Senior Accountant
Astro Holdings Limited
Total years of experience :27 years, 5 Months
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT - ASTRO HOLDINGS LIMITED from 2017 to-2018.
My duties includes but not limited to:
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts and then, Prepare accurate, timely financial statements in accordance with the group ‘schedule and with input from the rest of the accounting department.
• Prepares journal entries, account analyses, reconciliations and internal reporting in order to complete the month end closing process in a timely manner.
• Review all inter-company transactions and generate invoices as necessary. Compiles, prepares, and verifies all data and journal vouchers necessary to close monthly.
• Conduct monthly and quarterly account reconciliations to ensure accurate reporting and ledger maintenance.
• Summarises current financial status by collecting information; preparing the balance sheets, profit and loss account (income statements) and other reports on monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
• Delegate financial responsibilities to accounting team, Guides, supervises and manage finance department staff responsible for general accounting, accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll, including completing performance appraisals, setting goals, and handling any other finance staff issues.
• Analyse financial statements for discrepancies and other issues that should be brought to the financial controller, finance manager and finance director‘s attention.
• Secures financial information by completing data base backups, maintain company accounting procedures and processes, advise on procedure and financial management, develop procedures to improve efficiency and forecast and plan for the future needs .
• Responsible for accurate and timely financial reporting for the subsidiary entities and the group. Coordinate semi-quarterly and semi- annual audits and assist the financial controller, finance manager and finance director with conducting internal audits.
• Assist senior accounting personnel in preparing documents and interpreting complicated financial information for managers, executives, directors and other departments.
• Comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards for financial statements.
• Protects organisation’s value by keeping information confidential and avoids legal challenges by complying with legal requirements.
• Exemplifies role of continuous learning and takes ownership for personal education and skills building.
• And any other duties as assigned by superiors.
ACCOUNTANT - TRANS NABILA ZAMBIA LIMITED from 2013 to 2016
My duties included:
- Setting up and implementing a computerized accounting system
- Provision of Monthly, Quarterly and Annual financial reporting and information to the Heads of units, departments, division, General Manager, Standing Committees and the Board of Directors
- Oversee the general accounting function, which included inter-company accounting, cash management / reconciliation, financial reporting, balance sheet management and expenses claim management.
- Accountable for ensuring that policies and procedures (internal controls) are in place to provide reasonable assurance that the company assets are protected.
- Leading the annual external audits and ensuring compliance to internal controls
- Ensure that company records, under responsibility, were maintained in compliance with company policies and applicable accounting standards.
- Working with Tax consultants for preparation and review of corporate tax ( ZRA etc )
- Review of VAT returns and ensuring compliance to statutory requirements and all other Tax matters
- Preparation of annual Financial Statements for audit and answer all audit queries.
- Monthly Management accounts preparations and analyze monthly financial information and report on variances
- Reviewing and approving of payments, ensure financial records were maintained in compliance with accepted policies and procedures and provision of support across multiple contracts within the transport sector
- Organize and management of financial resources
- Preparation of annual budgets, evaluate and advise on business operations including revenue and expenditure trends, financial commitments and future revenue.
- Assisting in finance staff recruitments and supervision of the accounts department
- Advising management on capital expenditure to ensure smooth working capital all the time
- Ensure all insurable assets were up to date insured
- Review monthly payroll before payments
- Ensure that the computer systems continued to operate as required. Involved in validating / designing suggested changes to ensure accounting requirements continued to be met.
- Coordinate with line managers on operations concerning the organization ‘ s day - to - day activities
- Presentation of Financial Statements to the Board Members during Interim and Annual General Meetings
- Any other duties as assigned from time to time by superiors
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER (CHIZ TRUCKING LIMITED from 2008 to 2012)
• Developing and Implementing finance and accounting policies, procedures and systems
• Provision of financial planning and management, human resources and procurement s for operations
• Recruiting and staff management of subordinate members of staff, annual appraisal of subordinate members of staff, and leading in training, mentoring of administrative staff impacting finance.
• Organising resources and establishing priorities, and actively management of purchase order housekeeping and other issues.
