Temporary Accountant

Job Details

The Temporary Accountant provides essential support to Save the Children’s Western regional offices based in Kyangwali, Uganda, under the supervision of the Senior Accountant. The role performs cashier management duties including petty cash management, acting as bank agent, and initiating payments via mobile money wallets and bank transactions. Additional responsibilities include maintaining an organized filing system, supporting audits through document retrieval, registering journals and processing advance payments to staff per policies and guidelines. The holder ensures efficient collection of field payment requests daily, review by the Senior Accountant and accurate input into the finance system. Location is Kyangwali. Employment is contract/temporary, Full Time. The job holder may be called upon to assist during emergency situations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the deposit of collected refunds into the organization’s bank account and ensure adequate cash levels are maintained across the bank, mobile money wallets and petty cash.
• Upload verified and approved payment requests for beneficiaries to the banking platform and initiate reviewed mobile money payments, following up with signatories and approvers for timely approvals.
• Provide payment proofs to requestors once transactions are fully processed and offer guidance to staff on controls for operation of mobile money wallet and bank accounts.
• Provide user support and troubleshooting for the payment system, ensuring regional users are proficient and resolving issues.
• Prepare petty cash and bank top-up requests supported by reconciled cash balances, bank statements and approved documentation.
• Maintain physical security of cash, cheque books, payment instruments and other financial assets per SCI internal control requirements.
• Participate in scheduled and surprise cash counts and promptly resolve variances.
• Process, record, monitor and follow up staff and programme advances to ensure timely retirement per SCI policy.
• Prepare and maintain complete banking documentation including deposit slips, payment confirmations and supporting records.
• Prepare Cash & Bank payment journals and forward to the Senior Accountant for review and upload at least twice a week.
• Support the Senior Accountant in reconciliation of control accounts like staff advance account, ensuring weekly matching.
• Provide support in preparing monthly returns including VAT, NSSF, PAYE and WHT for the region, ensuring timely submission to Country Office by the 10th of each month.
• Assist the Country Office Senior Accountant in projecting monthly cash needs for the field office.
• Oversee filing system, organizing documents for easy retrieval and managing the Document Management System (DMS) to ensure timely scanning and uploading.
• Facilitate audit process by retrieving requested documents.
• Ensure timely posting of expenses and assist budget holders in tracking pending pipeline postings including purchase order commitments.
• Provide support to budget holders in running Budget Versus Actual (BVA) reports and assist Budgeting and Reporting team with SOF loader budget preparations.
• Provide timely information on cash balances and anticipated funding requirements to support regional cash flow planning.

Qualifications, Skills and Requirements

• At least a bachelor’s degree in Commerce (BCOM), Business Administration (BBA-Accounting), Science in Accounting or any other related field.
• At least minimum of two years working experience in the related field.
• Partial or full completion of ACCA or CPA and knowledge of GAAP is an added advantage.
• Ability to provide accounting and finance support to remote teams and field offices utilizing digital payment and communication tools.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy in financial reporting, data entry and compliance with organizational policies.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and projects across different locations.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in organization operating systems including Agresso, ProSave, S2B, PRIME and Microsoft Excel, with ability to adapt to new financial systems quickly.
• Ability to speak local language and directly interact with target group will be an added advantage.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Strong time management skills, with ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Knowledge of financial reporting standards and ability to prepare accurate financial statements and reports.
• Commitment to Save the Children values.