Assistant Accountant General – Accounting & Reporting

Assistant Accountant General – Accounting & Reporting

Job Title:                        Assistant Accountant General – Accounting & Reporting

Post Number:                 68818      

Job Level:                      FMG/PA 4

Department:                 The Accountant General’s Department – A Department of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service

1. 1.     STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

The Government Accounting and Reporting Division is responsible for ensuring that effective financial systems and procedures have been established, are being consistently followed and are in line with best practice and legal requirements.  This includes all Government reporting including those laid out by statute in the various Acts; implementation of systems and procedures that will be in keeping with sound public financial management practices to ensure that the public accounts are prepared in a standardized, timely and accurate manner; ensuring that all Government cash resources are consolidated and all revenues due to the Government are received efficiently and on time by devising proper mechanisms for that purpose.  It also oversees the share holdings of the Government and acts as custodian for all share value documents received in regards to those share holdings.

1. 2.     JOB PURPOSE

The Assistant Accountant General - Accounting and Reporting will ensure that the standard cash International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) is rolled out and in use by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); that the necessary monitoring and training in its use is provided; and it is implemented across Government.  The incumbent will ensure that the accounts are prepared according to the set regulations, laws, standards and guidelines; that one format of reporting is applied; and that the reports of the MDAs and the consolidated Government reports are presented to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and other stakeholders on time. The incumbent will also ensure that the books of accounts of the MDAs are monitored to verify whether all revenues due to the Government are paid into the Consolidated Fund on time. 

Summary of the broad purpose of the position in relation to Government’s goals and strategies:                                                                                   

• To oversee the establishment, implementation and maintenance of systems of Government accounting and reporting that extends to all MDA’s and non-commercial public bodies;
• To ensure that the AGD is the Government accounting standard body which promotes standards that give a true and fair presentation and full disclosure of the affairs of the Government; including, among others, accounting standards, Chart of Accounts, payment processing, and internal controls ;
• To ensure the development of a standard suite of reports, and customized fiscal reports for special analysis as requested by the MOFPS and other users of fiscal information;
• To ensure sustainable capacity building in the AGD and MDAs to include training, and the production of procedural rules and technical instructions, and the requisite supporting manuals;
• To devise strategies for monitoring MDAs’ books of accounts to ensure that all revenue collected on behalf of the Government are returned to the Consolidated Fund promptly;

1. 3.     KEY OUTPUTS

• Sound expert advice and guidance on Government accounting and reporting to support effective public sector financial management;
• Standard, IPSAS compliant systems of Government accounting and reporting, and documented policies, standards, and procedures implemented throughout the public sector;
• Accounting standards and policies being properly interpreted and applied throughout the public sector;
• Systems of internal control established;
• Trained, competent AGD and MDA Financial Officers;
• Consolidated Accounts;
• Consolidated Government Reports;
• Current Chart of Accounts;
• Divisional, Unit & Individual Work plans;
• Completed Performance Appraisals.

1. 4.     Key Responsibilities

Technical

Establish, implement and maintain systems of Government accounting and reporting that extends to all MDAs and non-commercial public bodies; and ensure that the AGD is the Government accounting standard body which promotes standards that give a true and fair presentation and full disclosure of the affairs of the Government;

• Oversees the design/amendment, and the management of the implementation and maintenance of, IPSAS compliant Government’s accounting standards, instructions, policies and procedures;
• Oversees the maintenance of the central financial accounts;
• Oversees the accounting for the Contingencies Fund; Development Fund; Consolidated Fund; Special Funds; Trust Funds; and Reserve Fund; ensuring that all payments made are appropriately authorized and in line with the funds’ stated purpose;
• Oversees the maintenance of the Chart of Accounts to ensure international financial reporting standards are met;
• Oversees the management of month-end and year-end close and reconciliations;
• Oversees relations between the Treasury and other Government Departments in accordance with defined procedures;
• Presents statutory financial statements of the Government and any other statements of account required by the Minister of Finance or the Financial Secretary;
• Oversees the coordination of all fiscal reporting activities for the Department and MDAs, including statutory reports laid out in the FAA Act.

Devises strategies for monitoring MDAs’ books of accounts to ensure that all revenue collected on behalf of the Government are returned to the Consolidated Fund promptly.

• Ensures effective revenue monitoring and accounting;
• Ensures routine inspection of the books of accounts of MDAs are conducted to ascertain and enable compliance with revenue rules, regulations, and policies;
• Ensures the provision of financial regulations and issuance of Treasury Circulars so that there are adequate systems relevant to public financial management for the general upkeep and maintenance of accounting systems.

Strategic Leadership

As Unit Head: 

• Plans, develops, organizes, implements, directs and evaluates the unit's fiscal function and performance;
• Leads in the smooth and efficient operation of the division through the management of daily operations;
• Establishes and implements systems for reporting of work done against stated and agreed work plans for the unit;
• Establishes internal control processes required to manage and grow the unit
• Meets or exceeds unit performance targets;
• Deputizes for the Deputy Accountant General, Government Accounting and Reporting as and when required.

Human Resource Management

•  Plans, organizes and directs the work of the unit by overseeing the development   

 of performance targets for the unit and staff (Unit Plan) based on the corporate    

 Strategic Plan;

• Ensures that the Unit’s staff have sufficient and appropriate physical resources to enable them to undertake their duties efficiently and effectively;
• Provides leadership and guidance through effective planning, delegation, communication, training, mentoring, coaching and disciplinary action
• Participates in the recruitment of staff for the Division
• Recommends transfer, promotion, termination and leave in accordance with established Human Resource Policies and Procedures
  • Identifies skills gaps and collaborate with the Manager Training and Development to develop and implement Staff Development and Succession Plans for the Division to ensure adequate staff capacity;
  • Monitors job specific and environmental factors, implement and promote health and safety policies; and mitigate and minimize workplace hazards;
  • Monitors the performance of staff and ensure effective and objective staff performance management, through timely and accurate completion of the staff appraisal process, including periodic reviews;
  • Ensures the welfare of divisional staff are clearly identified and addressed.

Any Other Duties

• Any other related duty that may be assigned from time to time.

1. 5.     Key Performance Indicators

The job is successfully performed when:

• Adequate and timely fiscal accounting and reporting advice is provided to the AG and Executive;
• Strategic direction and advice is provided in a timely manner;
• The system of cash IPSAS is effectively rolled out, implemented and monitored in all MDAs as indicated by the MDAs and divisional reports;
• There is full compliance with financial regulations and reporting standards;
• Reports are done with the relevant disclosure notes which are accurate and timely;
• Ad-hoc and out of time reports are accommodated;
• The system effectively accounts for all Government revenues held by the MDAs;
• There is a high degree of compliance by the MDAs in returning all revenues to the Consolidated Fund;
• The Chart of Accounts is effectively maintained;
• An effective monitoring system is in place accounting for all Government investments in public bodies;
• All non-revenue Government bank accounts are closed to the TSA
• The Department’s statutory reporting requirements are met;
• Work plans and divisional performance targets are met or exceeded;
• Staff appraisals are done in a timely and objective manner;
• Government orders and circulars relevant to the Division are issued under the appropriate procedures;
• Banking authorizations are made in an effective manner.

1. 6.     REQUIREMENTS for this Job:

1. a.     Minimum Qualification and Training

• BSc. Degree in Accounting/Management Studies with Accounting or BBA Degree from an accredited University or; Post-Graduate Degree in Accounting/Financial Accounting or;  Practising Chartered Accountant and a Member of a designated professional accounting Body or;  ACCA Level 2 or 3.

1. b.     Essential Experience and Knowledge:

• At least 8 years of experience in Accounting;
• At least 5 years  of experience working at the management level in Accounting or Finance, with at least 2 years in the public sector;
• Experience in budget management and Chart of Accounts formulation and maintenance;
• Comprehensive knowledge of Accounting practices and applications;
• Sound knowledge in analysing financial performance of an organization;
• Sound knowledge of how financial markets operate;
• In-depth knowledge and experience in all areas of financial management;
• Comprehensive  knowledge of investment strategies;
• Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS);
• Knowledge of Government Accounting;
• Knowledge and experience in developing financial strategies by forecasting capital, facilities, and staff requirements; identifying monetary resources; developing action plans;
• Working knowledge of the Finance Administration and Audit Act (FAA Act);
• Knowledge of public treasury operations;
• Knowledge of banking operations.

1. c.      Competencies

The incumbent is a senior public servant who represents the Government at all times, and who is expected to lead a team in realizing the goals and objectives of the Department, in a highly dynamic environment.  The following competencies are required for the effective performance of this job:

• Analytical Thinking, Decision Making, and Problem Solving: The capacity to analyze problems promptly, choose between alternatives, and effect meaningful solutions.
• Strategic Planning:  The ability to develop effective plans in keeping with the Department’s objectives, including to determine priorities, and set medium and long term goals.
• Performance Management: The ability to align resources, systems, standards and activities to effectively, efficiently and consistently meet the goals and strategic objectives of the Department.
• Managing the Client Interface :  Ability to work effectively with others, both internal and external to the Department, to deliver acceptable, customer-oriented and high quality service.
• Customer and Quality Focus: The ability to continuously ensure high standards of quality and service delivery to meet customers’ expectations.
• Collaboration and Team Work:  The ability to be a collaborative business leader, and an inspiring professional who shows a genuine intention to participate and work co-operatively with others in pursuit of team goals.
• Interpersonal skills:  The ability to display sensitivity towards others, interact collaboratively with colleagues, and to build long term internal and external relationships and gain support to achieve desired objectives.
• Change Management:  The ability to maintain effectiveness in a changing environment and the willingness to respond quickly and positively to change, and to lead others through change and manage their concerns.
• Leadership and Team Building: The ability to provide vision, direction, allocate responsibilities, delegate and motivate staff in one’s team, to include leading by example.
• Integrity:  The ability to consistently demonstrate sound ethical standards, observe the codes of conduct for employees and codes of professional practice, and show consistency between established values and behaviors, in order to build trust and credibility.
• Use of Technology: The ability to accept and implement information technology in work activities to enhance organisational performance.
• Emotional Intelligence:  Possession of  self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social skills – The ability to display behaviors appropriate to the AGD’s business and social environment.
• Oral and Written Communication:   The ability to communicate proficiently orally, in writing, and in one- on- ones face- to- face, with excellent public speaking skills. 
• Ability to work effectively under pressure

1. 7.     SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB

Physical Demands

 Pressured working conditions with numerous critical deadlines

Work Environment

Normal office conditions