Field Accountant, Poland

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day-to-day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks, include:

Excellence– We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom– We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect- We believe in trust, empathy, and empowering people. Teamwork- We believe in diversity, inclusion, and the power of global collaboration. Transparency– We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability- We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

The Field Accountant is responsible for providing a full range of financial and administrative support to IRI’s Warsaw office. This includes tracking program budgets for field office expenses, and ensuring that expenditures remain within budget allocations, conform to general policy, and that reporting requirements are met and comply with all applicable USG and other donor regulations. The Field Accountant will work alongside the Resident Program Director and other staff in the Europe Regional Division to ensure the smooth running of activities. This position will report directly to the Resident Program Director of the Warsaw office (RPD).

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Fulfill regular reporting requirements and overall financial operations of the Warsaw office and other regional programs and ensure compliance with IRI and Funder’s policies;
• Conduct financial operations in internal software (JAMIS);
• Prepare monthly rolling budgets and monthly exchange rate calculations; monitor monthly spending and program budgets as allocated by the RPD;
• Prepare and supervise all types of bank transactions in the offices (payments of salaries, supplier’s invoices, and other office payments);
• Prepare and supervise expense and cash advance reconciliations;
• Ensure that all IRI documents (documents, archives, equipment, furniture, etc.) are well protected at all times and that the inventory list is revised and updated;
• Coordinate ordering supplies; Manage relationships with external Accounting and Payroll vendors in Poland and Hungary to ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll-related tasks, demonstrating efficiency in coordinating payroll activities and compliance with relevant regulations;
• Ensure that local contracts for services and goods are properly designed, completed, and implemented, in compliance with IRI regulations and local regulations;
• Prepare all payments, ensuring accuracy of figures, legitimacy, and sufficiency of supporting documents in line with IRI requirements and local requirements, and ensuring that appropriate account codes are used;
• Maintain hard copies of all receipts, timesheets, payroll records, contracts, and other financial documents uploaded on SharePoint;
• Manage tax administration, social fund, and medical insurance requirements by paying due taxes and contributions;
• Keep track of employees’ vacation, sick leave, and compensation time balances
• Calculate Polish per diems for Polish “PIT” taxations;
• Ensure all payroll information and records are maintained in accordance with local requirements and internal rules;
• Translate some accounting documentation from Polish into English or from English into Polish (Invoices, Bills, official letters, and other documents that do not exceed a few pages in length);
• Fulfill regular reporting requirements of all financial operations and reporting of the Warsaw office, including entry into IRI systems, banking, compliance with donor requirements, and reconciliations;
• Follow all Polish laws and regulations in accounting and bookkeeping;
• Draft an accounting policy and prepare a chart of accounts and balance sheet suited for the work of the Foundation;
• Support fellow employees in preparation of the organization’s program training and workshops, as well as other events;
• Orient new employees on administrative procedures and finance and compliance rules;
• Ensure that the organization complies with the Polish employment laws and regulations of human resources administration;
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by Resident Program Director.

Position Requirements

• Must have legal authorization to work in Poland in accordance with Polish labor regulations
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a professional finance and/or accounting role, experience in the international development sector or equivalent is preferred.
• Experience with financial management of donor funded projects a plus
• Strong understanding of local finance, accounting, and tax regulations
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask and work well under pressure. Able to meet deadlines and prioritize effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative, team-oriented approach.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn software, systems, and processes and to take the initiative to understand, create, and refine best practices.
• Knowledge and practical experience with various accounting software packages
• Fluent in Polish and English (written and oral).

IRI Total Compensation

The salary for this position is determined based on a wide variety of factors including but not limited to an individual’s professional experience, qualifications, education and other business needs along with internal equity considerations. Employees are not typically hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are made based on the aforementioned considerations.