Deputy Accountant

A vacancy has arisen at the British High Commission for a Deputy Accountant. The job is graded at LEIII for which the current salary scale starts at Ksh. 108,000/- per month before deduction of tax.  Where the jobholder is not liable to Kenyan tax the scale will be abated under HM Treasury rules and starts at Ksh. 81,728/- per month to take account of the tax they would have paid.

Duties and responsibilities:

We are looking for a Deputy Accountant who will be responsible for assisting with the day-to-day running of the DFID Kenya and DFID Somalia Accounts and deputizing for the Accountant. The job holder will also be required to work across both DFID and FCO finance systems (ARIES and PRISM) as we merge our accounting functions. The job holder will work in a joint British High Commission accounts team which delivers finance services to 300 people across 14 government departments.

The Jobholder will report to the Accountant (DFID) in the Joint British High commission Corporate Services team. She/he will also work closely with Accountant (BHC) and the Finance Departments in UK, Section Heads and other team members.

The main duties include:

§  Supporting the Corporate Service Manager and Accountant in ensuring delivery and  efficient day-to-day running of accounts services

§  Preparation of monthly staff payrolls, ensuring that all statutory deductions are processed and various returns(Monthly/Quarterly) are made to the relevant authorities

§  Accounts payable and receivable duties – processing daily pay-runs, registering and raising invoices, resolving transaction queries, creditor and debtor management

§  Cash and bank management including reconciliations

§  Collating, printing and analysing Reports during and at the end of each month

§  Monitoring and preparing Reports on expenditure and preparation of monthly account

§  Maintaining charging instructions

§  Monitoring of monthly charges from other government departments and raising journals where required

§  Liaising with local banks, suppliers, BHC staff and UK Departments as necessary on issues arising

§  Ensuring that the accounts filing system is up to date at all times

§  Responding to any accounts related staff queries

Required Skills:-

The successful applicant should be a self-starter who is able to work within tight accounting and other deadlines. It is important that the candidate can demonstrate accounting skills, accuracy and speed and is able to manage workloads and work effectively with others. 

The successful candidate will require excellent IT skills (a good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word is essential), good oral and written communication skills, attention to detail and initiative.  Previous knowledge of accounting principles and maintaining budgets is also a requirement. The jobholder must have appropriate accounting qualification- minimum CPA II or ACCA Level II certification required.

    

Key Competences:

·           Working with Others (Shows consideration for others' needs and motivations, values diversity and inclusion. Works effectively and supportively on shared objectives with colleagues and contacts in the immediate and wider teams).

·           Delivering results (Takes responsibility and uses initiative to deliver high quality work.  Handles a variety of tasks, making progress on all fronts.  Works with speed and professionalism, recognising that others depend on them).

·           Customer Focus (Understands and focuses on customer needs.  Offers new ideas to improve customer service)

·            Problem Solving (Uses information, experience and judgement to solve day to day problems and complete routine tasks.  Thinks creatively to solve problems).

·           Managing Self, Others and Resources (Organises work effectively. Provides guidance and support, either formally or informally, to help others achieve objectives.  Makes best use of resources and maintains high work standards).

Application:

The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and staff management is conducted without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability or HIV status provided candidates are able to meet the requirements of the position advertised.

The British Office for Somalia and the British High Commission has not appointed any agents to process job applications or arrange interviews and expects no fees to be paid to anyone.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in Kenya and appointment will be under local terms and conditions.

 

Applications – (CV plus covering letter) - clearly marked – “LE III Deputy Accountant” Vacancy should be forwarded to the following address:

 

Human Resources Manager

British High Commission

Upper Hill Road

PO Box 30465 – 00100

Nairobi

Or by e-mail to: HR.Recruit@fco.gov.uk    

Applications should be received on or before 21November 2012. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interview.