Accounting Assistant – Office of Finance

Uncategorized

In the global effort to ensure food security, financial integrity is the foundation of every successful project. As an Accounting Assistant with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), you play a critical role in ensuring that every dollar invested in agricultural innovation is managed with absolute transparency. By maintaining rigorous financial controls, you enable our experts to deliver life-changing soil health and fertilizer solutions to the developing world.

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Position Type: Full-Time

Application Deadline: Open (Immediate Consideration)

Sector: International Development / Agriculture & Finance

Job Summary

The Accounting Assistant provides essential support to the Office of Finance, ensuring the seamless execution of daily fiscal operations. You will be responsible for the accuracy of financial data entry, statutory compliance, and the systematic preservation of records. Working closely with the National Finance Officer, your goal is to maintain a high-performance finance function that meets both internal organizational standards and Nigerian statutory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Transaction Processing & System Management

  • Financial Integrity: Conduct comprehensive preliminary reviews of all financial documents to verify accuracy, completeness, and adherence to internal controls.
  • ERP Management: Execute daily accounting entries within the NetSuite system, ensuring every transaction is backed by compliant supporting documentation.
  • Petty Cash: Maintain precise records of petty cash flows, ensuring all minor expenditures are reconciled and recorded in the accounting system without delay.

2. Statutory Compliance & Reporting

  • Tax Governance: Apply relevant statutory regulations, specifically focused on VAT and Withholding Tax (WHT), for all processed transactions.
  • Filing & Submissions: Prepare and submit accurate statutory reports within mandated timelines to ensure the organization remains in good standing with regulatory bodies.

3. Account Reconciliation & Staff Support

  • Advance Management: Proactively manage the “Advance Account” by generating monthly balance statements for staff and following up on overdue retirements.
  • Travel Logistics: Coordinate the submission of Travel Expense Reports (TERs), ensuring that staff advances are retired and accurately reflected in NetSuite.
  • Banking Operations: Prepare necessary accounting entries and initiate secure payments via the banking platform as directed.

4. Documentation & Archiving

  • Digital Transformation: Lead the organization’s archiving efforts by scanning and uploading all financial vouchers to OneDrive, ensuring a “paper-light” and easily retrievable digital audit trail.
  • Systematic Filing: Maintain a meticulously labeled physical and electronic filing system to support internal and external audits.

Essential Qualifications & Skills

  • Educational Background: A Bachelor’s Degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
  • Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (data reconciliation and analysis) and prior experience with ERP systems (NetSuite experience is a significant advantage).
  • Numerical Aptitude: A natural ability to work with numbers, with a proven track record of identifying calculation errors or financial discrepancies.
  • Regulatory Knowledge: Solid understanding of Nigerian financial policies and statutory tax requirements.
  • Character & Ethics: High level of personal integrity and the ability to manage sensitive, confidential financial data with absolute discretion.

Why This Role Matters

The IFDC operates in a high-stakes environment where donor trust is paramount. The Accounting Assistant is the “first line of defense” in financial accuracy. By ensuring that every invoice is verified and every tax is correctly withheld, you protect the organization’s reputation and ensure that maximum resources reach the farmers and communities we serve.

Benefits of Applying

  • Career Growth: Gain experience in an international organization using world-class financial software (NetSuite).
  • Global Impact: Be part of an organization that has been leading soil fertility and agricultural productivity for over 50 years.
  • Professional Environment: Work within a structured, high-integrity finance team in the heart of Abuja.
  • Compensation: Competitive salary package consistent with international NGO standards.

About the Organization

Established in 1974, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a non-profit international organization dedicated to increasing food security and agricultural productivity in developing countries. We bridge the gap between research and real-world application, developing specialized fertilizers and soil management practices that help smallholder farmers thrive. With a presence in over 20 countries, IFDC is a global leader in sustainable agricultural intensification.

Tips for Applicants

  1. Detail is King: Your CV should demonstrate your ability to catch small errors. Mention specific instances where your reconciliation skills saved time or corrected a discrepancy.
  2. Software Matters: If you have used NetSuite, SAP, or Oracle, make sure those keywords are visible.
  3. Compliance Knowledge: Briefly mention your familiarity with FIRS guidelines regarding WHT and VAT in your cover letter or summary.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications through the IFDC global careers portal: IFDC Jobs on SilkRoad.

Organization: International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)