Senior Finance Officer

Job Title: Senior Finance Officer
Location: Freetown/Makeni
Organization: Street Child of Sierra Leone
Reports to: Finance Manager, Sierra Leone (SCoSL)
Employment Type: Full-time

The Senior Finance Officer has overall responsibility for supporting the finance functions for the Street Child (SCoSL), Makeni office/Freetown office. The Senior Finance Officer responsibilities include internal control management, accounting system management, reconciliation and verification of payments, Program staff training, budget and cash management functions.

Key Responsibilities:

Internal Control

• Ensures that all policies and procedures are in compliance with SCoSL and donor policies, procedures, and requirements.
• As required, establish finance and other support function policies, systems, procedures, and directs or performs their development, documentation, and implementation.
• Manages the field finance activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines as per SCoSL’s and donors’ policies.
• Closely monitors all financial activities and keeps the Finance Manager advised on all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial performance.
• Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to financial matters and ensures compliance with tax regulations and other legal requirements.
• Payment Processing.
• Review payments to the set thresholds to ensure completeness and adherence to procurement procedures and minimum documentation.
• Ensure payments are properly recorded in the accounting System (Quick Books Online version).
• Ensure timely processing of payments to vendors and beneficiaries.
• Represent finance during tender committees.

Cash/Bank – Management:

• Support in processing of bank and cash transactions.
• Review payment vouchers to ensure completeness and accuracy of documentation.
• Perform weekly cash count and ensure that documentary evidence is duly approved.
• Review multi-currency cashbooks as well as cash and bank reconciliation monthly.
• Facilitate the field office on cash needs and related issues.

Treasury and Cash Flow Management:

• Coordinate bank related instructions including user additions and deletion as well as Supervises all bank account activities.
• Oversees the timely preparation, review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliations.
• Oversee the preparation of Cash Transfer Requests to Freetown and ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation.

Document Management:

• Review internal system of record retention to ensure compliance with SCoSL policy and specific donor requirements.
• Ensure maintenance of uniform standards for documentation, including forms, support documents etc.
• Ensure sufficient procedures for retention of documents, proper and systematic filing for ease of access.
• Control access to financial records to authorized staff only.

Month End Close-out:

• Coordinate the monthly close-out process.
• Review monthly field financial report against the original documents before submission to Freetown for posting into the system.
• Review monthly balance sheet reconciliation and follow-up on the outstanding items.

Staff Training:

Assist the Finance Manager in developing and conducting regular training sessions on accounting procedures, procurement procedures and donor regulations.

Key Result Areas:

Strengthen and maintain the integrity of finance systems, ensuring smooth financial operations for supporting program work, updating and generating timely financial information to the management, donors, partners etc.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should send their resume and a cover letter with their qualifications and experience.

SCoSL is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all individuals to apply. We aim to create an inclusive workplace for everyone.