Financial Accountant

Location: Home-based, with Travel. Candidates based in Colombia, preferably in Bogotá. Applicants must possess the right to work in Colombia

Department: Global Impact, Inclusive Humanitarian Action, Latin America and Caribbean team

Reporting Line: Humanitarian Finance Business Partner

Contract Type: Full-Time, fixed term contract for 12 months (Extendable)

About HelpAge

HelpAge International works with partners and a diverse global network of more than 170 organisations over 90 countries, supporting millions of older people to live safe, dignified, and healthy lives. Through our partnership and collaborations, we work to ensure the inclusion of older people across society and strive to deliver a just and fair world for everyone, whatever their age.

About the Job

The Financial Accountant will manage the accounting of the Colombia-based HelpAge Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Humanitarian Team (HUT) team, in such a way that the accounting information, is always up-to-date, clear, and organized. The accounting practices must demonstrate the transparency of our economic activities and aid in making financial decisions. The Financial Accountant will carryout the execution, monitoring, and control of HelpAge programs in Colombia, including all processes, procedures, and accountability by international standards, HelpAge processes, and Colombian regulations. The Financial Accountant will work with the LAC Finance Business Partner and partner organisation accounting teams as needed.

Key areas for impact/influence and responsibilities

1. Accounting Management

• Keep cash and bank books for the general account and project accounts up to date.
• Reconcile the bank accounts of the LAC team on the monthly basis.
• Review the accounting information sent from team members in relation to the coverage plan, accounting accounts, third parties, budget availability, and descriptions.
• Import all the bookkeeping and bank information of the mission into SUN System.
• Ensure all monthly closure tasks are done in SUN System.
• Based on SUN System data, prepare Colombian accounting on a monthly basis.
• Carry out HUT technical accounting tasks (DBS, PRM, Mapping, etc )

2. Fiscal and Tax Management

• Prepare and present monthly withholding tax declarations to the DIAN.

• Prepare and present the annual income tax declaration and complementary documentation.

• Address requirements from the DIAN.

• Ensure that finance transactions are align with the local fiscal regulations.

  3. Treasury Management

• Make payments from LAC accounts in Colombia related to HUT portafolio.

• Support LAC team with Equals card reconciliation.

• Ensure that payments generated in the coordination through checks comply with all fiscal, ACH, documentation, and banking requirements.

4. Audit and Documentation Management

• Ensure that the filing and accounting documentation of the mission is always complete and organized according to each project.
• Prepare audits and support auditors queries and demands.

5. Security

• Report any anomalies related to the bank accounts that may be associated with fraud.

Others

• Provide support in preparing proposals, budgets, purchases, personnel, etc. to the global team for HUT portfolio.
• Support the revision of partners finance reports.
• Support in the preparation of donor reports.
• Guide the work of the accounting assistant in such a way that he/she contributes to the achievement of the accounting area’s objectives.
• Perform those tasks inherent to the position that are requested according to the context and needs of the LAC team.

Skills and experience required

Mandatory:

1. Education:

• Professional university studies in the accounting field

2. Knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of Colombian tax legislation and accounting
• Demonstrated experience of at least five years in accounting management in public or private sector companies or organisations

3. Personal characteristics:

• Ability to work autonomously (organisation and planning of one’s work)
• Analytical and synthesis capabilities and written expression
• Proactive attitude
• Strategic and innovative vision
• Teamwork skills
• Common sense, tact, and diplomacy
• Sensitivity and humanitarian vocation

Desirable:

1. Basic English
2. Experience in international cooperation or projects with international donors.

Key Behavioural Competencies

At HelpAge International, we believe in the importance of empowering our people to be change makers and leaders at all levels. We expect our people to embrace and live our values, challenging themselves every day to identify issues that are most important to older persons and their communities, and to make an impact that matters.

In addition, as an HelpAge employee you are expected to:

Work Collaboratively with Others: Work collaboratively, building mutual trust and respect, with external organisations and partners to achieve our strategic aims and objectives; being accountable for the work we do together.

Be Adaptable and Flexible : Adapt to new directions or opportunities arising within the organisation and in our work area; being flexible in our role, constantly using the feedback to learn more and evolve further.

Support and Facilitate Change: Lead behavioural and cultural change through embracing a supportive, collaborative and highly inclusive environment where everybody feels supported, respected and engaged.

Extend HelpAge’s Reach and Impact: Extend HelpAge’s reach and impact by creating and identifying new business development opportunities and building relationships with new partners.

Diversity and Inclusion: Lead and promote a culture of including the voices of older people across our support, convening and thought leadership roles, in a way that is transformative, empowering and highly inclusive of those marginalised by gender, economic status, disability and other factors of discrimination.

Lead Others (for managers): Demonstrate strong leadership to own unit/department and manage people in a well and reputable manner. Create an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

Safeguarding

HelpAge International is committed to safeguarding the communities with which we work, our partners, staff and any others who we come into contact with. The post holder will also be responsible for:

• Preventing harm and abuse from our people, operations and programmes to anyone that encounters our work.
• Reporting all safeguarding incidents you see, hear, hear about or suspect, using our internal reporting mechanism.
• Complying with all safeguarding framework policies and practices.
• Completing mandatory training courses relating to our safeguarding policy framework and complying with HR vetting procedures.

SAFER RECRUITMENT

All employments at HelpAge International will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include misconduct disclosure schemes and terrorism finance checks.