Senior Accounting Officer

Job Summary The Senior Accounting Officer is responsible for leading the accounting function at INTERSOS Afghanistan by ensuring accurate financial recording, timely account closure, robust internal controls, statutory compliance, audit readiness, and monthly Journal closing. The position supports the Finance Coordinator in maintaining an efficient accounting system (Journal) that provides reliable financial information for management decision-making and donor accountability. Accounting Management · Lead and coordinate all accounting activities for the Afghanistan Mission. · Ensure quality, completeness, and timely recording of all Journal transactions for the Coordination Office and field offices. · Directly record daily Journal transactions and consolidate the master journal from all field locations. · Review, verify, and validate accounting journals to ensure compliance with INTERSOS accounting policies and donor requirements before monthly closure. · Ensure all accounting entries are supported by complete documentation including Purchase Requests (PR), Purchase Orders (PO), Contracts, Delivery Notes, Goods Received Notes (GRN), invoices, payment vouchers, receipts, approval documents, and any other supporting documentation required under INTERSOS procedures. · Ensure all accounting entries are correctly coded according to donor, project, budget line, chart of accounts. · Coordinate monthly journal closure and ensure submission of the master journal to Region within established deadlines. · Prepare reconciled expenditure listings by project and donor for the Finance Coordinator, Finance Manager, and Region whenever required. · Maintain Journal records that are complete, accurate, and readily available for management, donors, and auditors. · Prepare and submit monthly e-tax filings , ensuring accurate and timely reporting. · Prepare and submit the Semi-Annual Expenditure report to the Finance Manager from the Journal . Financial Systems and Digitalization Serve as the Mission focal point for all accounting system matters. Provide technical guidance to finance staff on accounting software and financial systems. Ensure proper implementation of HQ accounting procedures and digitalization initiatives. In the absence of the finance officer, manage the import, verification and synchronization of accounting databases in accordance with HQ Finance procedures and deadlines established by the Regional Finance Controller. Coordinate implementation of new accounting modules, upgrades and financial system improvements. Ensure accounting databases remain secure, complete and free from inconsistencies. Financial Reconciliations · Ensure timely preparation and review of monthly reconciliations including Bank Accounts, Cash Accounts, Staff Advances, Vendor Accounts, Receivables, Payables, Balance Sheet Accounts, Inter-project balances, and HQ Costs · Investigate discrepancies and ensure timely corrective actions. Compliance and Internal Controls Serve as the Mission technical reference for accounting compliance by: Ensuring compliance with INTERSOS Finance Manual, Accounting Manual, and financial procedures. Ensuring compliance with donor regulations including ECHO, AICS, BHA, UN Agencies, and other institutional donors. Monitoring compliance with procurement procedures and Delegation of Authority. Verifying segregation of duties across financial processes. Reviewing accounting documentation before transactions are posted. Identifying accounting risks and recommending corrective actions. Conducting periodic accounting compliance reviews across Coordination and field offices. Audit Coordination · Coordinate preparation for : Internal Audits, External Audits, Donor Audits, Government Audits Responsibilities include: Preparing accounting schedules Reviewing supporting documentation Coordinating audit requests Facilitating audit missions Following up on implementation of audit recommendations Maintaining audit action trackers · Ensure the Mission remains audit-ready throughout the year. Documentation Management Ensure proper filing of accounting documents in both hardcopy and electronic format. Maintain organized accounting archives. Ensure financial documentation is easily retrievable. Maintain document retention in accordance with INTERSOS policy. Support digital archiving initiatives. Capacity Building and Support · Train finance and non-finance staff on compliance, donor rules, and documentation standards. · Raise awareness on compliance responsibilities across departments and field teams. Ø Additional tasks: Performs any other necessary tasks as assigned by the Finance Manager/Finance Coordinator. Job Requirements Required Qualifications and Experience: · Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field. · Master's Degree is desirable. · CCA, CPA, CIMA or equivalent professional qualifications are considered an advantage. · Minimum 3 years of professional experience in finance and accounting, with at least 3 to 4 years in the humanitarian/NGO sector. · Strong working knowledge of Afghan tax laws , · Knowledge of donor compliance standards (e.g., ECHO, AICS, SV DRA, UN, etc.). · Excellent English communication skills (written and spoken); Dari and/or Pashto is a must · Advanced skills in MS Excel and financial management software. Core Competencies · Strong analytical and organizational skills · High level of integrity, transparency, confidentiality, and professionalism · Proactive mindset with attention to detail · Team player with excellent interpersonal and coordination skills · Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines