Deputy Chief Accountant MSF

Médecins Sans Frontières

Brussels, Belgium

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES is an independent medical humanitarian NGO. In over 60 countries, MSF teams help populations in distress, and the victims of conflict, with no distinction in terms of religious, philosophical or political belief.

In order to support this work from Brussels, the Financial Department is looking for a Deputy Chief Accountant (M/F).

Background and objectives:

Within MSF, the Finance Department aims to ensure financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of MSF Belgium and ensures an optimal use of financial resources.

Within the Finance Department, the accounting division is in charge of book keeping all financial transactions at HQ level and the importation into the HQ system of book keeping realised at field Level. Accompanying the functional logic strategy and the need for increasing accountancy competences on the Field, the accounting division will integrate the Field Accounting Quality Control unit.

The Deputy Chief Accountant supports the Chief Accountant in the management of the accounting information. He supervises the unit in charge of the quality control of the accountancy made at field level and acts as the back up of the Chief Accountant.

Mission:

The mission of the Deputy Chief Accounting will be phased consequently to the implementation of the new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning).

In a first phase (9 to 12 months approximately) the Deputy Chief Accountant will replace the Chief Accountant in the daily running of the accounting division as this latter will be fully dedicated to this implementation. This period will allow the Deputy to develop his knowledge of the MSF accounting processes so as to be able to back up the Chief Accountant.

In a second phase, after the ERP to be implemented, the Deputy Chief Accountant will supervise and facilitate the integration of the unit in charge of the quality control of accountancy made at field level within the Accounting division.

The Deputy Chief Accountant ensures checks and controls are made properly, processes are respected within the defined timing and that eventually accounting data imported into the HQ system provide a true and fair view of the financial position of MSF Belgium missions. He develops strategies to improve the quality and time-frame of deliveries, ensures adequate tools and processes are implemented and the validity and accuracy of the data booked.

Job profile:

‘Chief accountant’ replacement

• Plans, organizes and implements accounting operations and objectives; coordinates and integrates all activities toward achievement of established goals and objectives,
• Supervises, advises and supports accounting staff,
• Controls and supervises the daily encoding, management of payments and treasury,
• Performs, in collaboration with the chief accountant, the annual closing operations (depreciation, inventory change, provision, cut-off-allocation, currency revaluation, etc.),
• Collects and coordinates information from third parties (Social Report, donor contracts, etc.),
• Provides pre-audit of accounts and prepares and provides necessary documents to financial auditor,
• Ensures compliance with our legal obligations (VAT, Reconciliation remuneration, Balance and annexes),
• Supervises and coordinates the reconciliations between MSF sections,
• Performs, in collaboration with the Chief Accountant, International Operations Consolidation.

Supervisor of the team of Field Accounting Advisor

• Supervises, trains and supports Field accounting advisors,
• Ensures all functions and programs under charge are performed within established processes and deadlines,
• Ensures accuracy of the data imported from field accounting
• Develops and ensures adherence to generally accepted accounting standards and principles; ensures maintenance of proper audit trails and verification and reconciliation actions for all processed work,
• Provides technical accounting support and participates proactively in the definition of strategy to strengthen the accounting capacities on the field,
• Develops tools and processes to improve quality of data encoded into field and time-frame of deliveries
• Organises and supervises donor reports audits
• Coordinates activities of the field accounting with the operation finances
• Attends and represents department at various executive meetings for the dissemination of information; prepares management meetings for dissemination of information; serves as a member of various employee committees
• Coordinates activities with other departments and work groups as needed

Candidate profile:

• Certified qualification degree
• 5 to 10 years of professional experience
• At least 3 years of experience in team management
• Excellent organisational skills
• Cross-functional skills
• Team player with ability to communicate with colleagues
• Keen to take responsibility – this role is for an individual who is committed to fully understand and resolve issues and drive through improvements and efficiencies
• Fluent French and good English (Dutch is an asset)
• Good knowledge of MS office tools

Conditions:

• Long term position, full time
• Based in Brussels.
• Deadline for applications is 15/08/2011.
• Interviews to be held starting from 25/08/2011

CV and motivation letter to send to Thalia Maes, 94 rue Dupré, 1090 Brussels. E-mail: thalia.maes@brussels.msf.org.