Senior Accountant

WCS is looking for “Senior Accountant”.
Please see the details below:

• Position Type: Full time
• Work Location: Vientiane office with occasional travel to work in other work locations as required.
• Job Purpose Summary: The primary objective to establish and oversee efficient financial accounting for the WCS Country Program Office and Field Projects. S/he will maintain appropriate communication with WCS Project leader (Directors, Managers, and Administrators), local governmental institution (e.g. Ministries of Finance, Labor etc.). S/he will coordinate and consult regularly with the WCS finance regional team, WCS-NY Finance department and Program Manager to manage timely and accurate submission to WCS of reports.

THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (“WCS”)
WCS is a non-profit, non-governmental organization headquartered in New York, USA with the mission to save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities are geared towards changing attitudes towards nature and helping people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission as it is essential to the integrity of continued life on Earth.

WCS was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society and is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to preserving the Earth’s wildlife and wild landscapes and seascapes. WCS currently oversees a portfolio of more than 500 conservation projects in 60 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks. WCS works with national and local governments, universities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local communities and dedicated individuals to increase the understanding and awareness of the importance of wildlife through the establishment and strengthening of protected areas, conducting scientific research, strengthening national governmental institutions and NGO capacity, and training the next generation of conservation professionals.

VISION: WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth.

MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature.

VALUES: Respect, Accountability and Transparency, Innovation, Diversity and Inclusion, Collaboration, Integrity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITY
Main tasks/duties:
General responsibilities
1. Overall supervision of the accounting staff.
2. Ensure accounting accuracy in all aspects of operations, seeking advise from the Assistance Finance Manager/Finance Manager of any problems or weakness in financial controls and procedures, and any ways in which costs could be reduced.
3. Strengthen, ensure and integrity on document accounting and financial policies and procedures.

Accounting Management
Monitoring and managing expenditures.
4. Review and control data in accounting template for transactions at the Vientiane office and site office.
5. Ensure that all expenditures are made in accordance with established procedures, including verification of supporting documents.
6. Ensure complete accounting records are maintained including vouchers, authorizations, and reconciliations, including both paper and electronic records.
7. Monitor all bank transactions in coordination with WCS NY and check and approve monthly bank reconciliations.
8. Review all transactions in I-Banking before proceed approval.
9. Perform accounting adjustments assigned by Grant manager, Assistant/Finance Manager on monthly basis.
10. Where funds are received in-country, ensure that these are correctly reported to WCS NY and posted to the appropriate grant codes and account code.
11. Oversee cross-charging to other country programs as per established procedures.
12. Ensure proper tracking of project advances to staff, ensuring that advances are accounted for in a timely manner according to WCS procedures, and that an accurate balance sheet is kept of each staff member’s outstanding advances by reconciliation with the Advance control sheet of each month.
13. Conduct financial control of Site office for Petty cash and Bank reconciliation.
14. Assist Assistant/Finance Manager train the administration and finance staff at field level on proper expense reporting and financial management systems.
15. Assist and build capacity to the subgrant when the need or require from Finance Manager or Assistant Finance Manager.

Reporting
16. Follow-up with project managers/Site Accountant if they are late with monthly financial reporting and accounting.
17. Prepare and closing the monthly report including the balance accounts e.g. the bank reconciliation and petty cash count minute, account payables and receivables.
18. Monitoring and checking when WCS-Laos has the subgrant to ensure that the performing aligned with WCS-Laos procedures and policies.

Audit and Quality control
19. Ensure that all transactions entered into the SAP system in the central office are correctly and consistently recorded, including donor and/or activity information where needed.
20. Assist in preparation of internal and/or external audits, prepare audit responses and ensure implementation of accepted recommendations.

Staff Administration
21. Preparation of payroll including taxes and other statutory deductions, ensure staff loans are paid and recovered according to WCS’s established procedures.

Please note that the above TOR constitutes only the main responsibilities and duties of this position. As WCS Laos is a flexible organization, staff members are expected to undertake any other tasks that are allocated to them, but which are not part of their regular TOR.

Qualifications Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor of Finance/Business Administration or other equivalent

Knowledge:
– Working knowledge of Generally Accept Accounting Practices
– Knowledge of finance management systems and accounting practices.

Experience
– At lease 3-5 years experience working with international NGO’s, private sector or government.
– Experiences working with project teams to financially administer projects

General skills
– Excellent Lao language skills both written and verbal
– Excellent English language skills and the ability to produce financial reports in English
– Computer literacy, particularly proficiency using Microsoft Office products.

Ability
– Ability to work as part of a team
– Ability to learn quickly and adaptively manage activities
– Ability to administer country and project level budgets
– Ability to conduct training sessions

Personal qualities
– Honesty
– Cooperative attitude
– Patience
– Tolerance
– Flexible

Application Process:
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications should apply by emailing an application letter and CV together to: “recruitmentlaos@wcs.org” latest by 16 April 2025 deadline.
Please include “Senior Accountant” in the subject line of your email.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for next step.