Assistant, Financial Accountant (AFIYA)

Job Summary

The Accelerating Financial Resilience & Insurance for Young African Women in Agrifood Systems (AFIYA) program is a multi-country initiative that seeks to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable young women smallholder farmers and agri-preneurs across eight African countries. AFIYA complements and amplifies existing Mastercard Foundation country programs by embedding innovative insurance and financial inclusion solutions within established initiatives and trusted delivery channels. AFIYA’s core ambition is to enhance the financial security, climate resilience, and entrepreneurial capacity of young women in agriculture, enabling them to sustainably participate in and benefit from agrifood systems. The Assistant, Financial Accountant is responsible for ensuring that the financial operational processes are functional and responding to the business financial needs and requirements, enabling it to achieve its overall objectives. S/he provides bookkeeping, reporting and audit support which contributes towards financial process efficiency and compliance of the Mastercard Foundation (MCF - AFIYA) programme.

Job Details

Reports to -  Assistant, Manager Financial Accounting

Reports Indirectly to -  Manager, Financial Accounting
Contract type -  Full Time 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1. Accounting and Financial Reporting:

Ensure accurate and timely entry and posting of AFIYA financial data into the accounting system to support informed decision-making and ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards:

• Enter financial data into the accounting system in an accurate and timely manner; ensuring all the necessary approvals have been completed. 
• Support the Assistant Manager, Financial Accounting in the preparation of financial statements. E.g. drafting project accounts for review.
• Assist the Assistant Manager, Financial Accounting with tracking the cashflows forecasts.
• Assist the Assistant Manager, Financial Accounting in reviewing vendor invoices and balances ensuring the creditor aging is in line with the organisations policies.
• Complete month-end close activities; including bank reconciliations and monthly adjustments for accruals, unbilled expenses, and prepayments by the 3rd working day of the following month to maintain an accurate and up-to-date general ledger.
• Review, maintain, and reconcile general ledger and sub-ledger accounts within the accounting system.
• Ensure project closures are processed accurately and submitted on time.
• Reconcile vendor statements against payment records to ensure completeness and accuracy.

2. Disbursement of Payments:

Contribute to an efficient payment system by ensuring that AFIYA payments to staff, vendors, service providers and other stakeholders are made accurately, on time and with good customer service.

• Review AFIYA payment documentation to ensure payments are processed promptly and in line with FSD Africa’s financial procedures, including required verification and approvals:

                                    o Review and verify payment requests in the system

                                    o Verifying submitted accompanying documents

                                    o Obtaining authorised signatories as required

• Prepare payment vouchers ensuring their completeness and accuracy.
• Take responsibility for ensuring that all taxes and statutory payments are accurately calculated and paid. These include (WHT, WVAT, WHT on Rent Income) and ensure timely payment in line with existing policies, procedures and statutory regulations.
• Promptly follow up on queries regarding any delay in payment and update the various stakeholders if there is any delay in payments.
• Manage payment tracker in the ERP system to ensure compliance FSD Africa’s SLA..
• Maintain and ensure timely reconciliation and replenishment of petty cash in compliance with FSD Africa’s policy. 

2. Finance Records Keeping and Management:

Provide financial administrative support to the AFIYA team to facilitate the fluid and efficient day to day operations; manage the archive of financial records, ensuring that all documentation is secured confidentially and can be easily retrieved as required.

•  Support the Assistant, Manager Financial Accounting in gathering supporting documentation that will be used to respond to queries raised by stakeholders.
• Support with providing timely and accurate audit information

3. Assets Management and Verification: 

Ensure that AFIYA fixed assets are recorded and verified, and that the fixed asset register is accurate and reconciled to the general ledger.

• Receive, tag, and update the asset register with purchased assets. 
• Manage assets storage and issuance.
• Take full participation in the asset verification exercises.
• Ensure that the Fixed Asset Register is accurate and reconciled to the general ledger.
• Monitor the movement of assets; keeping track of all the items being procured, transferred and disposed off.

4. Risk, Compliance & Audit support

Contribute to the successful conduct of  AFIYA internal and external audits by providing FSD Africa’s finance team  with logistical support (scheduling) and information.

• Manage the finance records; ensuring that all required information is on file and retained  for the statutory time period in compliance with FSD Africa's data management policies.
• Ensure that all legal/statutory requirements associated with the FSD Africa's finance are fulfilled (especially pertaining to record keeping and reporting).
• Support in the preparation of  audit schedules in preparation for the annual external audit and respond to internal and external audit queries during the audit exercises.
• Support in the implementation of the recommended audit actions.
• Participate in identifying financial risks, and threats pertaining to financial processes and systems of the organisation.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Basic  Level for all the competencies listed below:

ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning, self-starting, taking initiative, driving change and leading development
 

ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results
 

PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values, viewpoints, or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others
 

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree with 1 year of experience or High Diploma with 2 years in commerce, Finance or Business-related discipline.
• Professional certification is an added advantage.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least one year’s administration work experience in a first paced finance environment of a donor funded organisation. 
• Proven, strong organisational skills, including the ability to self-start, prioritise and proactively respond to evolving/ unfolding demands
• Working knowledge of accounting ERP systems, with experience in Microsoft Dynamics 365 considered an added advantage.
• Experience in managing processes and analysing information
• Demonstrably strong customer focus
• Good communication skills (written and spoken)
• Expert level proficiency in MS Office particularly Excel and Word.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English. Demonstrate good attention to detail with grammar, spelling and writing style that will appeal to key stakeholders
• Team player: ability to work effectively with colleagues across the organisation.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills 

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
• Experience working with donors, including knowledge of donor policies and procedures.
• Previous experience of working in FCDO-funded projects 
   

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: 

FSDAi is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.

About Company

FSD Africa

https://fsdafrica.org/

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone. FSD Africa Investments, provides early-stage, risk-bearing, catalytic and patient capital to inventive commercial organisations in order to stimulate capital flows in support of green economic growth benefiting people and planet. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.