Position Title: Payables Accountant, Nairobi, Kenya
2 Positions
About Bridge International Academies
Bridge International Academies is a for-profit startup company revolutionizing education across Africa with a unique business model. The company runs a large-scale network of low-cost primary schools in Kenya that significantly outperforms other primary schools in the same areas because of our “school in a box” systems.
Our schools profitably deliver this high-quality education for less than $4 per child per month, which enable the schools to cover all their costs and create a profitable central organization at scale. We have launched 37 schools in Kenya, we will double in size in the next 6 months, and plan to rapidly scale the company to serve more than 1 million students across the continent.
About this position
This is a key role within the finance department. The department vision is to always be a valued business supporter providing high quality and timely financial services. Reporting to the Chief Accountant, the job holder will be part of young but professional finance team to achieve excellence within a few months.
Working closely with finance and business team leaders, the main purpose of this role is to improve and take a lead role in processing of suppliers’ accounts in the Navision system, undertaking timely reconciliations of payables and enhancing internal controls pertaining to purchase ledger and accounts payables process of the company, identify, review and record financial transactions into Microsoft Dynamics (Navision), measure, classify and verify the financial information and summarize, interpret and communicate the Accounts Payable information to the Chief Accountant for review.
Key Areas of Responsibilities:
2 Positions
About Bridge International Academies
Bridge International Academies is a for-profit startup company revolutionizing education across Africa with a unique business model. The company runs a large-scale network of low-cost primary schools in Kenya that significantly outperforms other primary schools in the same areas because of our “school in a box” systems.
Our schools profitably deliver this high-quality education for less than $4 per child per month, which enable the schools to cover all their costs and create a profitable central organization at scale. We have launched 37 schools in Kenya, we will double in size in the next 6 months, and plan to rapidly scale the company to serve more than 1 million students across the continent.
About this position
This is a key role within the finance department. The department vision is to always be a valued business supporter providing high quality and timely financial services. Reporting to the Chief Accountant, the job holder will be part of young but professional finance team to achieve excellence within a few months.
Working closely with finance and business team leaders, the main purpose of this role is to improve and take a lead role in processing of suppliers’ accounts in the Navision system, undertaking timely reconciliations of payables and enhancing internal controls pertaining to purchase ledger and accounts payables process of the company, identify, review and record financial transactions into Microsoft Dynamics (Navision), measure, classify and verify the financial information and summarize, interpret and communicate the Accounts Payable information to the Chief Accountant for review.
Key Areas of Responsibilities:
- Implement procedures in the business to ensure all invoices received are delivered to Accounts Payable upon receipt in the company and maintain an updated register to track movement of all the invoices received in the business until paid and filed.
- Streamline the “purchase to pay” process including scheduling of payments as per payment cycles.
- Reviewing of all supplier reconciliations and ensuring that reconciling items are resolved within one month.
- Prepare and maintain a register of all payments made outside the purchasing system.
- Review, check all invoices and ensure receipt of goods/services is acknowledged by the user departments before processing.
- Maintain a log of all disputed invoices and report monthly on actions taken to resolve them
- Spearhead automation of payment processes.
- Provide weekly and monthly payables projections for input into the business cashflow planning
- Manage supplier payments by among other things ensuring payments are done as per agreed terms, supplier relations are maintained and improved.
- Participate in the monthly physical stock take as instructed by the Management.
- Prepare monthly accrual and prepayment schedules for the purpose of monthly reporting in line with IFRS.
- Prepare Accounts Payables schedules and other balance sheet schedules for internal, interim and annual audits and timely resolution of any issues raised from internal review or audit.
- Manage the performance of direct reports including setting individual KPIS, tracking and measuring the performance of staff against the Key Performance Indicators on a regular basis.
- Developing the accounts payable team through on the job coaching and evaluating the training needs/proposing action to address the needs.
About you
- Intermediate to advanced levels of ACCA/ CIMA or CPA with excellent academic record with a minimum of 3 years work experience in a large payables section with ability to supervise and develop a small team of professional staff.
- Understanding and use of a well run purchasing and Accounts payable process.
- Understanding of the International Financial Reporting Standards and their application;
- Understanding of the tax requirements for payments made
- Ability to relate well with both internal and external customers and work in teams;
- Have a positive approach to ensuring complete customer satisfaction;
- Highly innovative, with excellent analytical skills and ability to meet strict deadlines
- Experience of working with medium to high exposure of business analysis, communication and support for large and fast growing profit oriented organizations.
- High integrity, IT literacy and excellent attention to details
- People skills and superior presentation abilities is a major requirement
- Ability to plan and manage own workload and coach/mentor team members in order to harmonize work flows and meet tight deadlines
- Excellent spreadsheet skills and proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics (Navision) version 2009
- Ability to use initiative and creative thinking to anticipate issues and develop common sense and practical solutions
- Proactive and self motivated with excellent communication skills
- Confident and flexible team player with great ability to work closely with non finance team members within a multicultural environment
- A “finisher” with the genuine drive and commitment to produce the highest quality work and to deliver technical expertise at all times
- Passionate about children and education in Africa.
The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday 21st October 2011
CVs and applications must be uploaded via the Careers page at www.bridgeinternationalacademies.com where detailed profiles are available
CVs and applications must be uploaded via the Careers page at www.bridgeinternationalacademies.com where detailed profiles are available
