FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE
Req #: | 167298 |
Department: | DEPARTMENT OF GLOBAL HEALTH |
Job Location: | Other Location |
Job Location Detail: | HAI - 1107 NE 45th St, Suite 350, Seattle WA 98105 |
Posting Date: | 05/07/2019 |
Closing Info: | Open Until Filled |
Salary: | Salary is commensurate with experience and education |
Shift: | First Shift |
Notes: | As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here. |
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years.
The Department of Global Health was established in 2007, bridging the schools of Medicine and Public Health, with a mandate to harness the expertise and interdisciplinary power of all UW schools and colleges. Our mission is to improve health for all through research, education, training, and service; to understand and address the causes of disease and health inequities at multiple levels; and to collaborate with partners to develop and sustain locally-led, quality health systems, programs and policies. Driven by tremendous interest among both students and faculty, the Department has grown explosively to more than 400 graduate students and hundreds more undergraduates. We have more than 380 faculty and 1,000 staff working on projects across 130 countries with our deepest ties in United States, Kenya, Uganda, Peru, Mozambique, India, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua. At the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington, diversity is integral to excellence. The Department recognizes that disparities in health around the globe stem from inequity. The Department encourages and supports the multiple identities of staff, faculty and students including, but not limited to, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, culture, spiritual practice, geography, mental and physical disability and age. The Department strives to become a local, national, and international leader in developing and maintaining increased representation and recognition of each of these dimensions of diversity among its faculty, staff, and students.
Health Alliance International (HAI) is an independent 501 c (3) non-profit organization that also functions as a center for the University of Washington's Department of Global Health. Because of its status as an independent non-profit organization, HAI receives funding directly from donors such as USAID, CDC, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and others. HAI staff are responsible for managing global field operations in 3 countries including Mozambique, Timor-Leste and Cote d’Ivoire. Field operations are staffed by approximately 145 HAI staff working in these countries. As an independent non-profit organization, HAI operates its own in-house accounting department, and grants management staff all of whom work both with, and independently from the University of Washington system. HAI is also required to contract with an outside audit firm to perform an A-133 audit as we receive federal funds for our activities.
HAI currently has an outstanding opportunity for a Financial Accounting Associate to support its Cote d’Ivoire Country Team. This is a full-time (100%) FTE position. This position will assist the Director of Finance to ensure the accuracy of financial information reported to donors and the efficient operations of field office accounting procedures and processes.
The Financial Accounting Associate will coordinate with HQ and field office staff regarding financial reporting requirements and compliance issues. This position will collaborate on a daily basis with accounting staff in our field offices, including developing and delivering trainings, job aides and policy/procedure documents in French and English and ensure all required information is received by HQ Finance in a timely manner and according to the requirements of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
This position reports to the Director of Finance but exercises independent judgement and responsibility, seeking out authoritative guidance and coordinating with the Director of Finance as needed. The position requires excellent communication skills and a demonstrated capacity to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment. Bilingual proficiency in English-French is highly desirable. The position will require some international travel to Sub-Sahara Africa.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Auditing and oversight
• Provide ongoing technical support and capacity building training for field office accounting staff regarding the use of the HAI accounting program [Peachtree/SAGE 50] and the appropriate treatment of accounting transactions.
• Continuously review, prepare and convert the monthly financial information submitted from HAI field offices to HQ. Prepare additional journal entries and related reconciliations.
• Verify whether current systems are adequate. Propose solutions when necessary.
• Work in partnership with grants and budget staff to meet reporting requirements of donors.
• Respond to financial information requests from program leadership at HQ and HAI field offices.
• Work with administrative support staff to ensure accurate and organized record keeping of all field office financial documentation sent to HQ for permanent archiving.
• Visit field offices as needed (mostly likely annually but frequency will depend on need and available budget) to review systems, conduct internal audits, train staff and solicit feedback from field office staff.
Field Office Training and Support
• Troubleshoot difficulties and provide guidance for field accounting staff on the use of Sage50 software.
• Troubleshoot difficulties and provide guidance for field office staff on the proper treatment of financial transactions during each monthly and annual closing cycle.
• In collaboration with field office staff, identify areas for process improvement and propose changes.
• Develop job aids and implement training plans to support process improvement work. Primary focus will be on Cote d’Ivoire office but tools will be developed with attention to possible uses in other international locations.
Annual A-133 HQ Audit and Field Office Audit
• Provide support to the Director of Finance in preparing HAI’s annual A-133 audit. Help ensure all field office transactions and documentation are accurate, up to date, and organized prior to audit.
• Help coordinate the preparation of schedules and documents and respond to audit requests as required.
• Support field office accounting staff and leadership in the preparation of documentation for any local audits as requested.
Cote d’Ivoire Team Collaboration
• Represent the HQ Finance office on the HQ Cote d’Ivoire team by attending weekly meetings to report any relevant finance updates and progress. Report back as needed to the HQ Director of Finance.
• Communicate regularly with the Cote D’Ivoire HQ Grants Manager and entire Program team to ensure monthly financial reports are accurate.
• Communicate regularly with field office finance leadership using email, skype, screen share technologies, and other methods as appropriate, to facilitate mutual understanding and support the swift resolution of problems and questions.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related business field, plus 5 years of accounting experience.
• Ability to work with complex financial data and distill meaning.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Past experience developing trainings and/or supporting team members in skill development.
• Past experience or demonstrated commitment to working effectively in a cross-cultural environment.
• Excellent proficiency across all MS Office applications. Advanced Excel skills.
• Ability to travel internationally to Cote d’Ivoire and/or other HAI office locations.
• Thorough knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE
• Fluency in English and French is highly desired.
• Experience in a non-profit organization with international program activities.
• Knowledge of USAID, CDC and/or other government grants and agreements.
• Strong financial accounting, modeling and analytic skills to ensure accurate and timely reporting and analysis of information to management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial software and accounting systems.
• Interest in international public health
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
• Periodically available for phone calls/meetings in the early morning and late evenings to accommodate worldwide time differences
• Deadline-driven environment, occasionally requiring extended hours
• The position will require some international travel to Sub-Sahara Africa.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.
The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 / 206-543-6452 (tty) or dso@uw.edu.