Chief Accountant, USAID/Afghanistan

Job Description

Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world.

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At Dexis, you will experience a corporate culture of inclusiveness, fairness, and trust. You will be given the means and mentorship needed to succeed, and your creativity will be rewarded.

Dexis is seeking a Chief Accountant to provide support to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Afghanistan Mission. The position is located in the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and serves as the Chief Accountant and is the most senior Foreign Service National (FSN) financial management staff member. OFM supports a wide range of U.S. government (USG) stability and development programs and activities throughout Afghanistan. USAID/Afghanistan manages an extremely complex portfolio of over 105 awards with a value of $5.0 billion and a $3.0 billion pipeline in active instruments.

The Chief Accountant serves in a unique and highly specialized senior role encompassing some of the largest and riskiest USAID development activities. In carrying out that role, the incumbent reports directly to the Deputy Controller, whose supervision is limited to providing very general guidance. The incumbent is responsible for providing expert advice on foreign assistance financing, financial management operations, and the coordination and preparation of budget submissions. The Chief Accountant is recognized as the senior FSN expert on a broad variety of accounting and financial systems, the Agency’s integrated automated financial system (Phoenix) and all matters relating to the technical aspects of the Mission program and Operating Expense (OE) budget, accounting, payments, accounts receivable, and financial reporting.

The incumbent is responsible for overall management and oversight of the operating expense and program accounting, program/project budgets, voucher processing, payroll, and cashiering coordination including the integrated Mission- specific automated processing and reporting system. The incumbent provides direct professional financial and technical advice, support to technical teams, and analysis and advisory services on all financial aspects of the implementation of USAID/Afghanistan’s development assistance projects. The Chief Accountant is directly responsible for the training, development, and mentoring of the budget and accounting, payroll, and voucher examiner staff which includes ten (10) financial management professionals. The incumbent also serves as the principal financial management advisor supporting host government on-budget assistance programs, general oversight of audit and risk management engagements, and providing uniform guidance and procedures for risk and financial management of all appropriated and non-appropriated funds available to the Mission, including implementation of internal accounting controls to safeguard those funds and other Mission assets. The incumbent serves as the alter-ego of the Deputy Controller for Operations. The position is 100% remote. The start date is immediate.

Responsibilities

Under the general guidance of the Deputy Controller for Operations, the incumbent has the primary responsibility to execute the budget, accounting, and payment functions for the Mission’s highly complex program and operating expense portfolio. In those capacities, the incumbent’s responsibilities and duties shall include, but not be limited, to the following functions:

Financial Management and Oversight (50%)

• Serves as the principal manager for the daily operations of all financial management systems, practices, procedures, and applicable problems and responsible for planning, directing, and administering a comprehensive accounting, payment, reporting, and budgeting system designed to provide senior Mission management with timely financial information for strategic decision making.
• Develops and establishes financial management systems, practices, and procedures applicable to program implementation and operating expenses.
• Plans and directs the maintenance and operation of comprehensive accounting systems, coordinating the preparation of program assistance and operating expense budgets.
• Assures that obligations, commitments, sub-obligations, and sub-commitments are appropriately approved in compliance with appropriations law, funds control guidance, and other relevant federal regulations through pre- validation techniques suitable to the needs of the program and providing clearance on documents, as required.
• Oversees the planning, development, and maintenance of a robust internal control system for the processing, accounting, and reporting of all USAID/Afghanistan’s obligation and liquidation actions.
• Performs disbursement reconciliation of accounts with those of the U.S. Disbursing Offices, Treasury, and conducts accurate and timely quarterly accruals and 1311 reviews, making recommendations for the deobligation of funds where applicable.
• Oversees and coordinates the activities of the accounting, voucher payment process, payroll, and financial reporting of accounting and payment activities, and ensures the efficiency and effectiveness of USAID/Afghanistan’s financial management operations.
• Oversees the development, implementation, operation, and maintenance of the Mission’s accounting system Phoenix, Intra-government Payment And Collection (IPAC), and other financial management systems.
• Provides on-the-job training, professional development, and mentoring to OFM Foreign Service National (FSN) employees on all program and operating expense accounting as well as voucher examination/payment, including payroll functions.
• Oversees the performance of financial reviews of host government institutions including ministries and parastatal organizations, in addition to traditional USAID implementing partners.
• Provides support and guidance to the technical and support offices for responding to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the General Accountability Office (GAO) and, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) performance and financial audits.
• Supports the Mission in the review of all G2G project activity documents in coordination with the host government; and in managing the implementation of G2G project activities. Oversees the performance of fiduciary risk assessments and the follow-up of identified risks for G2G awards and assists the technical teams in the development of new G2G activities.
• Serves as the primary financial management contact for Interagency Agreements (IAAs). Develops indirect cost rates to recover the full cost reimbursement for the support services necessary for effective program implementation.
• Manages the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) budgets for operations in Afghanistan. Develops operational budgets, oversees related accounting and payments, and serves as the main liaison with budget offices in AID/Washington.

