Accountant

I. Position information

Job Title : Accountant

Position Number: TBD

Department: Global Operations 

Reports to: Head of Finance & Budget Unit

Direct Reports: 0

Position Status: International

Grade Level: P2

Duty Station: Brussels, Belgium

Family Duty Station: Yes

Date of Issuance: 26 November , 2025 

Closing Date: 25 December, 2025 

Duration: 3 years (Renewable)

Type of assignment: Staff member

II Context

Comprised of 79 Member States from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) strives to achieve the sustainable development of its members and their progressive integration into the world economy. As the largest group of southern countries, the OACPS recognizes its own structure and history as a form of South-South cooperation and aims to strengthen its role in promoting and coordinating South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), a key strategy for development and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975, the organization continued to evolve to adequately deliver its mandate. With the recent signing of the Samoa agreement, the organization is entering into a new relationship with one of its biggest partners, the European Union.

While the OACPS HQ is in Belgium, the organization also relies on two liaison offices, one in Geneva (Switzerland) and a second in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), recognized as the OACPS Information Centre for South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

Under the overall guidance of the Assistant Secretary-General for Global Operations and the direct supervision of the Head of the Finance and Budget Unit, the Accountant is responsible for managing the day-to-day finance and accounting operations, including journal entries, accounts receivable and payable, payroll, and use of financial management systems.

He/she ensures the accuracy, compliance, and completeness of all financial transactions, timely reconciliation and reporting of financial statements, and preparation of financial analyses for the Director and other key stakeholders as requested.

The accountant also implements and trains staff to use financial software that streamlines processes and enhances transparency, efficiency, and accessibility of financial information.

III Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Finance and Budget Unit, the Accountant shall perform the following duties:

1. Accounting and Financial Transactions

Record all day-to-day transactions including accounts payable, receivable, cash receipts, credit card transactions, and payroll, ensuring accuracy and completeness.

Perform timely and accurate month-end journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations (e.g., assets, investments, revenues, expenses, payroll allocations).

Ensure proper recognition of revenues and expenditures and maintenance of accurate accounting schedules.

2. Payment File Preparation and Documentation

Prepare payment files ensuring all supporting documentation (invoices, purchase orders, delivery notes, acceptance certificates, etc.) is complete and compliant.

Coordinate with operational departments to obtain missing documentation or verification of goods and services received.

Ensure all payment requests are verified, validated, and processed according to internal control procedures.

3. Budgetary Control and Financial Analysis

Monitor commitments and expenditures against approved budgets and report on variances.

Support the Head of Unit and Directors in developing and monitoring departmental, project, and organisational budgets.

Provide analytical support, including monthly and quarterly financial reports and forecasts.

4. Cash Management and Reconciliation

Manage petty cash in line with OACPS financial rules and ensure regular reconciliations.

Reconcile bank statements and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.

Monitor cash and investment balances and perform cash flow forecasting.

5. Internal Control and Compliance

Develop and implement robust internal financial controls to safeguard assets and ensure data accuracy.

Lead and coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and international standards.

6. Systems and Capacity Building

Promote the use of technology to streamline and improve accounting and financial operations.

Train and support staff in the effective use of financial management systems and tools (e.g., Oracle, Sage Intacct, BILL, Odoo).

Contribute to the continuous improvement of financial procedures and automation of processes.

7. Liaison and Coordination

Maintain professional relationships with banks and financial institutions.

Collaborate with all OACPS departments on finance-related matters and ensure timely communication and service delivery.

Any other task as required by the ASG in charge or Global operations.

IV Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Places the good of the organization above personal, national, or any other interest.

Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting her/his work and status.

Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality and correctness of his/her decisions and resulting outcomes

Functional / Technical Competencies

Strong background in accounting, auditing, and financial management.

Excellent command of international accounting standards and practices.

Proven experience with financial management systems (e.g., Oracle, Sage Intacct, BILL, Odoo).

Strong data analysis and financial reporting skills.

Sound knowledge of internal controls, risk management, and compliance frameworks.

Managerial Competencies

Ability to collaborate and work with colleagues of varying grades and cultural backgrounds.

Comfortable with change management and capable of monitoring and adjusting plans and actions when necessary.

Behavioural
Competencies

Demonstrates strong leadership and mentoring skills with ability to guide and train colleagues.

Excellent written and verbal communication, with capacity to explain complex financial concepts in clear, simple language.

Detail-oriented, organised, and capable of working under pressure and tight deadlines.

Proactive, adaptable, and able to propose process improvements and innovative solutions.

V Recruitment Qualifications

Education :

Undergraduate degree in Accountancy, Finance, or a related field. Professional certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIMA) is an asset.

Experience :

Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting or finance at national and/or international level.

Experience in regional or international organizations is a strong advantage.

Proven exposure to project cycle management of EU-funded program and contracts is highly desirable.

Previous work experience in a regional or international organization is a strong advantage.

Significant exposure to project cycle management of EU funded programs and contracts is desirable.

Work experience in an EU-funded program or entity or agency will be an added advantage.

Language Requirement:

Good command of English and French. Working knowledge of other languages, including Portuguese or Spanish will be considered as an added advantage.

Special Notice

• Candidates for the post must be nationals of Member States from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Regions. They must therefore attach a copy of their valid passport for proof of nationality
• Applications for this post should be submitted through the link provided on the BambooHR page and must reach the Secretariat by midnight on the deadline date. All applications must be accompanied by a motivation letter, an updated curriculum vitae completed in the Europass format ), and copies of educational certificates and any other documents that attest to their competence and professional experience. Applications submitted in any format other than the standard CV format will be considered incomplete and will not be evaluated further.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and those under serious consideration will be subject to reference checks.