Finance Assistant

THE ORGANIZATION

The Water Trust empowers rural communities in Uganda to reduce preventable death and debilitating disease by enabling access to safe water and a healthy, clean environment. Since 2008, The Water Trust has partnered with more than 900 communities in Masindi and Kiryandongo, benefitting more than 300,000 people. The Water Trust aims to increase the scale of its operations and pioneer new approaches to increasing the impact and sustainability of water, sanitation, and hygiene programs.

THE POSITION

The Finance Assistant reports to the Finance and Operations Manager and functions as a book-keeper and the finance and administration point-of-contact for Masindi office. The Finance Assistant supervises an Office Attendant, and collaborates with a Human Resources and Administration Officer and a Field Office Administrator in executing their work. This position is an excellent opportunity for an early-to-mid career finance professional with excellent attention to detail and strong skills in an online accounting software.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Validate documentation and authorizations for transactions and use of assets and inventory in office.
• Prepare payment vouchers and process authorized payments and maintain physical and digital records.
• Oversee assets and inventory in Masindi office, releasing assets and inventory for authorized use and maintaining physical and digital records.
• Post transactions and journal entries to accounting systems in line with organizational chart of accounts and expense authorizations and complete with relevant documentation (e.g., invoice, receipt, delivery note) and annotated notes.
• Prepare transaction splits in accordance with budget for review by supervisor and post when authorized.
• Maintain physical records with appropriate approvals and stamps for finance documentation and preparation for audits.
• Support audit processes by providing necessary information and documentation.
• Reconcile bank accounts and ledgers.
• Process payroll for payment and filing once authorized.
• Manage and update schedules of relevant accounts, ledgers, and checks paid.
• Coordinate on behalf of finance with local institutions (e.g., banks and government offices) to ensure compliance standards are met and operations are not interrupted.
• Support the Finance and Operations Manager in completing finance and administration tasks and requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Essential

• Authorization to work in Uganda. Ugandan Country National (or refugee with work authorization and living in Uganda) strongly preferred.
• At least 3 years experience in accounting.
• Demonstrated expertise performing book-keeping function in an online accounting software, preferably QuickBooks or Sage.
• A diploma or degree in finance or accounting and strong
• Must be skilled in Microsoft Office package with at least an intermediate ability in Excel.
• Highly organized: demonstrated ability to manage information on projects with 10+ staff and analyze and understand implementation issues (e.g., failure to meet plans, inadequately detailed or unrealistic plans, inconsistent reports, missing reports.)

Desirable

• Speaks one or more of the following languages: Swahili, Runyoro, Luo, Iteso, Lugbara, Lugisu.