Remote Volunteer Accountant / Financial Analyst

Our partner is a small social enterprise that aims to clear developing countries of plastic bag waste and offer skills training and employment to underprivileged people. It does this by making a range of home and fashion accessories from recycled plastic bags for sale to the export market. Production is currently centred in Cambodia but is expected to expand and include other countries in Asia and Africa. Products are sold exclusively on a wholesale basis (to established retailers), currently primarily in Singapore, Australia and the USA.
 
Our partner is registered as a Community Interest Company (the official legal status for a social enterprise) in the UK. 
 
In Cambodia, our partner pays producers directly and also employs a local project manager and local accountant as well as paying direct expenses and overheads. It is expected that this will be structured differently for other countries, with our partner granting a form of “micro franchise” to established NGOs who would be responsible for in-country project management, local operating overheads and producer payments. Under this model, it intends to pay a “per item” purchase price to the franchisee from which they would cover all expenses and also realise an additional financial benefit which could be used for broader social or environmental benefit.
 
 
Responsibilities will include:
 
• Recording of accounting transactions in the “BS1” online accounting package. Production and stock transactions, in addition to all Cambodia overheads, are entered by a Cambodian office manager and so transaction entry responsibilities will be minimal.
• Review of transactions entered in Cambodia to ensure consistency and accuracy, and online support to Cambodian office manager as appropriate
• Liaising with local production manager and office manager to maintain accurate and complete ongoing production data
• Ongoing review of the Chart of Accounts, piece rates and stock levels to ensure these are accurate and relevant
• Ad hoc financial analysis of trends and issues at the request of management
• Helping to improve financial reporting processes to ensure management information is clear, accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
• Reporting any financial issues to management as and when they arise
• Preparation of quarterly financial forecasts and annual budget
 
The successful candidate will be:
 
• Proactive self-starter who is flexible enough to respond to ad hoc requests 
• Able to communicate financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance personnel 
• Has proven experience in accounting or bookkeeping (formal qualifications not essential but would be beneficial)
• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy essential. 
• Well-developed Excel skills, comfortable manipulating data into tables, charts and for presentation purposes 
• Excellent time management skills essential to cope with the ad hoc nature of the work load that the role involves

This role is a remote role and will require up to 5 hours per week commitment form the volunteer. 

The volunteer needs to be reliable and able to commit to the time required in order to assist in the preparation of year-end accounts for  submission to Companies House. 
 
If you would like to find out more about this role, or if you would like to apply, please email AfID at info@afid.org.uk or call on +44(0)2087417000