• In charge of financial analysis, financial reporting, cash flow analysis, budget development and forecasting
• To recommend simple but effective Financial and Management accounting systems and procedures necessary in achieving proper control over the company finances
• To arrange for both internal and external audits of the organization
• Monthly scrutiny of General Ledger code classifications, scrutiny of books of accounts prior to closure, monthly journal review prior to closure of books of accounts, balance sheet, banks and inter-company reconciliations on a monthly basis
• To prepare and circulate Financial Statements so that Board Members and Non Executive Members have sufficient time to study these before meetings
• Ensuring all new starters received a full departmental induction and all necessary training for them to become competent in their roles within their probation period in conjunction with the training department
• Supervision of all accounting and other members of staff
FINANCIAL SECRETARY (THE UNITED CHURCH OF ZAMBIA - SYNOD HEADQUARTERS from 2003 to 2007)
Main Responsibilities:
Financial adviser to the Church.
To assist the General Secretary and Heads of Departments, Institutions, and Presbyteries in financial matters.
Responsible for the formulation and implementation of the financial and accounting policies and procedures of the Church.
Responsible for Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Management and Financial reports
Timely preparation of the budget.
Ensure timely collection of all revenue of the Church especially arising from assessments, property, and others.
Establish and ensure internal controls system.
Ensure that designated funds are accounted for and utilised according to intended purposes by the donors.
Ensure that the Church and all its Courts comply to statutory obligations and the Law
Ensure timely payments of salaries / stipends / allowances etc.
Ensure timely for payments for services received by the Church.
Specific Tasks:
o Meet regularly with the General Secretary to discuss and plan challenges.
o Ensure and maintain the financial and administrative integrity of the Church.
o To report to and advise Synod / Synod Executive and the General Secretary on matters arising out of financial statements and reports on or from Church Courts and institutions / departments.
o To arrange for audit of Synod accounts and also for lower courts through the Internal Auditor and External Auditors.
o To ensure timely preparations and publications of audited annual accounts.
o To ensure timely preparation and circulation of financial statements so that the Synod / Synod Executive members have sufficient time to study these before meetings.
o To establish a simple reporting system at various levels of Church Courts so that relevant levels of the Church government are aware of the financial position of the Church.
o To recommend simple but effective financial and accounting systems and procedures necessary in achieving proper control over Church finances. To obtain and train staff, to assist in the above objective.
o To ensure that the appropriate remedial measures recommended by Synod / Synod Executive are taken where weaknesses in financial control are revealed.
o Perform bank reconciliations and handle discrepancies.
o To organise seminars for Presbytery and Consistory Treasures on the implementation of the financial and accounting policies and to assist in training of those in record keeping, Part of the seminars would include the reporting and encouragement of commitments.
o To undertake any special assignments that Synod / Synod Executive and the General Secretary would specify from time to time.
o Whenever the situation demands, to assist the Church obtains funds required for expansion projects etc. at the most advantageous terms available. To this end liaison with partner Churches / Organisations would be maintained through the General Secretary‘s Office.
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT (GABMANS CONSTRUCTION LIMITED from 2000 to 2002)
My work among others involved:
Organize, management of financial resources and management of outsourced functions
Preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reports
Formulating and implementing accounts control systems, help author and maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures
Supervision of the Accounts Department, and liaison with external auditors
Determine appropriate financial and related information systems to meet organizational requirements
Oversee the operations of the accounting department, including the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the department’s goals and objectives, and assisting to set short term business objectives
Advising Management on Capital expenditure decisions, ensure that accounts payable are paid in a timely manner and accounts receivable are collected promptly
Analyzing and evaluating financial and related information for business monitoring and control purposes etc.
ACCOUNTANT (AIRPORT FARMS LIMITED From 1996 to 1999)
Responsibilities:
< Supervision of accounts staff and maintenance of the chart of accounts
< Preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual accounts
< Approving creditors payments and monitoring the reconciliations
< Credit control and related duties
< Assisting the Finance Manager in maintenance of fixed assets register and letters of credit processing
ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT (COPPERBELT CO-OPERATIVE UNION LIMITED From 1989 to 1995)
My work included supervising accounts clerks and book - keepers. Preparation of both Management and Financial reports, attending to external auditors, prepare budgets and ensure compliance with budgets i.e. budgetary control. I dealt with all aspects of financial work including liaison with bank overdraft and short term financing and also dealt with Co-operative Societies to the mother body (Union). Bank reconciliations, monthly update and balancing of primary books of accounts, preparation of journal entries and journal vouchers including posting the same there in and extracting monthly trial balance. Responsible for the payroll production. Maintaining an orderly accounting filing system, and a system of controls over accounting transactions.