Project Accountant
Washington DC

Position Summary
The Project Accountant is an integral part of the International Finance team and provides overall support to the Finance Officer and Sr. Finance Officer, as well as to the Global Program and Field Office personnel as related to cash requests and general financial data analysis needs. 

Core Values: Pact employees embrace the following core values as representatives of the institution:

• all people have a right to participate in decisions affecting their lives
• gender equity is mandatory for social transformation
• resources are allocated in a transparent manner, guided by accountability to our clients and Pact’s role as steward of resources intended for the poor
• diversity in background, gender and age strengthen our capacity to be wise managers of public and private funds
• teamwork and collaboration shape our day-to-day working relationships
• innovation and risk taking to achieve impact and broad scaleable results drive strategic priorities
• gathering and sharing information are primary roles for all employees
• staff growth and advancement are a priority, including training and professional skills building to increase knowledge and competence and to stay abreast of new developments, especially in technology
• a healthy balance between work and life outside of work must be maintained for work satisfaction and fulfillment

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Performs monthly desk review of the field financial data submission to ensure:

• Completeness and propriety of proposed monthly journal entry (JE) to be recorded pursuant to review of Statement of Expenses (SOE) and supporting documents received from the field, including general ledger data (i.e. general ledger account summaries are linked correctly in the SOE report and subsequently to the JE);
• Bank reconciliations are properly completed by the field office and supported by bank statements;
• Cash account balances per field report are reconciled with the SUN accounting system balances;
• Average foreign exchange (FX) rates are computed and utilized properly;
• Cash Valuation (CV) Schedule of Balance Sheet accounts has been updated correctly and ties with the ending balances reflected in the SOE report; and
• Subgrant Matrix reconciles to advance account balance.
• Completes monthly quality review checklist to initiate appropriate follow-up by Finance Officer.
• Prepares ancillary journal entries needed to record / reclassify HQ-generated transactions.
• Generates monthly Life-of-Project (LOP) reports and quarterly Financial Status Reports (FSRs) for Finance Officer review and submission to management personnel and federal funders in a timely manner.
• Processes weekly cash requirement (wire transfer) requests from field offices, verifying proper authority obtained and accurate coding, and ensures with guidance from Sr. / Finance Officers that cash balances maintained at field level is appropriate and not excessive.
• Reviews check requests and wire transfers for proper project code, budget line and account code.
• Reviews staff and consultant travel and expense reports for their respective projects for adequate documentation and appropriate coding.
• Prepares invoices to donors as requested.
• Prepares and assists in the preparation of journal entries, accounts reconciliation, processing of financial transactions, and analysis of financial information.
• Analyzes, researches and develops responses to questions received related to assigned field offices. 
• Assists Finance Officer in preparation for the annual audit and obtains supporting documents needed from field offices during the course of the audit.
• Maintains file organization and filing of electronic reports on the network, journal entry files by project, and hard copies filed in the finance archives.
• Maintains a safe and organized working environment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of generally-accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets and database skills
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of accuracy in assigned tasks
• Sound analytical and problem-solving skills
• High degree of initiative
• Ability to work both independently and on team projects
• Ability to organize, handle multiple tasks, and meet deadlines
• Strong oral and written communication skills in a multicultural environment

Education and Experience Requirements

• Associates Degree in Accounting or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 1 to 3 years of general accounting experience (nonprofit or other fund accounting environment preferred)
• Quickbooks, ACCPAC, SUN, Vision Excel accounting software experience preferred
• Familiarity with USAID and OMB A-122 / A-133 financial grant regulations desired
• Foreign language a plus