Finance Assistant at Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

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Finance Assistant

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Employer: Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa,Addis Abeba - Ethiopia

Posted date: 9 months ago

Deadline: Submission date is over

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Job Description

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years of experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical

unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience, and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya.

The position is responsible for ensuring appropriate systems and procedures (payroll, cash management, vendor payments, and other related expenditures) are followed to properly disburse, account, budget, and report project funds which are cost-effective, timely, have proper internal controls, and comply with the terms of the agreement. The candidate also handles VAT claims, all tax and pension declarations, TASS reporting, and related assignments.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional support for RTI’s finance and accounting functions.
• Accounting/keeping track of expenses and other financial transactions, mainly involving expense entry, tracking, and record keeping.
• Review expenses and financial transactions to ensure they comply with RTI procedures and terms of the agreement.
• Prepare USAID VAT refund and ensure vendors have declared their VAT monthly and submitted to USAID on time.
• Follow up on the VAT refund process at the Ministry of Revenues on VAT corrections and rejections.
• Assist in the reconciliation of monthly VAT receivable and VAT requested.
• Travel to the fields for workshops, training, and meetings to pay and facilitate participants perdiem.
• Timely Organize, scan, and file all documents in the accounting department.
• Timely disburse vendor checks, deposit bank transfers, and ensure collection of legal and complete vendor receipts.
• Enter the purchase date into the Ministry of Revenues Tax Administration Support System (TASS)
• Prepare and record monthly on the MINSTY OF REVENUES e-tax system of 2% and 30% withholding tax, perdiem tax, Salary income tax, and pension contribution.
• Timely collect receipts from the Ministry of Revenues every month for payment of the e-tax system.
• Maintain, disbursement, reconciliation, and replenishment of petty cash fund.
• Assist in the preparation of payment vouchers and ensure that all payments are reviewed accurately, translated, approved, dated, and supporting documentation is attached and correctly coded.
• Assist in preparing checks, and wire transfer letters and ensure timely payment.
• Preparer Tax withheld vouchers and made sure to reconcile them with the ledger and timely declarations to the Ministry of Revenues.
• Assist in entering data daily into QuickBooks.
• Upon authorized request, present the required document/voucher to the finance department and others and ensure that they are returned to their original box files.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by his/her supervisors.

Qualifications

Master’s degree or Bachelor’s Degree and 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience

Skills & Abilities

The skills and abilities required to perform the essential job duties of this job are listed below. An addendum that clarifies additional skills and abilities for incumbents in this job may be used in addition to this description

• An understanding of and commitment to RTI’s mission and values
• Discreet in the judgment and management of confidential matters, materials, and sensitive issues.
• Ability to answer most inquiries and questions independently and follow up on requests in an efficient manner.
• Ability to resolve problem situations is a tactful and effective communicator, both orally and in writing, and ability to deal with persons of diverse cultures.
• Ability to understand and interpret policies and procedures as well as the ability to apply them with consistency in a variety of circumstances.
• Ability to function independently and carry out routine responsibilities with minimal supervision
• Must be proficient in MS Excel and working knowledge of accounting software is preferable. Accpac proficiency would be a plus.
• Must be able to communicate in both local language and English (written and oral).
• Ability to work well in a team environment and train others in financial reporting.
• Ability to follow guidelines and controls required for the position
• 10-20% travel required.
• Ability to monitor the progress of a project against milestones or deadlines double-check the accuracy of information to discover weaknesses or missing data and strive for high-quality performance.

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