Regional Accountant: Middle East and North Africa

About the Opportunity

Internews is seeking a Regional Accountant to support the Middle East and North Africa Program Management Unit (MENA PMU). The regional accountant supports projects in the MENA region. This position is responsible for broad-based financial oversight of the projects including tracking and reporting project expenses and providing projections for the projects. The regional accountant will work closely with the Project Directors/Managers, Business Operations team, and Headquarters to ensure the projects are compliant at all levels of funder rules and regulations.

Logistics

This is a remote-based position, and candidates based anywhere in the world will be considered. However, preference will be given to candidates based in the Middle East and North Africa region or Europe (UTC – UTC +5), and you should apply with the understanding that work hours will need to be coordinated to align in part with those of colleagues in these time zones. This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.

Our Commitment to Fostering a Culture of Belonging

We are an organization of dynamic, mission-driven individuals who are passionate about our core values and about supporting positive change in the world. We pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation and flexibility. We believe that diverse teams are strong teams and work to support an ethic of belonging, dignity and justice for all people. Our current team includes a mix of genders, parents and non-parents, and people of multiple races, nationalities, sexual orientations, and socio-economic backgrounds. We are an EEO employer and encourage candidates of all races, genders, ages, orientations, ethnicities and national origins to apply, and welcome those with alternative backgrounds and experiences.

Key Responsibilities Include the Following:

• Gather cyclical spending needs of the projects, coordinate and maintain cash flow forecasting system-based activity needs and ensure the timely submission of wire transfer requests (WTRs), for approval;
• Oversee banking transactions, including deposits and bank statement collection, wire processing, and ensure adherence to proper approval procedures;
• Manage cash and bank reconciliations and tracking business advances to project staff;
• Ensure compliance with local regulations in respect to financial and other matters (e.g. registration, taxation and labor laws);
• Ensure all procurement procedures and documentations are in place before processing payments;
• Review all financial aspects of finance deliverables including ad-hoc reports, audit reports and statutory reports;
• Verify and validate all documents submitted for payments before recording invoices;
• Maintain all vendors ensure up-to-date vetting and updated contact information;
• Prepare Month-End Report (MER) in a timely manner;
• Arrange for the delivery of funds to various locations, as required;
• Ensure vouchers are all correctly signed off and that no supporting documentation is missing;

Follow-up and supply documentation, if required, after Regional Program Accountant (RPA) review;

• Conduct banking transactions, including depositing and collecting bank statements, processing wires, converting currencies from one account to another;
• Manage cash and bank reconciliations;
• Maintain cash register for petty cash account as required for replenishment;
• Review staff payroll;
• Manage tax returns, PAYE, withholding taxes, annual returns, and staff deductions;
• Ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations and other relevant donor stipulations for all financial processes;
• Reconcile credit cards;
• Understanding of and demonstrated commitment to upholding Internews’ Core Values.

Qualifications We’re Looking For

Required:

• A degree in business administration/management, accounting, or the social sciences;
• More than 4 years of progressively complex accounting experience;
• Experience working with US Government funded donors (particularly USAID and/or DRL);
• Proven ability to work both independently and as an effective team member;
• Proven ability to prioritize and handle multiple on-going assignments;
• Proven ability of staff capacity building in field offices on accounting policies and procedures;
• Intermediate expertise in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Proven ability to set priorities and manage time effectively;
• Fluency in English is required;
• Proficiency in Arabic

Preferred:

• Fluency in Arabic;
• Proficiency in French and/or any other regional languages;
• Managerial experience;
• Experience working with remote teams;
• Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations;
• Familiarity with Unit 4 Business World accounting software;
• Accounting Certification or advanced degree (ACCA, CIMA, CPA, CA, CMA, MBA etc)