JOB OPPORTUNITY

ACCOUNTANT

Location: Manyonyo Irrigation Scheme, Chikankata District, Southern Province

Employment type: Full-time

Reports to: General Manager

Board interface: Attends Board meetings to present and clarify financial matters.

ABOUT MANYONYO IRRIGATION COMPANY LIMITED

Manyonyo Irrigation Company Limited (MIC) is an agribusiness owned by 145 smallholder farmers in Chikankata District, Southern Province. The Company’s principal business is growing sugarcane for sale to Zambia Sugar Plc. MIC seeks to expand and strengthen its farming operations over time, with the long-term aim of growing from its present smallholder base into a sustainable, larger-scale commercial farming business that creates lasting value for its shareholder-farmers and the surrounding community.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Accountant will take full responsibility for MIC’s accounting, finance, payroll, statutory and financial-reporting functions, ensuring that all financial information is complete, accurate, current, properly supported and available for management and Board decision-making.

MIC has a lean structure, and this will be the Company’s sole accounting position. The successful candidate must therefore be willing and able to perform the full range of work personally: from routine transaction capture, filing and payment processing to management accounts, annual financial statements, budgeting, audit support and Board reporting.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administer the Company’s accounting system and maintain complete, accurate and up-to-date day-to-day accounting records.
• Capture, classify and verify all financial transactions and maintain the general ledger, subsidiary ledgers, supporting schedules, reconciliations and source documents.
• Prepare accurate monthly management accounts, periodic financial reports, annual financial statements and supporting information for management and Board review.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations for all Company bank accounts, investigate reconciling items promptly and keep banking records complete and traceable.
• Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable, including supplier and customer reconciliations, debtor follow-up, creditor monitoring and maintenance of current schedules.
• Prepare payroll and wages, issue payslips, resolve payroll queries and maintain complete employee payment and deduction records.
• Prepare, submit and follow up all applicable statutory returns and remittances, and maintain a reliable compliance calendar and supporting records.
• Prepare payment vouchers and supporting schedules; capture authorized payments in online banking; and obtain, verify and file proofs of payment and bank statements.
• Administer petty cash, including proper authorization, issue, recording, supporting documentation, retirement, reconciliation and replenishment.
• Issue official receipts, account for Company receipts and ensure that funds received are banked and recorded promptly.
• Prepare and monitor budgets, cash-flow forecasts and funding schedules, and report material variances, risks or emerging funding requirements to the General Manager.
• Maintain accurate records of Company assets, liabilities, inventory-related financial transactions and other balances relevant to the accounts.
• Liaise with external auditors and provide complete, accurate and timely information for statutory and other audit work.
• Attend Board meetings, present financial reports, respond to financial questions and provide practical financial advice to the General Manager and Board.
• Liaise professionally with banks, statutory bodies, suppliers, customers, farmers and other stakeholders on accounting and financial-information matters.
• Maintain orderly, secure and confidential financial files and perform any other accounting or finance duties reasonably falling within the accounting function of a Company of MIC’s size and nature.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A Degree or Diploma in Accounting from a recognized institution.
• At least five years of relevant experience in accounting, financial management or an equivalent role.
• Sound knowledge of applicable accounting standards and Government of Zambia tax laws, payroll requirements and statutory regulations.
• Strong practical ability in transaction processing, reconciliations, payroll, statutory compliance, budgeting, financial reporting and record keeping.
• Proficiency in QuickBooks accounting software, or strong ability to work with the accounting package adopted by the Company.
• Strong command of Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel and Word, and confidence using online banking and other relevant systems.
• Membership of ZICA or another recognized professional accounting body will be an advantage.
• Good analytical, organizational, problem-solving, communication and report-writing skills, with careful attention to detail.
• High standards of integrity, accuracy, accountability and confidentiality, together with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in English and willingness to work and reside in the Manyonyo/Chikankata area.

• Administer the Company’s accounting system and maintain complete, accurate and up-to-date day-to-day accounting records.
• Capture, classify and verify all financial transactions and maintain the general ledger, subsidiary ledgers, supporting schedules, reconciliations and source documents.
• Prepare accurate monthly management accounts, periodic financial reports, annual financial statements and supporting information for management and Board review.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations for all Company bank accounts, investigate reconciling items promptly and keep banking records complete and traceable.
• Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable, including supplier and customer reconciliations, debtor follow-up, creditor monitoring and maintenance of current schedules.
• Prepare payroll and wages, issue payslips, resolve payroll queries and maintain complete employee payment and deduction records.
• Prepare, submit and follow up all applicable statutory returns and remittances, and maintain a reliable compliance calendar and supporting records.
• Prepare payment vouchers and supporting schedules; capture authorized payments in online banking; and obtain, verify and file proofs of payment and bank statements.
• Administer petty cash, including proper authorization, issue, recording, supporting documentation, retirement, reconciliation and replenishment.
• Issue official receipts, account for Company receipts and ensure that funds received are banked and recorded promptly.
• Prepare and monitor budgets, cash-flow forecasts and funding schedules, and report material variances, risks or emerging funding requirements to the General Manager.
• Maintain accurate records of Company assets, liabilities, inventory-related financial transactions and other balances relevant to the accounts.
• Liaise with external auditors and provide complete, accurate and timely information for statutory and other audit work.
• Attend Board meetings, present financial reports, respond to financial questions and provide practical financial advice to the General Manager and Board.
• Liaise professionally with banks, statutory bodies, suppliers, customers, farmers and other stakeholders on accounting and financial-information matters.
• Maintain orderly, secure and confidential financial files and perform any other accounting or finance duties reasonably falling within the accounting function of a Company of MIC’s size and nature.

• Proficiency in QuickBooks accounting software, or strong ability to work with the accounting package adopted by the Company.
• Strong command of Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel and Word, and confidence using online banking and other relevant systems.
• Good analytical, organizational, problem-solving, communication and report-writing skills, with careful attention to detail.
• High standards of integrity, accuracy, accountability and confidentiality, together with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in English.

• A Degree or Diploma in Accounting from a recognized institution.
• At least five years of relevant experience in accounting, financial management or an equivalent role.
• Sound knowledge of applicable accounting standards and Government of Zambia tax laws, payroll requirements and statutory regulations.
• Strong practical ability in transaction processing, reconciliations, payroll, statutory compliance, budgeting, financial reporting and record keeping.
• Membership of ZICA or another recognized professional accounting body will be an advantage.
• Willingness to work and reside in the Manyonyo/Chikankata area.