Accountant, USAID/West Bank & Gaza Accountable Local Governance (ALG) Activity

Project Background

USAID/West Bank and Gaza (WBG) Accountable Local Governance (ALG) Activity is a four-year, four months project that aims to improve the delivery of essential public services and to promote inclusive and accountable governance. The Activity interventions will improve service delivery, enhance the effectiveness of municipal operations, strengthen local government unit (LGU) fiscal management, and build resilience to shocks and stressors. The Activity will strengthen municipal responsiveness to citizens’ priorities and concerns, enhance civic engagement in local governance with a focus on under-represented and marginalized groups, and help connect LGUs, civil society, and other institutions to improve service delivery and enhance accountable governance.

Position Purpose

The Accountant will play a crucial role in ensuring adherence to financial policies, project procedures, regulations, controls, and reporting systems. This position provides essential accounting support to the project office, ensuring compliance with all relevant accounting and financial reporting functions. Responsibilities include recording costs, managing day-to-day general accounting, handling accounts receivable/payable, processing payroll, ensuring audit readiness, and supporting the Finance Manager with all financial functions.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Finance:

• Prepare and submit vendor and remittance tax forms timely.
• Prepare and submit monthly reconciliation reports for review.
• Monitor and submit advance, commitment, and subawards reports.
• Oversee expense reporting by regional offices (if applicable).
• Monitor and report on partner/vendor payment schedules and obligations.
• Assists in preparing information for any contractual financial reporting requirements (if applicable).

Audit:

• Support preparation for internal and external audits.
• Address internal audit comments and actions.
• Review backup documentation daily for completeness, accuracy, and compliance.
• Perform regular spot audits on project files.
• Ensure timely upload of backup documentation to relevant systems.

Compliance/Policies & Procedures:

• Ensures that accounting policies and practices are carried out in accordance with GAAP and local law standards; project internal controls are established and implemented in accordance with DAI policies, USAID rules/regulations, the host country regulations, and the terms of the Cooperative Agreement.

General Accounting/Financial Management:

• Initiate wire requests for field project implementation.
• Verify vendor invoices and expenses for accuracy.
• Ensure timely processing of invoices, advances, reimbursements, checks, and wire transfers.
• Ensure appropriate approvals for payment requests.
• Deposit cash receipts promptly.
• Record and assign costs based on the approved budget in the project’s accounting system.
• Perform monthly bank reconciliations and monitor bank account balances.
• Compile and review backup documentation for all project transactions.
• Maintain petty cash according to policy and ensure compliance with procedures.
• Safeguard bank checks, cash receipts, and petty cash.
• Manage banking relationships.
• Prepare, review, and submit project cost data to DAI Washington.
• Maintain file management systems for documentation.
• Manage files on subawards, procurement, subcontractor documents, and modifications.
• Support periodic cash counts.
• Minimize non-billable expenses.
• Track, record, and report foreign taxes paid to USAID as required.
• Prepare USAID VAT reports if applicable.
• Reconcile project inventory regularly to ensure accuracy.

Travel Advances & Reimbursements:

• Audit travel requests and expense reports for accuracy and compliance.
• Ensure timely payment and reconciliation of travel advances and reimbursements.
• Monitor outstanding advances and ensure timely settlement.

Payroll:

• Process payroll payments accurately and timely.
• Track and monitor leave balances and payroll taxes.
• Review employment agreements and update salary calculations.
• Ensure staff compliance with timekeeping policies.

Financial Systems:

• Use field accounting systems, cloud software, and DAI’s operations system regularly.
• Communicate with home office support teams for technical issues.
• Scan and upload voucher files to electronic filing systems.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration and 7+ years of relevant experience in an accountancy position, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 2 years’ of recent experience supporting USAID-funded projects in an accountancy/finance role.
• Demonstrated understanding of applicable finance-related USG contracting regulations.
• Accuracy in working with large amounts of data.
• Ability to respond effectively to the time sensitive inquiries.
• Experience with enterprise accounting software, and Microsoft office suite.
• An energetic, forward-thinking, and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

The Accountant will report to the Finance Manager