Accountant – USAID Kenya Primary Literacy Program

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

The USAID Kenya Primary Literacy Program (USAID KPLP) is a five-year initiative that supports the Kenyan Ministry of Education to deliver interventions at scale as well as pilot and expand innovations that address the language and literacy needs of primary grade learners while building more inclusive, accountable, and resilient education institutions and systems.

USAID KPLP has three broad objectives:

1. Improving education services and student learning outcomes, including for vulnerable populations;

2. Strengthening education institutions and systems to become more accountable, self-sustaining, and resilient; and

3. Empowering local youth organizations to strengthen and sustain community and family support for student learning and wellbeing.

Position Description

The Accountant will assist the Finance and Administration Manager in performing project accounting tasks. S/he will be responsible for preparing timely and accurate financial reports and assisting in the preparation of financial spreadsheets, cash flow forecasts, data entry, corresponding with vendors, as appropriate, and ensuring the project is compliant with USAID financial regulations. This position reports to the Finance and Administration Manager.

Essential Functions will include, but are not limited to:

• Supports the Finance and Administration Manager in conducting day-to-day finance operations, including enforcement of EDC and USAID policies, procedures and systems.
• Supports the Finance and Administration Manager in the preparation of project monthly financial reports and tracking of spending against the approved budget.
• Manages the process of clearing bills, advance reconciliation, payments, and vouchers, including a review and certification of supporting documentation to ensure it is compliant with local tax laws, as well as USAID and EDC policies.
• Records project transactions in QuickBooks, utilizing the correct charge codes and monitoring alignment to budgeted activities.
• Prepares the bank reconciliation of each account prior to the monthly close.
• Prepares weekly cash flow needs for review by the Finance and Administration Manager and approval by Chief of Party and follow up with U.S. Home Office for wiring.
• Monitors and reports on vendor payment schedules and obligations.
• Monitors employee advance aging and ensures timely liquidation.
• Works closely with the EDC US Home Office to ensure timely reconciliation of monthly expense reports and responds to any inquiries, as necessary.
• Assists in the preparation of monthly financial spreadsheets, cash flow forecasts in accordance with appropriate procedures.
• Provides necessary information to payroll service provider to ensure salaries are being processed in accordance with requirements.
• Prepares and submits required DA-1 form and associated supporting documentation on a monthly basis as part of seeking approval for VAT refunds. Follows up with individual vendors for tax refunds once requests have been approved.
• Previews all back-up documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and full compliance with EDC policies and procedures. Ensures all supporting financial documentation is scanned and digitally archived on a monthly basis per EDC file retention policies.
• Ensures the safeguarding of checks and other office documents such as vehicle licenses, contracts, and leases in conjunction with HR / Office Manager.
• Demonstrates a high level of professionalism and ethics when dealing with documentation and related information on sensitive and confidential matters, as well as with EDC colleagues.
• Conducts checks on compliance with USAID’s Anti-Terrorist Certification (“ATC”) regulations.
• Other duties as required.

The candidate for the position of Accountant shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Secondary education required; additional technical or collegiate education desirable

Skills and Experience:

• 4 to 5 years of direct relevant experience in accounting required;
• Experience supporting large USAID or other international donor-funded projects required;
• Proficiency working with QuickBooks accounting system required;
• Proficiency in MS Excel and MS Word;
• Knowledge of Kenyan labor and tax laws, specifically regarding VAT refunds;
• Detail-oriented and organized;
• Must be able to work within a cross cultural setting, negotiate diplomatically, and function well under pressure;
• Ability to work independently, as well as within a team in difficult work environment;
• Certified Public Accountant.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.

Other:

Applicants must be Kenyan nationals or hold current work authorization.