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

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region. Considered one of the pillars of the African Economic Community, the organization was founded in order to achieve collective self-sufficiency for its member states by creating a single large trading bloc through an economic and trading union. It also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region. The organization operates officially in three co-equal languages French, English, and Portuguese.

We are currently recruiting for the position below

Job Title: Accountant, Financial Reporting

Reference: ECW-COMM/REC/FIN-P/001/2012
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Department: Finance
Directorate: Finance
Grade: P3
Supervisor: Principal Accountant, Financial Reporting

Job Description
The incumbent has responsibility for assisting with the development of financial policies and the execution of these policies as well as production of financial statements including the Income and Expenditure Statements, Balance Sheet, and other reports that may be required for management action.

Duties and Responsibilities

• To analyze accounts and review/evaluate regular financial reports. Identify problem transactions and irregularities in related accounts, resolving them in a timely and effective manner.
• To approve/Confirm that proposed obligations or expenditure for services, facilities supplies and equipment expenses, as well as those pertaining to personnel, are in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of ECOWAS, relevant appropriations and staffing tables and corresponding approved allotments.
• To ensure that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
• To assist, prepare or consolidate financial statements for inclusion in ECOWAS Financial Statements to be audited. To provide information and respond to internal/external audit observations.
• To provide advice and guidance concerning the ECOWAS' Financial Regulations and Rules and Accounting instructions.
• Provide authoritative interpretation of requirements for handling transactions.
• To coordinate and supervise the processing of Inter-Office transactions, Accounts Receivable, Applied Deposits, Bank Reconciliations, and various postings to Funds and General Ledgers.
• To monitor, analyze, and approve transactions for entry into the accounting system.
• To Keep abreast with and provide guidance on the ECOWAS related transactions to the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) procedures, and any other ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or financial system in use.
• Assesses effectiveness of internal control mechanisms to identify methods for improved coordination and efficiency between interrelated financial management systems of the organization.
• Define requirements and work with the divisions with respect to production of relevant financial reports.
• Participate in the development of financial accounting policies.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications/Experience/Skills

Educational Qualification

• A first-level university degree in Accounting, Financial Management or any related field. A higher degree in the relevant field may substitute for two years of professional experience.
• An accounting qualification by an internationally recognized accounting body such as ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant), CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) would be an advantage.

Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting and finance in private or public sector multinational organizations is required.
• Experience in complex accounting operations including multicurrency transactions and consolidations, is desirable.
• Experience in implementation of private sector or public sector accounting standards such as IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) or IPSAS is also desirable.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Proven conceptual, analytical, and evaluative skills and ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identifying issues, formulating options and making conclusions and recommendations. A complete, in-depth grasp of financial principles and practices.
• Planning and Organizing: Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those under his/her supervision; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
• Judgment/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.
• Computer Skills: This post requires proficiency in the use of the computer, including internet research, e-mail communications, word processing using the software currently in use, and the application of other software commonly used in the functional area.

Age
Candidate should not be 50 years old or over at the point of recruitment and must be a citizen of one of the ECOWAS member states.

Language
Must be fluent in one of the official languages of the Commission; English, French and Portuguese. A working knowledge of another would be an advantage.

Remuneration
Annual Salary: USD 36,901 - USD 44,469

Application Closing Date
3rd April, 2014

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online