Back Consultant - Accounting and finance

Consultant, Accounting and Finance

This position is hybrid, requiring a few days per week in the WRI Africa office in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission.

WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

Program Overview:

WRI Africa generates actionable knowledge across three strategic pillars: vital landscapes, thriving and resilient cities, and institutional and economic transformation. https://www.wri.org/wri-africa

The WRI Operations team supports the crucial front-line work of the organization, they directly interact and work with Donors, Partners, Government agencies, Statutory bodies, Trustees, Vendors, and Consultants in fielding their inquiries, providing support at all the fronts and solving problems. So that the WRI programs can be implemented without any hurdles and the program staff and researchers can develop high quality research documents, plans and implement the programs at the field level.

The WRI Operations team strive for operational excellence across all functions starting with the recruitment, retention, and management of WRI’s staff, our most important asset. We manage our endowment, the contributions entrusted to us, and our facilities in ways that are in line with our values and advance our mission. We maintain strict budgetary planning and financial controls to ensure that all contributions are managed in compliance with donors’ regulations.

Job highlights

Reporting to the Finance, Accounting and Administration Manager, WRI Africa, you will be responsible for executing the daily accounting and bookkeeping activities mainly for WRI Ethiopia to ensure adherence to WRI internal controls, donor guidelines and mandated laws.

WRI Ethiopia currently provides payments processing support other Africa countries. You will work with the Africa accounting and finance team and operations and program team, coordinating with them to ensure the smooth running of operations and coherence of procedures and systems.

Job Responsibilities:

Accounting (60%):

• Ensure all accounting and financial transactions are adequately supported before payment processing and recording in the Costpoint accounting system.
• Collaborate with program staff, operations staff, and the global accounting team to ensure transactions have the correct charge and accounting codes.
• Book financial transactions in the Costpoint accounting system.
• Review journal entries, analyze General Ledger (GL) accounts, and accrue necessary expenses monthly.
• Reclassify incorrectly coded transactions to ensure accuracy.
• Prepare schedules and provide supporting documents for internal, external, and donor audits.
• Manage staff advances and receivables.
• Oversee credit card expenses and ensure timely reporting and reconciliation.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly financial close.
• Maintain an organized archival system for accounting and finance documents (both digital and physical copies).
• Monitor WRI Ethiopia's cash position to ensure liquidity.
• Assist the Finance Manager in preparing quarterly fund requests.

  Payments Processing (30%):

  • Prepare and process payments to vendors in Ethiopia and across the Africa region where WRI operates.
  • Process advances to staff and ensure timely reconciliation.
  • Ensure timely payment and submission of payroll statutory returns (e.g., pension, income tax) and other taxes (e.g., withholding taxes) to the relevant government bodies.

    Payroll Management & Finance Administration (10%):

    • Support the Finance Manager in preparing payroll, ensuring accurate calculations. Distribute pay slips to staff.
    • Support the updating and implementation of current and new financial policies and procedures.
    • Collaborate with the Finance and Administration Officer to maintain an updated fixed asset register for the organization.
    • Support the Finance and Administration Officer in procurement, logistics, and contract execution
    • Provide timesheet guidance to current and new employees.
    • Work with program and core staff to ensure timely submission of timesheets.

      Job Qualifications:

      • Education: A bachelor’s degree in business administration, Accounting, Finance or a related field.
      • Experience: Minimum of 3+ years of full-time work experience in an accounting or finance department with an international NGO.
      • Experience working with donor funded projects.
      • Experience working with accounting software such as SAP, Deltek, Sage, or Costpoint.
      • Languages: Proficiency in written and verbal English.
      • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position will be based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

        Evaluation and Selection: