Coalition Health Zambia (CHZ), a leading Zambian non-governmental organization, is seeking an experienced Accountant to join its Finance and Grants department. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining accurate and timely financial records, supporting the Finance Manager in managing the organization's financial operations, and overseeing day-to-day accounting functions. This includes accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, bank and balance sheet reconciliations, journals, accruals, prepayments, month-end and year-end closing, statutory compliance, financial reporting, and cash management.
The Accountant will play a critical role in ensuring the financial health of the organization by monitoring grant disbursements, reviewing partner financial reports, and tracking expenditure against approved budgets. They will also be responsible for facilitating eligible reimbursements, ensuring partner grant accounts remain accurate and audit-ready, and maintaining a comprehensive sub-grant register. This register will show approved grant amounts, disbursements, expenditure, liquidations, reimbursements, and outstanding balances for each partner.
In terms of general accounting, the Accountant will maintain accurate and up-to-date accounting records and the general ledger, process and review accounting transactions, and prepare and post month-end and year-end journals. They will also assist the Finance Manager in preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports and ensure that financial transactions are recorded in the correct accounting period. The Accountant will identify and investigate unusual or incorrect transactions and recommend corrective action.
The Accountant will also be responsible for accounts payable, including reviewing supplier invoices for completeness, accuracy, and approval, and performing three-way matching of purchase orders, goods/service receipts, and supplier invoices. They will ensure supplier invoices are processed accurately and within agreed payment terms, prepare supplier payment schedules and payment runs, and conduct regular supplier statement reconciliations.
In addition to accounts payable, the Accountant will manage accounts receivable, including preparing and issuing customer invoices, maintaining accurate customer accounts and receivable records, and recording and allocating customer receipts. They will also perform customer statement reconciliations, monitor outstanding receivables, and follow up on overdue balances. The Accountant will prepare aged receivables reports for management review and escalate long-outstanding balances to the Finance Manager.
The Accountant will have a key responsibility for the financial oversight of organizations and partners receiving sub-grants to implement programs. This includes monitoring grant advances, ensuring funds are accounted for within agreed reporting periods, and reviewing partner financial reports within stipulated timelines. The Accountant will verify reported expenditure is eligible, reasonable, properly supported, and related to approved program activities, and identify unsupported or ineligible expenditure.
The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of accounting principles, grant management, and financial reporting requirements. They will be able to work independently and as part of a team, have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and be able to communicate effectively with stakeholders. Coalition Health Zambia offers a competitive salary and benefits package to the successful candidate, who will play a critical role in ensuring the financial sustainability of the organization.
Key points
- The Accountant will be responsible for maintaining accurate and timely financial records and supporting the Finance Manager in managing the organization's financial operations.
- The Accountant will oversee day-to-day accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger management.
- The Accountant will have a key responsibility for the financial oversight of organizations and partners receiving sub-grants to implement programs.
