum Experience

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience as an Accountant is required.

• Knowledge of & Experience with U.S. government projects

• IT Proficiency i.e., comfortable using computer software i.e., Microsoft Office programs like Word & Excel.

• Experience with working with large data points and applying excel pivot tables, SUMIF, Lookup, Concatenate etc.

• Fairly advanced use of financial accounting software i.e., administrator or super user level. (I.e., QuickBooks, Sun Systems, PeopleSoft, Cost Point etc.)

• Good Presentation skills i.e., experience conducting trainings and capacity building sessions both remotely and in workshop environment.

• Demonstrate good judgment and sound financial analysis and best professional judgement.

• Experience coordinating/actively supporting both internal and external audits in an organization.

• Good knowledge of a company’s key business processes i.e. procurement to pay, inventory management, treasury management, GL journal adjustments and key steps, and understanding key supporting documents needed to ensure good audit trail.

• Knowledge of key accounting concepts and treatments in line with IAS, IFRS, FAS, GAAP.

• Written and verbal proficiency in English including business terminology.

Knowledge, Skills and Competence

• Verbal and written language skills in English required including speaking, writing, understanding, and reading and the ability to     conduct business in English.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with a service-oriented outlook.

• Advanced reporting skills.

• Computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications (Excel spreadsheets, word processing, and electronic mail along with data entry experience).

• Ability to work under pressure.

• Ability to work independently, prioritizes tasks, and meets deadlines.

• Ability to work in a team Extensive knowledge of USAID rules & regulations and Experience with U.S. government projects helpful.

• Understanding of the tenets of cash control and asset management and must be able to complete timely and accurate account reconciliations.

• Ability to follow MSH and donor policies and procedures for procurement and documentation and ensure adequate accounting documentation for a proper audit trail.