Analysis and Reporting (30%)

• Assists and advises the technical teams with the development of improved financial management systems and procedures at project implementation units, with views towards improving the internal control environment and monitoring over projects.
• Provides advice to the technical teams and senior management on all issues that directly and indirectly have a financial impact on the Mission’s program implementation.
• Responsible for the preparation, tracking and reporting of monthly mission program OYB matrix and plays a key role in liaising with the Mission Director, the Deputy Mission Directors, the Program Office, and technical team leaders on the management of the OYB and in responding to all queries from Washington on all OYB matrix related issues.
• Maintains the quarterly web-based reporting tool which includes tracking and management of all OE assets and accounts receivable to enable Washington to issue consolidated financial statements.
• Oversees the preparation and analysis of quarterly pipeline reports and recommends revisions to the reporting system to better explain technical teams’ pipeline issues.
• Assures that financing and reporting procedures, which conform with USAID’s financial and program reporting systems and to the requirements and limitations of U.S. government and cooperating country laws and regulations, are fully considered and set forth in grant project agreements and contracts.
• Formulates and prepares the operating expense budgets for submission to USAID/Washington and analyzes proposed forward funding and existing obligation pipelines and provides cost factors needed for budget formulation estimates.
• Assures effective management and funds control principles are applied on operating expense and program funds allowed for the current fiscal year.
• Responsible for all management, tracking and spending of representational funds and ensures that these funds are properly accounted for according to applicable guidelines and regulations.
• Oversees the preparation of the financial section of the Mission’s portfolio review and quarterly financial review (QFR) sessions.
• Support in the development of financial accounting reporting and budget control policies; verifies accuracy of financial data and appropriate action regarding accounts receivable; responds to all inquiries and resolves all financial management issues; and controls all mission financial and accounting documentation and records.
• Performs quarterly project accounting analyses and provides technical assistance to the technical teams in the development of accrual estimates for various development assistance activities. Manages and supervises the reporting on OE budget accruals.
• Works with the Budget Analysts and Executive Office on all ICASS-related issues and performs detailed analysis of Embassy-issued ICASS invoices to assure conformance with budget.

Risk Management & Internal Control (20%)

• Oversees the coordination and implementation of the Mission’s annual Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) assessment of risks and development of control techniques, review of management controls and ensures compliance with reporting requirements.
• Conducts periodic evaluations of the Office of Financial Management’s administrative and operating procedures. Based on such evaluations, makes recommendations as appropriate in order to improve the accounting and administrative systems and controls and assists in the implementation of any recommendations resulting from such evaluation as approved by the Controller.
• Serves as the Mission’s Phoenix Coordinator, and subject matter expert (SME) for the electronic travel system (E2), WebTA & Agency Secure Image and Storage Tracking (ASIST) systems.

Minimum Requirements:

• Ability to obtain facility access
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (accounting), etc.) and eight (8) years of professional work experience OR Master’s degree in a relevant field plus six (6) years of professional work experience OR High School Diploma plus twelve (12) years of relevant professional work experience.
  • Prior Work Experience: Progressively responsible experience in accounting, budgeting, or financial management is required, particularly in the financial management, accounting & vouchering areas.
• Have experience in federal accounting and federal personnel management procedures.
• Be proficient in the use of Web-enabled Accounting Software (e.g. Momentum), Windows, Google Suite (e.g. Sheets), Internet search engines, and e-mail applications.
• Post Entry Training: Formal training in USAID accounting, voucher examination, internal control, and USG contracting will be provided. Courses will be offered based on USAID University’s training schedules and the availability of funds.
• Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) oral and written English and level IV (fluent) oral and written Dari and/or Pashto are required.
• Job Knowledge: Complete familiarity and thorough practical knowledge with USAID accounting policy, procedural, and reporting requirements; general familiarity with other relevant USG (GAO, OMB and Treasury) policies and regulations as well as Phoenix procedures, requirements and conventions is required. A good working understanding of USAID’s project planning and implementation procedures is required. A good knowledge (or the ability to acquire such knowledge) of the Federal Acquisition Regulations, AID Acquisition Regulations, acquisition/assistance cost principles, as well as other laws, regulations, and related procedures associated with USG accounting is required.
• Skills and Abilities: The incumbent must possess a high level of analytical skills, decision-making ability, professional expertise, and independent judgment, including the ability to compile and present large amounts of complex financial information in an understandable manner or layman terms for senior management and other nonfinancial staff. The incumbent must demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities in order to serve as a role model for OFM and other Mission staff. The incumbent must have the ability to train, develop, mentor, and supervise a large subordinate staff, and coordinate among the many units at USAID/Afghanistan and USAID/Washington including M/CFO, and the Asia Bureau. The incumbent must have the ability to perform sophisticated analysis of complex management controls and must maintain effective working relations at all levels across USAID/Afghanistan, the U.S. Embassy, USAID/Washington, vendors, implementing partners, and host government officials. The incumbent must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to make formal presentations to senior management and other Mission staff, host government officials, and implementing partners.

Additional Details:

• Supervision Received: Work is performed under the general supervision of the Deputy Controller. Incumbent is often called upon to serve as the alter ego of the Deputy Controller for Operations during his/her absence from post. Guidance provided is normally limited to interpretations of policies and the setting of work priorities. The incumbent’s supervisor may from time to time make special assignments and provide advice on unusual situations, but day to day tasks are normally accomplished without technical review. Incumbent principally performs duties with little or no direct supervision.
• Supervision Exercised: No direct supervision will be exercised. However, the incumbent will mentor and train 10 FSN professional and technical OFM staff members: 1 FSN-11 Supervisory Accountant, 1 FSN-10 Accountant/Budget Analyst, 1 FSN-10 Accountant, 2 FSN-10 Financial Management/Payroll Specialists, 1 FSN-9 Supervisory Voucher Examiner, and 4 FSN-8 Voucher Examiners. As such, the Chief Accountant provides expert guidance, hands-on training, technical and soft-skill mentoring, and prioritizes workloads.
• Available Guidelines: Guidelines include accepted professional accounting standards, Automated Directive System (ADS), applicable USAID Mission Orders, Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR), U.S. Embassy/Afghanistan Administrative Notices, U.S. Treasury Regulations, Phoenix accounting and payment system’s manuals, and other written guidelines issued by USAID/Washington, the Mission, and others. Guidelines are often general in nature and not specific to the situation at hand, requiring considerable interpretation.
• Exercise of Judgment: Considerable independence and exercise of judgment is required and necessary to effectively carry out assigned duties. Exercises considerable judgment in applying accounting principles, theories, techniques, and methodology to problems of unusual difficulty and importance and in the selection of various alternatives to solve the problems encountered. Applies considerable judgment in devising and proposing new and more effective methods for operating USAID accounting systems for accomplishing Mission specific strategic objectives. Looks at ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the Accounting, Accounts Payable, and budgeting functions, and to solve any problems therein.
• Authority to Make Commitments: Incumbent does not have the authority to sign for the availability of funds.
• Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent interacts frequently with Mission management and other senior officials at all levels to discuss financial accounting, management, and program/project implementation issues; and with the Office of Inspector General (OIG), USAID/Washington, M/CFO, the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs (OAPA), and the Asia Bureau concerning accounting/budgeting and other funding issues. The incumbent maintains regular contact across USAID missions, implementing partners, other donors, oversight institutions, mid to senior level host government officials, and others for the purpose of resolving issues and advising on USAID regulations, policies, and procedures. Contact with implementing partners and grantees is for the purpose of assisting them in complying with the terms of their respective contract, grant, or cooperative agreement.

About the Organization

Dexis is on a mission to help solve today’s most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is “find a way or make a way” — that’s how Dexis goes “all in.” How will you?

If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!

Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.

Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.