Finance Systems Accountant

Working with the world’s poorest people to transform their lives. Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries. We work in partnership with the very poorest people in these countries, directly enabling them to improve their lives, as well as using our knowledge and experience to influence decisions made at a local, national and international level that can significantly reduce extreme poverty.

Job Title: Finance Systems Accountant

Reports to: Finance Director

Job Location: 52-55 Camden Street, Dublin 2

Contract Details: 2 year Fixed Term Contract Pay Band: Grade 5: €41,281 - €48,151

Job Purpose: The Finance Systems Accountant will be the point person for handling all technical issues and queries relating to the accounting system of Concern Worldwide, currently Microsoft Great Plains (MGP). Additionally they will work with the Finance Director to develop financial systems aimed at improving and simplifying accounting processes within Concern.

It is essential that the applicant have a formal Finance qualification (ACA, CIMA, CPA or ACCA). They should be able to demonstrate previous examples of where they have either delivered system implementations as project managers or where they have been a part of a Finance team where they have implemented a system or package.

This position is based in Dublin and will involve supporting the finance systems for the head office (HO) team and our overseas offices. It is expected that this position will involve significant travel to overseas fields (potentially 30%-40%).

Main duties & Responsibilities:

Finance System Support 1.Handling all day to day queries (Home and Overseas) related to the finance systems of Concern, in conjunction with the IT team and the Financial Accountant (HO).
2.Working and coordinating with the Regional Accountants of Concern in providing training and support on MGP and other finance systems to the field offices of Concern. 3.Working and coordinating with the Financial Accountant of Concern in HO to provide training and support on MGP and other finance systems to the Head Office team. 4.Maintaining and updating all relevant support manuals. 5.Maintaining and updating the relevant support pages of the in-house intranet pages for finance system issues and support. 6.Carrying out finance system support visits to fields of operation as required. 7.Ensuring that MGP backups are being carried out and sent to Dublin in line with the established schedule. 8.Developing training sessions on MGP and other finance systems for use by the Regional Accountants. 9.Maintaining and monitoring the number of licenses needed for the finance systems in use by Concern.

Systems Upgrade and Development 1.Overseeing all upgrading processes related to the accounting package used by Concern. 2.Assist with project planning activities, including preparing and updating project plans, issues and risk logs. 3.Liaising with IT to improve the integration of MGP with other systems - such as the donor database of Concern. 4.Developing and testing new systems aimed at simplifying existing processes. 5.Overseeing and supporting the roll out of new processes. 6.Developing training sessions on new processes for all users.

Other 1.Working with IT to ensure security protocols, with regard to finance system, are being adhered to. 2.Liaising and working with external vendors and MGP support service providers as needed. 3.Ensuring our systems allow for compliance with GAAP. 4.Perform any other duties as required.

Person specification: Essential: •Professionally Qualified Accountant ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CPA •Three year’s experience working as an accountant, preferably with an INGO. •Experience of implementing an accounting package or financial systems. •Advanced knowledge of Excel and Microsoft Great Plains.
•Fluent spoken and written English •Excellent organisational and planning skills •Analytical and problem solving skills •Training and staff development experience •Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines •Flexible, adaptable and a sense of humour •Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity •Empathy with organisational goals

Desirable:
•Experience in working in the international development sector (overseas) •Experience of working with Concern in another finance position •Experience of project management

To apply: All applications should be submitted through our website at www.concern.net/jobs by closing date October 5th 2011.

Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Ireland at the time of application.

Concern has a Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants, especially beneficiaries, from abuse and exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, partner organisations, and anyone engaged by Concern or visiting our programmes, and the standards of behaviour expected of them.

Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions in these two documents.

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).

Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.