Assistant Accountant
Position Details
Role: Assistant Accountant
Department: Finance
Reports To: Chief Accountant
Location: CCL Business Technology, 6 Ripon Road, Kingston 5 [On-site]
Contract Type: Full-time
Salary Range: $2,500,000 - $3,500,000 per annum
Effective Date: April 1, 2026
Job Purpose
To support the Chief Accountant in maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring compliance with Jamaican accounting standards, and delivering timely, audit-ready financial information. Contributes to month-end close discipline, process improvements, internal controls, and overall workflow optimization using QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial statements in compliance with Jamaican Financial Reporting Standards (JFRS) or applicable IFRS-adopted standards.
- Assist with the preparation of audit schedules, working papers, and footnotes to facilitate internal and external audits.
- Perform bank reconciliations and cash management routines; monitor liquidity and cash flow reporting.
- Maintain and reconcile general ledger, sub-ledgers (A/R, A/P, payroll), and fixed assets registers; investigate and resolve variances.
- Assist with month-end close processes to ensure timely closings; contribute to the development and documentation of close procedures.
- Participate in the preparation of tax computations, VAT/GST compliance, and other statutory reporting as required by Jamaican law.
- Assist with accounts payable and accounts receivable management, including aging analyses and dispute resolution.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis; assist in the preparation of management reports.
- Maintain internal controls documentation; monitor compliance with control objectives and implement improvements.
- Collaborate with auditors and other departments to gather information and respond to inquiries.
- Ensure data integrity within the accounting system (QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise or other ERP as applicable); assist with system maintenance, user access reviews, and reporting templates.
- Identify and implement process improvements to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and enhance accuracy.
- Ensure confidentiality and security of financial information in line with company policies and Jamaican data protection regulations.
- Any other task that may be assigned from time to time.
Qualifications and Experience
. Education: Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; professional qualification (e.g., ACCA Jamaica, CPA Jamaica) preferred.
. Experience: 3-5 years of accounting experience, preferably in a Jamaica-based organization or with exposure to local regulatory requirements.
. Software: Experience with QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise; knowledge of other ERP/GL systems is a plus.
. Compliance: Familiarity with Jamaican tax regulations (VAT, income tax), payroll processing, and statutory reporting requirements.
Key Competencies
. Technical Knowledge: Solid understanding of Jamaican accounting standards (JFRS), IFRS-adopted practices, and tax compliance basics relevant to Jamaica.
. Financial Reporting: Ability to prepare and analyze financial statements, schedules, and reconciliations.
. Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy in data entry, reconciliations, and reporting.
. Analytical Thinking: Strong problem-solving skills; ability to investigate variances and identify root causes.
. Time Management: Efficient prioritization to meet month-end, quarter-end, and year-end deadlines.
. Communication: Clear written and verbal communication; effective interaction with teammates, management, and external auditors.
. Ethics & Compliance: Strong integrity, confidentiality, and adherence to financial policies and regulatory requirements.
. Tech Proficiency: Proficient with QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise (or equivalent ERP); proficient in Excel; comfortable with financial systems and reporting tools.
. Collaboration: Team player with the ability to work cross-functionally with accounting, finance, operations, and external stakeholders.
Performance Metrics (KPIs)
. Month-End Close Timeliness: Complete all month-end close activities by the defined close date with 100% on-time close.
. Accuracy of Financial Statements: Variance between reported numbers and supporting schedules less than [0]% over tolerance each period.
. Audit Readiness: All audit schedules prepared and supported; zero material audit-identified adjustments.
. Reconciliations: 95–100% of bank, GL, and sub-ledger reconciliations completed and signed off each month.
. Journal Entries: Number of pre-approved journal entries processed; ratio of standard vs. non-standard entries with approvals.
. Tax/GCT Compliance: Tax returns prepared and filed on time with zero penalties or material errors.
. Process Improvement Initiatives: Number of implemented process improvements per quarter; measurable time or error reduction.
. Data Integrity: Data quality score from internal controls checks; number of data integrity issues resolved within SLA.
. Cash Management: Cash forecast accuracy within ± [5]% for the next 30/60 days; liquidity metrics maintained.
. Stakeholder Satisfaction: Internal client feedback (finance, operations) rated at least [4] out of 5 on responsiveness and support.
Reporting Relationships
Reports To: Chief Accountant
Collaborates with: Finance team, Operations, Auditors, and external service providers as needed.
Training and Development
- Participation in Jamaican regulatory updates, tax changes, and advanced accounting topics as required.
- On-the-job training for process improvements and QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise enhancements.
Compliance and Legal
- Adherence to Jamaican labor laws, data protection regulations, and financial reporting standards.
- All activities to be conducted in compliance with applicable policies and procedures.