Position Description
Job title: Finance and Accounting Officer
Status: Full-Time, one year
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
ABOUT SWAVU
Swavu is a dynamic new African social enterprise startup established as a local company in Rwanda, and situated at Nard House building, Kicukiro, Kigali. Swavu is committed to its core mission to boost retail services that cater to low-middle income customers in Rwanda with plans to expand in other parts of Africa. Swavu seeks to enhance intra-African trade as most of its product range will be sourced from African countries, with a view to help high performing African companies to enter African markets.
In so doing, Swavu will exemplify international principles of consumer protection. Additionally, Swavu will re-invest part of its profit in building the capacity of its distribution chain, and support policy making and research efforts by Africans in the area of African retail and intra-African trade.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The Finance and Accounting Officer shall be responsible for performing the following functions including on Swavu’s Microsoft Dynamic 365 Business Central Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system integrated and the Rwandan Government’s Electronic Billing Machine:
- Perform book-keeping.
- Forecast Swavu’s financial requirements for specified periods and prepare and manage budgets for Swavu Rwanda operations,
- Issue official invoices and receipts; monitor incoming revenues compared to physical sales and stocks.
- Ensure and certify sufficient availability of funds, and administer payroll and other expenses.
- Effect payments using cash, mobile money and bank transfer methods. Manage company bank accounts, including bank account reconciliation, and verification of all bank charges.
- File electronic and hard copies of the financial documents and reports.
- Manage cash handling, preparation of cash reports, cash deposit slips, and goods received notes.
- Compile and present financial reports and statements.
- Recommend, develop, and guide the implementation of company financial internal controls policies and procedures designed to protect Swavu’s assets from fraud; ensure that Swavu’s accounting data is correct; maximize the efficiency of Swavu’s operations; and promote an atmosphere and culture of compliance among Swavu’s employees and partners.
- Work with Swavu’s external CPA to prepare required tax filings, and to prepare for mandatory audits.
- Additionally, the Accounting and Finance Officer will apply controls and checks to Swavu inventory by monitoring and approving: (i) the purchase order process, inventory transfers, deliveries, product tagging and processing; (ii) monthly inventory audits and reconciliations; including keeping track of expiration dates and product turnover to prevent losses due to unusable stock; (iii) records of all product movements in and out of company inventory; (iv) forecasts of product inventory movement and levels to maintain optimum inventory levels. In so doing, s/he will analyze the supply chain to foresee risks or issues.
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR THIS ROLE
- Clean police record.
- Minimum education level – A university degree in accounting or a relevant field is required.
- Minimum five years of work experience in corporate accounting in Rwanda is essential.
- Proficient in Microsoft software (MS Outlook, MS Teams, MS Word and MS Excel, etc).
- Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is preferred. Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP is an advantage.
- Experience in using the Rwanda Revenue Authority’s Electronic Billing Machine software is preferred. Working knowledge of Kinyarwanda and English (spoken and written). Command of French is a plus.
CRITICAL SOFT SKILLS
- Highly organized professional with meticulous attention to detail.
- Impeccable ethics.
- Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Quick learner. Ability to learn new systems and work with new computer applications and systems.
- Team player
- Mature judgement
- Ability to work under pressure and in stressful situations.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONS
Swavu, ltd, is a small firm currently building a small and effective team. The Finance and Accounting Officer will report to the Country Operations Manager as the first line supervisor, and to the Chief Operating Officer as the second line supervisor. S/he will be assisted by a general office assistant and will work cooperatively with Swavu’s external CPA, and internally with the warehouse and logistics officer and the sales team.
COMPENSATION
Salary and benefits are commensurate with prevailing market rates and qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.
HOW TO APPLY
Qualified candidates should send their CV to [email protected], and include contact information for two references who can credibly attest to the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, character, ethics, and experience, preferably a former supervisor or teacher. CVs will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will be filled as soon as a qualified candidate is found.
The successful candidate will be appointed under a one-year contract, renewable based on performance and need. This is a local recruitment only, limited to Rwandan nationals residing in Rwanda.
