Accounting Specialist (Centralised Finance and Accounting)

The Accounting Specialist supports finance and accounting activities for SOFCOM multinational budget requirements at SHAPE. The role involves cash management, treasury, financial reporting, and internal control functions to ensure proper accountability and transparency in financial operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide expertise and continuity for all SOFCOM cash management, treasury, finance and accounting activities and other projects as assigned.
• Facilitate accurate and timely processing of transfers and distributions by communicating with internal and external divisions involved in the SOFCOM processes.
• Actively contribute to the revision of the business process, applications tools and workflow to guarantee the proper segregation of duties for SOFCOM and other related customers.
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for team members, other departments and back up all team members when needed.
• Identify and escalate operational emergencies and discrepancies to Section Head and/or Branch Head for further assessment and follow-up.
• Maintain the SOFCOM Official Accounts to reflect approved budgetary credits, expenditure authorised and committed, holdings of funds and negotiable documents, sums payable and receivable, and payments and receipts.
• Advise separate budget, project, case and program holders on the status of accounting records ensuring credits committed and paid accurately reflect the legal status of their accounts and are consistent with NATO/ACO guidance.
• Analyze the financial data of the official SOFCOM general ledger accounts and contribute to the collection of the necessary information for audit and control by internal and external audit.
• Prepare and update desk finance and accounting guidance for reimbursable projects like the SOFCOM.
• Prepare written responses to internal and external formal inquiries for the revision of the Section Head and/or Branch Head.
• Provide guidance and assistance including monitoring of budget execution, resolving customer service issues for SOFCOM and any related business.
• Supervise reconciliations of reimbursable accounts related to other entities and is responsible for the follow-up of any related outstanding credits and Quality Control processes.
• Monitor payroll accounting and liaise with HRM finance section.
• Liaise with the travel service provider for financial and performance reports, including coordination of the follow-up on all open-related issues.
• Responsible for the preparation of the financial data for the official annual financial statement of the entity.
• Coordinate financial matters and IPSAS related accounting procedures with the Section Head and/or Branch Head to assess the SOFCOM requirements and related accounting procedures.
• Coordinate financial matters and related accounting procedures within the Branch for the SOFCOM.
• Operate ERP modules for the execution and follow-up of the request, payments, receipts, reports.

Requirements

• Professional experience in finance, business management, accounting or economics.
• At least 3 years of experience as user and/or analyst of financial ERP modules such as Account Payable, Account Receivable, Purchasing, cash Management, general Ledger, and Travel.
• Broad experience in the analysis and reconciliation of accounts, cash flow and forecast, examination of vouchers, records and controls commitments, obligation and expenditure of funds.
• At least 3 years of experience with office-automated software packages, in particular, spreadsheets.
• Higher Secondary education and completed higher vocational training in economics, accounting, business administration, public administration, finance, management or related discipline leading to a formal technical or professional certification with 3 years function related experience, or a Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related experience.
• English SLP 3232 (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
• Extensive experience with ERP systems used in the public or private sector (desirable).
• In-depth knowledge of office automation software packages (i.e.- Microsoft Office) (desirable).
• Experience in drafting procedures and guidance, including briefing notes and reports on finance matters (desirable).
• Experience as financial assistant in a private and/or public organization (desirable).
• A university degree or post Graduate Diploma in Accounting, Finance, Management or related field (desirable).

Skills

• Financial ERP modules
• Accounts payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Purchasing
• Cash management
• General Ledger
• Travel Expense Processing
• Account Reconciliation
• Cash Forecasting
• Voucher Examination
• Commitment and Expenditure Control
• Financial Reporting
• Office Automation Software
• Spreadsheet Software Knowledge
• Procedure Drafting
• Financial Analysis
• Internal Controls
• Treasury Management

Languages

English