Finance Assistant

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Operations and Finance Manager, the Senior Finance Assistant supports the daily financial operations of the IPA Cote d’Ivoire office. This includes timely processing of financial transactions in accordance with IPA policies, preparation of monthly financial closures, maintenance of financial records, and support during internal and external audits.

Responsibilities

Financial Transaction Processing

•       Process all expense returns, advances, advance reconciliations, and out-of-pocket expenditures in accordance with IPA policies and approved rates.

•       Review all invoices from field consultants and enumerators prior to payment.

•       Ensure all financial requests comply with IPA procurement requirements and that appropriate forms are used.

•       Communicate with project staff regarding reconciliation issues within one week of submission.

Monthly Financial Close & Reconciliations

•       Record all financial transactions accurately and in a timely manner into NetSuite (FMIS).

•       Support preparation of bank reconciliations, labor reports, rental entries, and other month-end schedules.

•       Ensure all transactions are recorded within three (3) working days after month-end to support timely book closure.

Archiving & Documentation

•       Archive financial documents digitally and physically in accordance with donor and legal retention requirements.

•       Ensure document traceability and availability for retrieval within 24 hours.

•       Adhere to Finance department document security protocols to protect against unauthorized access.

•       Support standardization of filing and classification processes to facilitate smooth audits.

•       Conduct periodic checks on archived financial data to ensure completeness and compliance.

Internal Controls & Compliance

•       Consistently apply IPA SOPs and financial policies when processing all requests.

•       Onboard new staff on IPA financial protocols and internal control requirements.

•       Oversee petty cash management handled by the Office Manager.

•       Adhere to internal control procedures to minimize non-compliance findings in audits.

Audit Support

•       Provide timely supporting documents to internal and external auditors as directed by the supervisor.

•       Coordinate with the supervisor to ensure all audit requests are fulfilled accurately and on schedule.

Payroll & Tax Compliance

•       Support timely computation and filing of payroll taxes and statutory deductions in line with local regulations (ITS, CNPS, VAT).

•       Submit statutory deductions before applicable deadlines to avoid penalties.

Stakeholder Coordination

•       Coordinate with HR, Procurement, and Programs teams to ensure alignment with finance protocols and P&P compliance in payments.

•       Liaise with IPA bank relationship managers as delegated by the supervisor.

•       Communicate finance-related issues and recommendations clearly to the Operations and Finance Manager or office leadership as appropriate.

•       Participate in finance meetings with key departments.

•       Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

Required

•       Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

•       Minimum 3 years of experience in an accounting or finance role.

•       Strong proficiency in Excel and working knowledge of accounting software or ERP systems.

•       Solid understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and bank reconciliation.

•       Knowledge of local tax regulations (ITS, CNPS, VAT) and payroll processing.

•       Ability to prepare documentation for internal and external audits.

•       Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify discrepancies in financial data.

•       High level of professional integrity and ability to handle confidential financial information.

•       Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment with strict compliance standards.

•       Fluency in French; working knowledge of English.

Preferred

•       Experience with NetSuite or similar ERP systems.

•       Experience in the NGO sector or international development environment.

•       Experience preparing full financial statements independently.

•       Experience working with statutory auditors.

Location

Cote d’Ivoire

Reports to

Operations and Finance Manager

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and advances what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of people living in poverty. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence of which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist, decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we create leads to a tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 1,000 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

Safeguarding at IPA

At Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), we are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. As IPA adheres to strict safeguarding principles, selected candidates will be expected to adhere to the standards. By joining IPA, you become part of a team dedicated to ethical conduct, social responsibility, and meaningful impact in the fight against global poverty. Together, we work to create a better world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.