Accountant

Title: Accountant

Department: Finance

Reports to: Finance and Administration Manager

Matrix Management: N/A

Supervises: N/A

Location: Yaounde, Cameroon

Position Summary

The accountant is an integral AWF Cameroon’s Finance team member, reporting to the Finance & Admin Manager. He/She will be responsible for accurate General Ledger maintenance reconciliations and smooth and timely month-end closure of books of accounts. She/he will also be involved in all general accounting functions such as Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll accounting, and portal expense entries relating to Cameroon. In addition, the incumbent will also work with other finance teams to ensure the timely processing of invoices and payments for all the operations in AWF. The position will actively support annual organizational and country statutory audits, donor-related audits, and internal controls.

Occasional domestic travel is required.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting:

• Support the CM finance teams to ensure timely month-end closure in compliance with GAAP and AWF procedures.
• Participate in the monthly close process; prepare reconciliation schedules per the monthly close checklist.
• Assist in performing supplier statement reconciliations and attend to ad-hoc vendor queries.
• Ensure complete posting of all expenses for the monthly close of books.
• Process staff travel advance requests/reimbursement, disburse cash, review advance retirements, generate credit memos and identify any issues.
• Maintain staff account analysis for Yaounde based staff and share for validation on a quarterly basis
• Maintain all balance sheet accounting, producing consistent and accurate supporting schedules and reconciliations.
• Manage the organization’s credit cards issued to Cameroonian staff by ensuring that expenses are reported on time and reconciliations prepared in the system.
• Produce audit-ready monthly general ledger schedules and subsidiary financial statements.
• Prepare general ledger account reconciliations, prepayments, accruals, fixed asset schedules, payroll, and bank reconciliations.
• Review and validate general ledger transactions, timely identification, and corrections of errors of transactions posted in the general ledger both in AWF company and its subsidiaries.
• Patriciate in the filling and archiving of all office documents (Procurement & financial documents) per established systems.
• Support in month-end and year-end processes with the Cameroon finance staff to ensure all activities are completed within the agreed timelines and support documents are uploaded on the organization’s SharePoint.
• Prepare monthly bank and petty cash tally sheets and follow up with CM finance staff to share missing documents.
• Identify potential risks related to the organization's financial management and suggest solutions for implementation to the Finance and Administration Manager.
• Share reports with key stakeholders in a timely and consistent manner.
• Review and follow up on travel advance promptly and follow up with staff and implementing partners to retire their advances.

Accounts Payable/Receivables

• Post supplier invoices accurately and on a timely basis.
• Review supplier invoices and ensure that are properly supported before posting them in the system.
• Support in reconciling vendor accounts with the statements monthly.
• Timely processing of payments to vendors, consultants, staff, and partners.
• Check the integrity and accuracy of financial data, vendor, payroll, etc., and identify and correct errors in transactions in a timely manner.
• Verify accuracy of vendor details in AWF systems.

Internal Controls

• Work with the finance teams to enforce internal controls throughout the AWF Cameroon to ensure the protection of the AWF finance and non-finance assets.
• Contribute to developing and enhancing accounting policies and procedures and enforcing the same.
• Support in the consistent application of internal controls throughout the organization.
• Train staff on internal control procedures and accounting tools, such as accounting and timesheet portals.
• Participate in planning and problem-solving meetings.
• In conjunction with other finance staff, maintain/update financial systems.
• Follow up and ensure timely accounting and compliance of the AWF corporate credit card program.
• Prepare monthly AWF Cameroon Cash & Banks Reconciliations by the 10th of every month and maintain a filing log of dully approved reconciliations, cash counts, and bank statements.
• Provide support to Cameroon country audits, Internal audits, statutory audits donor, donor-specific audits, and any other reviews by external audit firms as required.

Cash flow Planning and Management

• Reconcile AWF CM bank balances with donor cash receipts and payments.
• Prepare the monthly/quarterly cash projections for the CM AWF operations and remitting to FAM approval before sharing them with the HQ team for processing.
• Process payments on time and track overdue payments.

Payroll Facilitation

• Review Cameroon payroll and ensure they are posted on time. This role also includes timely payment of staff net pay and the related payroll liabilities.
• Post and pay liabilities on a timely basis.
• Support compliance with CMR country tax obligations where AWF operates.
• File approved payroll reports in BOX.
• Extract salary remittance and file as per established system.
• Participate in AWF system development and system implementation sessions.

Other Duties

• Any other relevant duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Requirements and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or related field.
• Certified Public Accountants in Cameroon.
• Familiarity with institutional and other donor guidelines is a strong advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience, at least 3 years as an accountant in at least a medium-sized organization.
• A mix of profit and nonprofit experience is desired.
• Advanced knowledge and experience of the NetSuite-Oracle accounting package is preferred.
• Audit experience will be an added advantage.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of key donor requirements required.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with the highest level of professionalism.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise good judgment, identify, and resolve problems.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• A self-starter with a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to communicate financial information to a non-financial audience.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Strong interest in and or understanding of conservation.