Job Title: Senior Accountant
Organisation: Tugende
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Head, Finance
Application opening: 7th October 2022
About Tugende
Tugende uses asset finance, technology, and a customer-centric model to help informal sector entrepreneurs dramatically increase their economic trajectory. Tugende’s core asset finance packages include medical and life insurance, training, safety equipment and digital credit profiles in addition to affordable asset financing for SMEs. By helping clients grow economically and build digital track records of responsibility, we are creating a long-term ecosystem for MSMEs to grow and thrive.
Tugende is tackling the credit gap for small businesses in Africa by enabling informal entrepreneurs to: 1) own income‑generating assets, 2) build a verifiable digital credit profile, and 3) earn future growth opportunities through the Tugende digital platform. This platform includes discounts, smartphones, e‑commerce opportunities, and on‑demand credit lines. Tugende has financed 65,000+ and has 750+ employees serving clients across 23 branches in Uganda and 10 in Kenya. Tugende is growing into new geographies and asset product lines including boat engines for fishermen and fridges for retail shops.
About this job: Tugende’s mission is: “Helping people help themselves”. The Tugende Senior Accountant is a thorough professional in Finance with a practical mind and attention to detail. The ideal candidate will be required to work autonomously serving in the mainstream roles of; managing client accounts, payroll management, accounts management, fixed asset management, compliance and taxation.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Client Account & Portfolio Management
Client Weekly Billing and Finance Income Accruals
- Prepare and Review client weekly bills, and monthly finance income for posting from the loan management system into the current and future financial management system. (QuickBooks & Microsoft Dynamics 365).
Client Weekly Payment
- Review weekly clients’ payments from all sources (Mobile Money, Payway, Banks etc.)
- Review weekly payment reconciliations reports by the accountant and accounting officers.
- Prepare, review and post weekly payments into QuickBooks and Microsoft Dynamics 365 (ERP)
Fees and Penalties
- Ensure all fees applied are posted in QuickBooks
- Review fees applied in Musoni and reconcile with QuickBooks and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Write-Offs
- Review weekly write-offs in salesforce originate for posting to QuickBooks
- Post-write-off to QuickBooks and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
- Review write-offs recognized in Musoni
Reconciliations of CRM and Loan management system
- Prepare reconciliations for reports from the client relationship management system and loan management system to ensure the accuracy of information being fed into Quickbooks and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Payroll Management
- Review monthly payroll deduction inputs (Staff Hire Purchase, Salary Advances etc)
- Update HR Magic with staff payroll change request
- Prepare final payroll for submission to the bank
- Post payroll journal to QuickBooks
- Reconcile payroll deduction in QuickBooks
Accounts Management
- Review and reconcile month end accounts payables and receivables balances.
- Review all daily transactions for cash and bank accounts.
- Review daily postings to ensure costs are allocated to their respective branches
- Support accounting officers to ensure weekly transactions deadlines are met.
- Review and pre-signed monthly cash and bank reconciliation reports.
- Review weekly cash projection for finalization submission.
- Review all reconciliation reports from officers (Inventory, Assets)
- Review monthly journals posted in QuickBooks ( Expenses Accruals and Prepayments)
Fixed-Asset Management
- Update the fixed asset register
- Prepare disposal schedule for verification
- Post monthly depreciation and disposals
- Review fixed asset registers with physical assets in all branches.
Compliance and Taxation
- Review and file monthly PAYE returns
- Review and file monthly NSSF returns
- Review monthly VAT Returns before filing
- Review monthly Withholding tax returns
Month-end and Year-End closure and reporting
- Ensure month-end closure reconciliations are completed within the first five days of the following month including bank reconciliations, stock reconciliations, intercompany reconciliations and reconciliations of all accrual, prepayments and deferred accounts.
- Prepare and submit accurate and complete monthly management accounts.
- Assisting with annual audit preparations.
- Assisting with preparing and monitoring budgets.
Performing other accounting duties and supporting junior staff as required or assigned.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Must be a CPA/ACCA and Minimum 3 years of work experience, working with an institution or organization such as a microfinance or business credit-related business
- Having an audit background would be an added advantage.
- Should have one to two years of supervisory experience
Preferred skills, knowledge & abilities:
- Highly self-motivated and able to demonstrate a drive for results with a professional approach from a team
- Excellent communication, presentation skills and professionally presentable
- Exhibit a passion for customers, and provide excellent customer service and empathy for our customers
- Having worked with D365 is an added advantage.
- Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and willing to work in the different regions of Uganda.
- Ability and willingness to learn to ride a motorcycle to conduct fieldwork
- Computer literate with the ability to comfortably use MS Office and GSuites. Have at least 35 Words Per Minute.
- High level of professionalism and integrity, with good moral character
- Ability to work under minimum supervision with resilience and a ‘can-do attitude
Key Competencies
- Hold values similar to our own: Adopt and champion the values that Tugende stands for Integrity, Empathy, Teamwork, Solutions-Oriented and Always growing
- Confidentiality: Able to handle sensitive information professionally and confidentially.
- Positive Attitude: the main mindset of “getting things done” and finding satisfaction in developing sustainable long-term solutions at all times.
- Flexible and resilient: Willingness to travel, flexibility in schedule and work hours, seek direct feedback and see every challenge as an opportunity to grow.
Benefits
What will you gain?
- Career Trajectory: This is a role with significant leadership potential to grow as the company operations grow. Someone who does this job can be promoted to; Chief Accountant, Country Finance Manager, Regional Finance Manager and Group Financial Controller.
- Meaningful Work: Tugende’s work allows entrepreneurs to earn a better living for themselves and their families. We are changing East Africa’s asset-finance industry by building a sustainable business that ignites financial development. Join this movement!
- Great Team: Tugende has a smart, fun, and growing team of ~750 employees. We take our work seriously, but love to joke and have fun. We regularly have fully-paid, voluntary team outings, as well as fun parties for our customers. Our headquarters are in Kampala, Uganda and we are rapidly expanding in East Africa.
- Hours and compensation: This position is for an ambitious, full-time employee who will take on additional responsibilities and projects as they arise. Tugende offers competitive salaries and benefits that reflect a person’s contributions to the company’s mission and growth.
More About Tugende:
Tugende means “let’s go” in Luganda and what you see when you get on the back of a motorcycle-taxi and it signifies the company’s mission. Tugende has been recognized as a 2012 Unreasonable Fellow, 2014 Echoing Green Global Fellow, 2016 GSBI Fellow, and received the MIT Zambezi prize in 2015 as one of the top 3 financial inclusion start-ups in Africa. We have appeared in The Guardian, BBC, Economist, 2021 Inclusive Fintech50! Award Winner, African Banker 2022 Financial Inclusion Award, the lend a hand blog, and Reuters video. Beyond geographic growth, Tugende’s future includes multiple asset finance products and tools to help Tugende reach millions of clients across Africa without losing high touch personal support.
How to Apply:
All candidates should apply online at the link below.