Apply for the job of Senior Accountant at MRC/UVRI

Job Title: Senior Accountant

Organization: MRC/UVRI

Duty Station: Entebbe, Uganda

Reports to: Finance Manager

About MRC/UVRI:

The MRC/UVRI Uganda Virus Research Unit on AIDS was established following a request in 1988 from the Uganda Government to the British Government for collaboration on the research of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency. The Unit is a center of excellence in HIV/AIDS related research. It conducts large-scale epidemiological and intervention studies, clinical trials, virological and immunological research and behavioural studies, and has generated a wealth of research results that have been used to inform policy and practice that have led to a large number of scientific publications in peer reviewed journals over time.

Job Summary: The Senior Accountant will manage the daily operations of the finance section and the accounting and financial reporting systems of the organization. He / she will also be ensuring that the Unit meets the monthly reporting deadlines without exception. The incumbent will ensure the integrity of the Units financial records and enforcing internal controls as well as deputising for the Finance Manager as required. The / she will ensure that the accounts are accurate, reliable, free from misstatement and error and are reconciled at every month end.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Produces month end balance sheet, income and expenditure sheet and cashflow statement for the review by the Finance Manager (FM).
Uploads Monthly Financial information into Oracle system, and imports Oracle only financial data into relevant MS Dynamics fields.
Recharges costs incurred on behalf of other MRC Units though the Oracle system.
Compiles and uploads the monthly deferred and accrued income for the Unit’s external grants into Oracle system.
Support the Finance Manager in the review and addition/deletion of MS Dynamics vendor and Customer details
Carries out surprise cash counts and stock verification exercises for the various station cash offices and stores and compares with MS Dynamics records. Notifies FM in case of concern that SOPs are not adhered to.
Presents monthly control account reconciliations for review of FM.
Regularly reviews the fixed asset reconciliations and signs off quarterly before passing to FM; ensuring MRC is notified of all asset additions and disposals as they occur. Ensures all backing documentation is attached.
Reviews all payments before they are processed checking for accuracy in coding, account details, financial authority and probity for onward authorisation by Finance Manager
Manages the staff payroll and payment of associated income and employment taxes.
Ensures that VAT is reclaimed monthly by the Unit correctly from URA.
Manages the production of the monthly capital expenditure report and send to Estates section in MRC.
Technically supports the FM with all audit team visits, URA, NSSF and other financial inspection teams visiting the Unit and ensures required information and explanations are provided;.
Steers the bi annual stock taking exercises and discusses the outcomes with the FM.
Supports the Finance Manager in detecting any thefts or frauds within the Unit
Reviews the monthly bank and cash reconciliations and signs along with the FM; follow up on unpresented payments over 6 months and errors on the bank statement.
Scrutinises all petty cash statements for voracity and unusual entries and brings to the attention of the FM where necessary. Reviews and checks all imprest refill requests before processing.
Assists with donor financial reporting, and deputises for the FM representing the finance section at Donor or Project budget and review meetings.
Ensures day today supervision and management of performance for the finance section.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree (Bcom, BSc Accounting or equivalent) with a specialisation in management accounting from a recognised institution.
Professional accounting qualification (ACCA- professional level or CPA completed)
At least three years working at a senior level, and supervising other staff within a busy accounting team in a public or private sector environment, producing financial reports and commentaries for external donors and/or senior management.
Past experience working with an international donor or a non-profit organization
Highly advanced excel and spread sheeting skills and sound knowledge of other Microsoft office 2010 packages, in depth experience of using the MSD accounting system including the ability to build and customise reports within the system
Previous experience of using an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Database and ability to write reports in Navision
Analytical thinking; able to review work for sensibility before passing it out and able to analyse reports to detect anomalies, errors and omissions including potential fraud.
Thorough, gives attention to detail, Results Orientated and meets deadlines consistently every month, able to ensure staff under their control perform and complete tasks to set timelines
Service orientation and maintains excellent business partner relations with the Unit Heads of Programme and Project Leaders.
Personal Integrity forward thinker with Emotional Resourcefulness
Possess excellent communication skills especially English both written and verbal, Professional attitude and appearance
Able to work under minimal supervision and to a consistently high standard
Pro-active and responds to user queries quickly and professionally

How to Apply for the job:

All suitably qualified candidates should send their application letters, curriculum vitae including names, email addresses and telephone contact details of three (3) referees and copies of academic qualifications should be emailed to: recruitment@mrcuganda.org

Please quote the Position Title in the subject line.

Deadline: Friday 30th January 2015