DAI seeks an Accountant for a 5-year, $25 million dollar USAID funded Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (PANI) program in Nepal. 

Background

Water is the single most important natural resource underpinning Nepal’s economy and livelihoods. The sustainable management of water resources in Nepal depends on addressing climate change and protecting healthy, biodiverse ecosystems. PANI aims to enhance Nepal’s ability to manage water resources for multiple uses and users through climate change adaptation and the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. The focus will be at the watershed, basin, and national scales and the project has approximately $6 million in grants and activity procurements. This goal will be reached by meeting the following objectives:

• Reduce threats to freshwater biodiversity in the Karnali, Mahakali, and Rapti river basins.
• Increase the ability of targeted human and ecological communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change through improved water management.

Position Overview

The Accountant is a key member of the finance team. He/She will play a pivotal role in assuring adherence to financial policies, project policies and procedures, regulations, controls, and reporting systems. The Accountant will provide accounting and financial analysis support to the project office and will ensure submission of financial reports based on internal deadlines. This position will ensure compliance of all accounting and financial reporting functions. Responsible for recording costs and day to day general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, risk management, managing partner relationships, assuring all backup documentation is audit ready, and troubleshooting accounting issues. The individual is also responsible for cash flow analyses, and the overall financial well-being of the project. This position will work collaboratively with local and home office staff but will report to the Finance and Administration Manager. The Accountant may perform any other related duties as assigned. This position is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Responsibilities

Financial Reporting

• Prepares vendor and remittance tax forms and ensure these are submitted in a timely manner
• Prepares and submits monthly reconciliation reports for review
• Monitors and submits advance, commitment, and grant reports
• Oversees the reporting of expenses by regional offices (if applicable)
• Monitors and reports on partner/vendor payment schedules and obligations
• Assists in preparing information for any contractual financial reporting requirements (if applicable)

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 DAI’s regulations
• Performs regular spot audits on project’s files.
• Ensures backup documentation is uploaded to relevant system according to set deadlines

Policies & Procedures

• Ensures that accounting policies and practices are carried out in accordance with GAAP standards; project internal controls are established and implemented in accordance with DAI policies, USAID rules/regulations and the terms of the contract.

General Accounting/Financial Management

• Initiates wire requests for field project implementation
• Verifies vendor invoices for accuracy
• Verifies accuracy of expenses, and project accounting codes
• Ensures accurate and timely processing of invoices, advances and reimbursements, checks, and wire transfer payments
• Ensures request for payments have appropriate approvals
• Ensures the timely deposit of cash receipts
• Responsible for recording and assigning costs based on approved budget in field accounting system (FAS)
• Performs monthly bank reconciliations and routinely monitors bank account balances
• Compiles backup documentation for all project related transactions, and ensures completeness and appropriate review and approvals are documented
• If applicable, ensures petty cash is maintained according to maximum petty cash policy, and that all petty cash procedures are followed
• Ensures the safeguard of bank checks, cash receipts, and petty cash
• Supports management of banking relationships
• Prepares, reviews, and submits project cost data prior to sending to DAI Washington
• Responsible for maintaining file management systems for soft and hard copy documentation
• Maintains files on grant/procurement/subcontractor documents and modifications as applicable
• Supports periodic cash counts
• Ensures non-billable expenses are thoroughly reviewed and kept to a minimum
• Ensures that foreign taxes paid, if any, are tracked, recorded, and reported to USAID in accordance with ADS guidelines.
• Analyzes and reconciles project inventory on a regular basis ensuring that the value/purchase price of projects assets reflected in the inventory register agrees with the total shown in the cumulative Non-Expendable account balance.

Travel Advances & Reimbursements

• 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 and partner travel
• Reviews and monitors outstanding advances report by paying close attention to advances that have not been settled after 30 days of issuance.

Payroll

• Processes timely and accurate payroll payments for the office and ensures leave balances, and payroll taxes are accurate
• Tracks and  monitors leave balances and liability payments
• Reviews employment agreement and modifications and updates salary calculations based on local and company requirements
• Ensures staff compliance with timekeeping policy and procedures

Financial Systems

• Uses field accounting system (FAS), cloud software for backup documentation, and DAI’s operations system (TAMIS), etc. regularly
• Communicates with home office system support teams on troubleshooting technical issues
• Scans and uploads voucher files to DAI’s System for the Electronic Archival of Financial Documentation – BOX

TO APPLY:

Please send your CV and letter of interest to [email protected] with “Accountant” in the subject line by May 5, 2016.  Only short-listed candidates will be notified.  No phone inquiries, please.

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