Office Accountant – Finance & Administration Unit, Samuel Hall

Samuel Hall is seeking a highly motivated individual to join its team for a full-time position as an Office Accountant in Nairobi, Kenya. The Office Accountant will work under the Finance & Administration Unit and report to the Finance Manager and Director of Finance and Administration.

Who We Are

Our research connects the voices of communities to change-makers for more inclusive societies. Samuel Hall is a social enterprise that conducts research, evaluates programmes and designs policies in contexts of migration and displacement. Our approach is ethical, academically rigorous, and based on first-hand experience of complex and fragile settings. With offices in Afghanistan, Germany, Kenya, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, we are based in the regions we study.

We have over ten years experience in 70+ countries and have become a trusted partner and leading voice in the field of migration and displacement research, working with governments, donors, multilateral organisations, and NGOs, as well as public and private sector entities. It’s an exciting time for Samuel Hall – we were recently selected by Stanford University as one of the Global South’s high-potential, fast-growth social enterprises. For more information, please visit www.samuelhall.org.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: We work in a fast-paced, demanding, and challenging environment – you will be expected to grow with us and carve out your own spot in the team. We look for proactive, creative individuals who find opportunities to make their mark and identify solutions to problems. We look for strong leaders and reliable team players who can add value from the very start, expand our knowledge and help us to maximise our social impact.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Objective 1 – Financial Reporting

• Advises on financial requirements in-country
• Prepares vendor and remittance tax forms, and ensures these are submitted in a timely manner
• Prepares and submits monthly budgets, cash flows and reconciliation reports for review
• Monitors and submits advance, commitment, and grant reports as applicable
• Manages financial compliance and reporting of expenses by country offices
• Monitors and reports on partner/ vendor payment schedules and obligations
• Assists in preparing information for any contractual financial reporting requirements

Objective 2 – Audit

• Supports preparation of internal and external audits
• Supports responses and actions to internal audit comments
• Conducts daily reviews of backup documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and full compliance with the organisation’s policies and procedures
• Performs regular spot audits on project files.
• Ensures backup documentation is uploaded to relevant system according to set deadlines
• Audits travel requests and expense reports for accuracy and compliance
• Follows procedures to ensure accurate and timely payment and reconciliation of travel advances, reimbursements for staff travel
• Reviews and monitors outstanding advances report by paying close attention to advances that have not been settled after 30 days of issuance.

Objective 3 – General Accounting/Financial Management

• Audits travel requests and expense reports for accuracy and compliance
• Ensures accurate and timely payment and reconciliation of travel advances, reimbursements for staff and partner travel
• Processes timely and accurate payroll payments for the office and ensures payroll taxes are accurate
• Reviews employment agreement and modifications and updates salary calculations based on local and company requirements
• Ensures staff financial compliance with timekeeping policy and procedures
• Initiates cash disbursement requests for fieldwork implementation
• Ensures accurate and timely processing of invoices, advances and reimbursements, cheques and wire transfer payments.
• Verifies vendor invoices for accuracy, expenses, and project accounting codes
• Ensures requests for payments have appropriate approvals and support documents
• Performs monthly bank reconciliations and routinely monitors bank account balances
• Ensures petty cash is maintained according to maximum petty cash policy, and that all petty cash procedures are followed.
• Maintains files on grant/procurement/subcontractor documents and modifications as applicable
• Supports periodic cash counts.
• Ensures all reconciliations, schedules, fund analysis and presentation of complex financial transactions are completed within 60 days of fiscal year-end
• Ensures non-billable expenses are thoroughly reviewed and kept to a minimum
• Develops and implements best practices, policies and procedures in full adherence to regulatory requirements
• Advises the Finance Manager on financial efficiency measures and conducts reporting on a weekly basis.
• Acts on guidance from Finance Manager and Director of Finance and Administration regarding cash management

Opportunities for Growth

Working at Samuel Hall means that you are contributing to ground-breaking, innovative, and rigorous work that bridges research, implementation and policy. Most of our training happens on the job, but as part of our investment in learning and development, everyone is encouraged to apply for up to five days of paid professional development leave and financial resources to enable them to acquire new skills and knowledge. We commit to helping you to:

• Grow within the organisation, with gradual increases in responsibility and accountability, and exposure to our different roles within the Finance and Administration Unit.
• Grow to become a sought-after focal point for development and humanitarian actors, with the opportunity for continued learning, and the chance to become a key voice in your area of expertise.
• Grow your personal and professional network as we expand our list of partners.

Whatever your personal career goals, there is a real opportunity to help shape the strategic direction of the organisation and to contribute directly to our continued growth.

Vacancy Requirements

Required

• Excellent spoken and written skills in English (additional languages a plus).
• Keen attention to detail
• Ability to be patient and to work well within a global team
• Ability to cope well under pressure, work occasionally irregular hours and meet tight deadlines
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience (e.g., Accounts, Finance, Economics, Commerce field)
• Demonstrated interest in humanitarian and development work, foreign affairs

Desirable

• A BA or Master’s degree in Accounts, Finance, Economics, Commerce, or a relevant field
• Proficiency in computer applications (XERO, Quick books, petty cash, Excel etc)
• Valid membership in any professional body in a good standing institution (ACCA, ICPAK, AWAK etc)