Management Accountant (FMG/PA 2)

Job Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Director, Finance & Accounts, the incumbent provides technical support in development and management of the budgeting, committal and payment process in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Government of Jamaica and the strategic priorities of the Financial Investigations Division (FID). Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for the accounting related to projects-in-progress, Fixed Assets and the inventory of supplies and material. 

Key Responsibilities

To establish and operate effective resource planning to include budgeting and cash management system in order to ensure that limited, available resources are allocated in accordance with the FID's strategies and priorities. 

• Leads and manages the Management Accounts Section in order to achieve the strategic objectives of the Finance & Accounts Branch; 
• Provide leadership when organizing and delivering the Section's output, while supporting the MOFPS's policies and regulations; 
• Provides appropriate advice to the Director, Finance & Accounts on financial status, variances, cost recovery and performance; 
• Ensures that a budgeting system is in place and that the consolidated budget of the FID is prepared for submission to Ministry of Finance and the Public Service in conformance with the prescribed guidelines, ceilings, formats and time schedules; 
• Ensures that there is a process in place for developing quarterly updates to the financial plans of the FID and monthly rolling cash requirements planning; 
• Facilitates the calculation of annual estimates of Appropriations-in-Aid for inclusion in the FID budgets, in the format stipulated by the Financial Secretary; 
• Performs a formal financial review of all business cases for Strategic Initiatives being submitted to International Partners for funding requests; 
• Ensures that there is a Budget Review process to ensure that budgets for Business as Usual (BAU) and Strategic Initiatives adequately represent funding of the Operating Plan for the coming financial year; 
• Reviews the financial integrity checks for business cases being presented for approval as part of the Corporate and Annual Operating Plans; 
• Ensures that there is an effective cash management system for controlling expenditure within the limits of the approved budget and warrant allocation; 
• Develops the cash flow forecasts, showing the phasing and timing of the net cash requirements for the FID; 
• Ensures that in consultation with the Director General and the Directors, the consolidated budget of the FID is prepared for submission to Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for conformance with the prescribed guidelines, ceilings, formats and time schedules; 
• Participates in the quarterly reviews and appraisal of performance and related budget updates, to ensure that the objectives and strategies outlined in the Strategic and Annual Operating Plans are achieved and manages the development of updates to original plans; 

To maintain control over expenditure and revenue and ensure that they are kept within budgetary limits, by guaranteeing that Monthly Revenue and Expenditure Reports are up-to date and Quarterly Expenditures and Projections for the next Quarter are reviewed and are reflective of the GOJ's financial realities; ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, with value for money and performance standards are respected. 

• Establishes and implements a methodology for budget implementation that will ensure appropriate Expenditure Management & Control and take into account the regularity and propriety of all expenditure incurred, as well as general compliance with the overall requirements of the FAA Act and their related Instructions; 
• Monitors the budget implementation process of portfolio entities, in order to determine if:
  • ? Budgeted funds are being utilized for the purposes approved; 
  • ? Budgeted funds are efficiently, effectively and economically used; 
• Maintains expenditure within the limits of the warrant and budgetary allocations;
• Confirms that Miscellaneous Revenues which are collected and are payable to the Accountant General's Department (AGD, are remitted promptly; 
• Ensures that proper accounting for project expenditure is done to facilitate prompt "draw downs" as well as close monitoring of the inflows of external receipts against budgetary targets as it specifically relates to externally funded projects; 

To ensure that there is the capability for effective evidence-based measuring, monitoring and management of the FID's performance at all levels 

• Ensures that timely, useful Management and Responsibility Accounting reports are available to FID/ARA Management, so that effective governance can be exercised and overall corporate goals achieved; 
• Ensures that FID's Corporate, Branch and Section performance Scorecard and Dashboards as required by report consumers are published to the agreed schedules; 

To establish and manage a managerial costing system to provide standard cost for services, especially in relation to outreach, investigation, litigation and asset management costs.

