United States of America: Director of Accounting

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Director of Accounting is responsible for overseeing the Accounts Payable(A/P), Accounts Receivable (A/R), Billing, Payroll operations. S/he is also responsible for implementing sound internal financial controls, ensuring the integrity of the organization's General Ledger (G/L) in accordance to US GAAP and donor regulations, and the effective management and satisfactory completion of the annual A-133 audit and tax return preparation.
Job Responsibilities:

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

• Supervises the A/P team, ensuring the following tasks are completed timely and effectively:
  • Payments are processed and paid in a timely manner by A/P team;
  • Supporting documentation, coding and approvals for payments are in compliance with IFES policies, procedures and donor regulations;
  • Payments are tracked timely and transparently to allow multiple stakeholders to access information regarding payment status;
  • Monthly reconciliation of aged A/P and between A/P and G/L;
  • Monthly reconciliation of IFES bank accounts and timely resolution of reconciling items;
  • Monthly reconciliation and allocation of charges under IFES credit cards.
• Approves payments within authority/as per IFES polic.
• As needed reviews and improves A/P policies and procedures.
• Helps A/P team develop and deliver training and guidance documents related to A/P.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND BILLING:

• Supervises the A/R team, ensuring the following tasks are completed:
  • 425 reports for all USG funded grants and cooperative agreements are submitted on a timely basis;
  • Invoices and/or financial reports for USG contracts and projects funded by non-USG donors are prepared and submitted timely and accurately;
  • Cash receipts are recorded timely and accurately on IFES A/R ledger;
  • Monthly reconciliation of aged A/R and between A/R and G/L;
• As needed reviews and improves A/R policies and procedures.
• Helps A/R team develop and deliver training and guidance documents related to A/R.

PAYROLL:

• Supervises the Payroll team, ensuring the following tasks are completed:
  • Salary payments for US employees and expatriates is process on a timely basis;
  • Labor distribution among projects is completed accurately and timely;
  • Corrections to labor contributions are supported adequately;
  • Deductions and benefits are recorded and paid accurately;
  • Leave accruals and balances are maintained accurately and reconciled quarterly;
  • Allowances for overseas employees are recorded accurately and tracked effectively (e.g. post differential, education allowance, danger pay, etc.);
  • W-2s and other compensation related reports are produced accurately and delivered timely;
  • Provide effective support for 401(k) annual audit.
• As needed reviews and improves Payroll policies and procedures.
• Helps Payroll team develop and deliver training and guidance documents related to this specific function.

GENERAL LEDGER, TAX AND AUDIT:

• Supervises the G/L and Audit team, ensuring the following tasks are completed:
  • Effective management of IFES' general ledger, its integrity and maintenance in accordance with US GAAP;
  • Review of IFES assets, liabilities and other balance sheet accounts and reconciliation of old items;
  • Monitoring of integrity of financial information between project ledgers and G/L;
  • Recording of monthly, quarterly and end of year accruals in the G/L;
  • Preparation monthly financial reports including: balance sheet, statement of activities; project revenue summary, and statement of indirect expenses;
  • Performance monthly and end-of-year closings;
  • Management of IFES annual A-133 audit;
  • Management of the timely preparation of IRS 990 and other tax requirements;
  • Support in the preparation of Annual NICRA submission.

POSITION SCOPE: Serves as head of accounting operations for IFES. Oversees a wide range of activities and processes to ensure sound financial management at the organizational level, ensuring compliance with US GAAP and IFES, USAID and other donor rules and regulations. Collaborates with the Chief Financial Officer in setting strategic initiatives, work plans and objectives for accounting operations, and manages its implementation.
DECISION MAKING/PROBLEM SOLVING: Identifies risk factors with potential to disrupt the sound financial management of the organization and recommends appropriate course of action, based on knowledge of professional principles and best practices. Is capable of effectively balancing compliance requirements and program needs, providing effective and compliant solutions to project implementation challenges in the financial area. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Ensures the completion of department tasks in a timely manner and within the allocated budget. Ensures compliance with IFES, USAID or other donor rules and regulations, particularly with regard to fiscal management. Authority to approve departmental expenses, contracts and purchases, subject to established controls and procedures. Oversees preparation of financial statements and other financial reports for the organization for management, Board of Directors, and external stakeholders. RELATIONSHIPS: Manages and maintains collaborative working relationships with staff at all levels and with external auditors to ensure timely and effective support to projects and sound financial management at all levels. SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Department supervisionQualifications:EDUCATION: Undergraduate degree in accounting or related discipline required, MBA and/or CPA highly desirable.
EXPERIENCE: At least 15 years of progressive experience in the accounting and finance field, with at least 5 years of experience in roles with similar responsibilities. Experience working with organizations receiving significant levels of USG funding under cost reimbursable instruments is a must; experience with non-USG funding grants is a plus. RELATED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:** Strong knowledge of OMB CFR 200, FAR, AIDAR; management of A-133 audits; effective management and communication skills and ability to form and develop high performing teams are required. Knowledge of Deltek Cost Point and Cognos CER a plus.

TRAVEL: Travel may be required up to 10% of time

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Standard office work environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Candidates must submit his/her resume/CV through our careers page at www.ifes.org. Resumes that are emailed will not be reviewed or considered.