The IAPB leads international efforts to prevent blindness. Our vision is of a world in which no-one is needlessly blind or visually impaired and where those with unavoidable vision loss can achieve their full potential.

Project Accountant maternity cover

Up to £45k

Flexible hours

Location London WC1

Your challenge is to provide a first-class accounting for crucial initiatives such as our Seeing is Believing project in partnership with Standard Chartered. It’s an important and varied role where you’ll be reviewing budget applications, assessing the suitability of projects, analysing financial reports, and processing and recording drawdowns. You’ll also handle the finances relating to grants, as well as monthly management accounts.

A finalist or qualified Accountant, you’re analytical and highly organised. You have previous experience in project accounting and you’ve worked in an international environment. Your flexible approach and strong communication skills mean you can work with many stakeholders. What’s more, you can create complex spreadsheets and use multi-currency accountancy packages.

For further details about the programme, visit and to apply, please visit:

Closing date: 23/06/2014

Applications will be reviewed as and when received and you may be contacted for interviews prior to the closing date.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Project Accountant

Full Time / Part Time : Full Time

Reporting to: Financial Controller

Main Duties & Key Responsibilities

The post holder will assume responsibility for project accounting and financial support for the Seeing is Believing (SiB) programme (60%) and other IAPB restricted grants (25%) as well as support the production of Monthly Management Accounts (15%).

The Project Accountant will work closely with the project Managers and fundraisers.

Project Accounting - Seeing is Believing programme (60%)

  • Review and query budget submitted at the pre-qualification and full proposal stages.
  • Work with the Programme Manager to assess the suitability of projects
  • Review MOU and final Budget prior to formal sign off.
  • Review and Analyse financial reports submitted, investigate any discrepancies
  • Process and record drawdowns.
  • Assist team to ensure commitments have a smooth plan over life of the Programme.
  • Ensure that project expenditures are compliant with charity legislation, and all matched funding requirements are adhered to.
  • Work closely with SiB Finance Manager and SCB country teams to monitor direct country transfers to projects.
  • Build relationship with and support local projects’ finance function
  • Ensure all projects submit full final financial reports for close-out of individual projects.
  • Participate in project visit as and when required.
  • Monthly reconciliation of project schedules to IAPB Balance Sheet and P& L
  • Preparation and posting of correcting journals.
  • Prepare consolidated drawdown and cashflow forecast and analyse variance
  • Prepare Management Accounting information to SiB Management Committee, provide commentary on project drawdowns
  • Be the main point of contact for all SiB project related internal and external audit

Project Accounting – Other Restricted Grant (25%)

  • Prepare monthly grant reports to Project Managers.
  • Liaise with local offices, to collect project data in a timely manner.
  • As and when required prepare financial report to funders.
  • Work closely with fundraisers to prepare funding requests.
  • Monthly reconciliation of project schedules to IAPB Management Accounts.
  • Prepare projects cashflow.

Month end and Year end closure (15%)

  • Support the Financial Controller in the month end and year end routine.
  • Bank and other Balance Sheet items reconciliation.
  • Being the main point of contact for restricted grants related audit.
  • Submitting statutory accounts to Companies house, HMRC and the Charity commission

Profile

  • Project Accounting experience in an international environment essential (Minimum 4 years).
  • Interest in International Development.
  • Willing / able to travel overseas.

Qualifications and Skills

  • Good Analytical and problem solving skills.
  • Consistent and highly organised.
  • Proactive, flexible and adaptable to a varied environment.
  • Good communication skills at all level and through various means (email, teleconference, skype, face to face).
  • Excellent spreadsheets skills.
  • Experience of accounting for European Grants an advantage.
  • Experience of using multicurrency accounting package (Access Dimension will be an advantage).
  • Finalist or Qualified Accountant.

IAPB application process

To apply for an advertised vacancy, please;

  • complete the application form in full, you can find a copy attached at the end of this application pack,
  • ensure that you demonstrate within the form why you are applying, how you meet the jobholder entry requirements and what additional skills and experience you would bring to the IAPB, and

once completed please send your application to the Human Resource department at

When submitting your application please ensure that it will arrive by 5pm on the closing date.

Good luck with your application.

Guidance notes on completing the application form

Please read these notes carefully before completing the application form.

The purpose of completing the IAPB application form is for you to provide us with information about yourself which will help us to decide who to short list for interview.

Completed application forms are matched against the requirements set out in the job description to create a shortlist.

Please note that we do not accept curriculum vitae (CVs) for any of the roles we advertise.

If you would like to receive an application pack in a different format please contact with your specific requirements.

Completing the application form

You should carefully review the job description before you complete the application form. This will inform us of your suitability for the role and help us decide who will be short listed for interview. We are looking for you to demonstrate that you meet the criteria listed in the job description detailing your achievements and abilities so you must clearly state on the form exactly how you feel you match the requirements for the role.

The following tips are suggested in order to help you complete the application form as effectively as possible:

  • Study all the information you have been sent about the job before you begin to complete the form. Ensure that you are clear about what you are being asked to do.
  • Make sure that your application is specific to the job you are applying for. A standard application form, which you have prepared before, may not address all of the requirements for the role.
  • You should provide information about your skills and experience which will address all of the requirements of the role.
  • Please give examples of your skills and experience making it very clear of your role in this i.e. whether as a support or leading role.
  • Make sure that you complete all sections of the application form.
  • Remember to consider all your relevant skills and experience whether acquired at work or outside of work.
  • When you are listing your previous jobs please ensure that the dates are correct and in the right order, with your most recent employment first.

Unfortunately due to the large volumes of applications that we receive we are unable to offer feedback to those not short listed.

Application for Employment
We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from all sectors of the community
PERSONAL DETAILS
Application for the post of:
Please state where you saw the advert:
Surname: Title: / Forenames:
Address:
Post code: / Can you be contacted by telephone? Yes/No
If yes: Daytime
Evening
Mobile
Email Address:
Nationality:

To enable us to comply with our obligations under the Asylum & Immigration Act can you confirm that you are entitled to work in the UK? YES/NO

EDUCATION
Name and address of School/College/University / Dates / Examinations Passed
EMPLOYMENT

Please list below present and previous employment, starting with your most recent employment (if necessary continue on a separate sheet)

Dates from / To / Employer’s name, address and nature of business / Posts held
(brief description of duties)

If you are currently working, please state the length of notice required by your employer:

INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF YOUR APPLICATION
Continue on a separate page if necessary

Please outline:

The reason for your application:

The experience you have gained that would be relevant to this application:

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Information Technology

Please detail the computer systems/packages that you have used:

Languages

Please detail any additional languages which you speak:

REFERENCES

Please give two; one should be your last employer or tutor. They will be taken up only on offer of employment, unless you give prior permission.

Name:Name:

Address:Address:

Postcode:Postcode:

Email:Email:

OTHER PERSONAL DETAILS

UK Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence, other than a spent conviction YES/NO

Disability

Do you consider yourself to have a disability? YES/NO

If yes, please give details:

How can we assist with any special needs you may have to enable you to attend interview or carry out your duties?

DECLARATION

I declare that the information given, to the best of my knowledge, is accurate, and that, if appointed, any statement made on this form which is found to be false may result in my employment being terminated.

Signed:

Date: