Junior Accountant

JOB SPECIFICATIONS & DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Accounting Officer

REPORTS TO: Accountant & General Manager

WEEKLY HOURS: 40

DEPARTMENT: Accounts

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Accounting Officer manages the financial resources of the Firm; to ensure efficient and effective functioning of operations.

The incumbent is a major contributor to the overall success of the Company by effectively managing all financial tasks. This individual is responsible for all accounting operations including but not limited to the core functions outlined.

CORE FUNCTIONS

• Posting Quickbooks entries.
• Preparing clients statements
• Performing banking tasks.
• To prepare and review monthly payroll reports from the payroll system and to generate monthly payroll taxes returns (SO1) by the 14^th of subsequent month.
• To compute and prepare GCT returns by the 30^th of subsequent month.
• To generate DFTN (Payment Advice) for SO1 and GCT payments.
• Deal with correspondence to tax authorities
• Filing of tax returns, statutory returns, asset tax returns.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

Transactions:

•  Record all cash and cheque transactions
• Print and obtain signatures on all accounts payable cheques
• Write cheques and receipts
• Distribute signed cheques as required
• Prepare invoices and bank deposits
• Prepare client statements for verification of sums owed.
• Perform day to day financial transactions including verifying, classifying, computing, posting & recording accounts receivable data.
• Provide information for various accounting reports.
• Post cheques, journal entries and receipts in Quickbooks.
• Ensure that Civil Department & Criminal Departments receive clients’ statements when requested.
• Perform general banking duties including collecting Manager’s cheques, encashing cheques, making deposits as well as replenishing Petty Cash.
• Co-ordinate and ensure that proper payments are timely issued to the Tax Administration Department.

Reporting:

•  Timely and accurate submission of annual tax returns
• Provide timely and accurate submission of annual tax returns

 Compliance:

•  Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors
• Comply with government reporting requirements and tax filings

 Performs other duties as needed or required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

• Managing Partner, Partners, and General Manager
• Frequency: As required

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

• Directly:  Accounting Department Staff and Branches (Accounting related), HR/Admin, IT Systems and Support.
• Indirectly:  Branches-Administrative & Accounts Department

FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Liases with:

-          Accounts Department                                                 

-          All Departments & Branches                                               

-          Attorneys      

-          Executives

-              Externally

-              Suppliers    

-             External Auditors  and/ or Accounting Support      

-              Tax Administration of Jamaica and Regulatory Bodies                                                                                       

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

a)      Specific Knowledge (however acquired) Required to Start:

• Proficiency in MS Office – Word, Excel and Power Point.
• Proficiency in Oasys and Quickbooks Software
• Computer skills including the ability to operate computerized accounting, spreadsheets and word processing programs.
• Ability to work collaboratively and be a strong team player/leader.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent command of the English Language, literacy skills and experience in proofreading.
• Highly developed organizational skills with an ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Detail oriented.
• Effective project execution.
• Ability to perform well under pressure.
• Sound analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Stress and time management skills.
• Ability to anticipate work needs and follow through with minimum direction.
• Customer service orientation and negotiation skills
• Basic knowledge of Economics, Finance and Accounting principles.
• Knowledge of Human Resource Management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of Office Administrative procedures.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office

b)      Qualifications and Experiences

• 3-5 years work experience in a corporate environment

EITHER:

i)      A Diploma in Accounting with five CXC’s to include Mathematic, English and Accounts,

OR

ii)     An Associate Degree in Accounting, plus a minimum of 2 years overall working experience including extensive experience in the business in a similar industry.

 DESIRED ATTITUDE AND PERSONAL TRAITS

• Honesty
• Maturity and integrity
• Professionalism
• Confident
• Strong commitment to excellence
• Problem Solving/Analysis
• Takes criticism well
• Organised
• Strategic Thinking
• Strategic Planning
• Team Building
• Ethical business and personal behaviour
• Customer oriented
• Results oriented
• Self-motivated
• Excellent listening skills
• Able to multi-task
• Reliable
• Punctual
• Dynamic
• Leadership
• Commitment to continuous learning
• Ability to inspire confidence in others, command respect of others and respect others.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

 -           Attendance at meetings

-           Intense, extended hours frequently required

-           Often required to meet tight deadlines and respond quickly to changed priorities

-           Effective handling of multiple high priority issues simultaneously

-           Work under pressure in a fast-moving environment

-           Able to effectively manage confidential information

-           Travel to branches

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA