Job Description

Job Title: Assistant Accountant

Reports to: Programme Finance Manager

Location: London, UK

Type of contract: Fixed Term 2 Years

Starting date: ASAP - Please apply early

Internews is an international non-profit organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect and the means to make their voices heard.

Internews provides communities the resources to produce local news and information with integrity and independence. With global expertise and reach, Internews trains both media professionals and citizen journalists, introduces innovative media solutions, increases coverage of vital issues and helps establish policies needed for open access to information.

Internews programs create platforms for dialogue and enable informed debate, which bring about social and economic progress.

Internews’ commitment to research and evaluation creates effective and sustainable programs, even in the most challenging environments.

Internews operates internationally, with administrative centres in California, Washington DC, and London, as well as regional hubs in Bangkok and Nairobi. Formed in 1982, Internews has worked in more than 90 countries, and currently has offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and North America.

About the role

This post will report to the Programme Finance Manager.

Working in an international environment, the successful candidate will be a working towards a qualification in accounting or be a part qualified accountant. S/he will have had experience of working in a fast paced environment ideally with restricted grants and international donors

GENERAL FUNCTION:

The Assistant Accountant will be based in the London office of Internews Europe. S/he will support the Operations of Internews Europe and will be expected to take initiative to identify and solve problems and implement administrative innovations. S/he will be expected to build close and collaborative relationships with field operational staff. This will be an important role in the financial flow of information between Programmes, Finance, and Grants teams.

The Assistant Accountant will work closely with Grants Officers who will maintain a portfolio of global projects from donors such as EU, SIDA, DFID).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Assistant Accountant will:

• Assist and support the Programmes and Grants teams in processing, analysing and reviewing financial data from the field and HQ relating to grant projects.
• Review and process Monthly Expenditure Reports (MERs), vouchers and supporting documentation, bank reconciliations and other financial data received from Field Operations.
• Raise any financial and compliance issues related to MERs to the Programme Finance Manager and Grants team.
• Perform checks of the inventory list (sent monthly with the MERs) and procurement processes against MERs.
• File supporting documentation received from the Field and share the relevant contractual documents with the Grants team.
• Post MERs in the Internews Europe accounting system (Quickbooks).
• Assist the Grant Officers (GOs) in the preparation of Field advance payment requests and perform reconciliations against advances accounts.
• Track and follow up with Suppliers/Consultants/Field Staff on the submission of invoices and field reports.
• Produce monthly ‘status reports’ on projects and share with the Programmes and Grants teams.
• Create and maintain reports comparing project expenditure against Donor budgets and share with the Programmes and Grants teams.
• Produce reports in Donor format and in Donor currency for submission to Donors as per the contractual obligations in liaison with the GOs.
• Assist in the production of forecasts of project expenditure in line with Donor budgets.
• Provide assistance to the Finance and Grants teams during Donor Audit preparation.
• Provide support to the Finance and Grants teams and perform other accounting duties as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The criteria below are the minimum necessary for effective performance in the post.  The applicant must demonstrate how they meet each of them through the application form and, when necessary, through job-specific tasks and at interview. 

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

Part Qualification Accounting Certification with recognised professional qualification (ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA, AAT).

Relevant university degree or reasonably equivalent professional experience

Experience of direct, hands-on delivery of financial management

Experience of budget monitoring and forecasting

Experience of financial accounting processes for data entry

Proven analytical and problem-solving ability

Proven ability to set priorities, handle multiple assignments and manage time effectively

Proven experience in administrative skills and supporting a busy team

Experience of working effectively under pressure, demonstrating a calm, confident and flexible approach to work

Fluent spoken and written English

Excellent oral and written communication skills 

Experience of using MS Word, Excel and Outlook and/or MAC

Desirable

Experience of working with international donors in particular EU, DFid, SIDA government and other European donors.

Experience of working with QuickBooks

Experience in other international development NGOs or similar organisations

Additional international language skills such as French, Arabic, Spanish, Russian

Personal attributes

A willingness and ability to adopt a hands on approach

Capable of working within a small team where a versatile, open, and facilitative approach will be required

Strong communication, liaison and interpersonal skills to work effectively with people at all levels, and represent the organisation at a high level

Ability to manage a complex, multi-disciplinary programme of work