• Ensures that the standard costs of services provided by the Branches are available, so that valid estimates of cost recovery (e.g. intelligence, outreach, investigation, litigation and asset management); 
• Reviews, in conjunction with Programme Managers, the structure of cost recovery/processing fees, to ensure that all possible scope for cost recovery/processing fees have been considered; 
• Conducts periodic cost of service analyses for services provided to third parties by the FID; 

To support minimizing the waste of FID Resources 

• Ensures there is an effective process for monitoring commitments against approved budgets, and for providing alerts of potential overspending when additional commitments are being contemplated; 
• Ensures that all expenditures are correctly accounted for in the FID accounting system and that they are correctly classified as Revenue Expenditure or Capital Expenditure and applied to the correct line item and/or project budget; 
• Ensures that there is an effective process for closing Project Accounts, bringing assets into service and for recording all FID Property Plant and Equipment (PP&E) into FID's Fixed Assets register; 
• Ensures that all retirements, movements, sales or write-off of Fixed Assets are correctly accounted for. 

To maximise the use of ICT within the Management Accounts Section to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the FID's business processes. 

• Minimises manual processes that create re-work and non-value adding work
• Ensures that the reporting requirements at the Operational, Management Control, Tactical and Strategic levels are clearly understood; 
• Collaborates with the Director, Cyber Forensics & ICT and the Data Management team to provide the right information to the right report consumers at the right time in the right format; 

Ensures that there is a cadre of highly motivated staff within the Branch that possess the appropriate competencies and skills. Effective resource planning to support the achievement of the FID’s plans and strategies. 

• Ensures that there is alignment between the activities of staff in the Management Accounting team and achievement of the FID's Strategic Goals, by cascading the FID's Performance Commitments down through the Section in the form of Tasks and Targets that are set annually for all staff; 
• Identifies competency and skills gaps within the Section, and works with the Director, Finance & Accounts, and Director, Human Resource Management and Development to fill those gaps;
• Monitors the achievement of development objectives for staff within the Section;
• Completes semi-annual and annual performance assessment for all team members, agrees them with the Director, Finance & Accounts and then with the individual contributor, within the required timelines; 
• Completes individual Performance self-assessment and ensures that all direct reports do the same; 
• Manages issues of staff performance, discipline and conduct as required;
• Develops and reviews procedures and systems to meet the Department's goals, objectives and targets; 
• Performs any other duties. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Flexibility & Adaptability 
• Problem Solving & Critical Thinking 
• Stewardship Responsibility & Accountability 
• Communication 
• Teamwork 
• Emotional Intelligence 
• Relationship Building & Networking 
• Innovative Thinking 
• Results-Oriented 
• Change Leadership 
• Strategic Thinking 
• Team Leadership 

Knowledge  

• Skilled in the use of accounting packages (ACCPAC, FINMAN, Dynamics, or similar Enterprise multi-user application) where business users in discharging their accountabilities are effecting accounting transactions; 
• Expertise in the manipulation and use of data to provide information and business insights to information consumers outside of the Finance Function; 
• Sound knowledge of accounting theory and the application of relevant International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPAS) and the International Accounting Standards (IAS) from which they are drawn; 
• Sound knowledge of Government of Jamaica (GOJ) Accounting Standards and GOJ budget preparation process; 
• Sound knowledge of Microsoft Excel and the use of macros and pivot tables. A facility in the use of visual basic and or Business intelligence tools would be an asset; 
• Knowledge of Business Process Improvement and Enterprise Performance Management methodologies. 

Minimum Required Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Management Studies with Accounting or BBA Degree from an accredited University or;  
• ACCA Level 2 or;  
• NVQJ Level 5, Accounting; or  
• ASc. Degree in Accounting, MIND along with the Diploma in Government Accounting, MIND;
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in the accounting field with experience in a supervisory role. 

Special Conditions Associated with the Job

• There are no significant personal security risks associated with performing this role;
• May be required to work beyond the normal working hours; 
• May be required to work on weekends and public holidays.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.