Payroll Accountant

ABOUT VILLAGEREACH

VillageReach transforms health care delivery to reach everyone, so that each person has the health care needed to thrive.  We develop solutions that improve equity and access to primary health care.  This includes making sure products are available when and where they are needed and primary health care services are delivered to the most under-reached.  Radical collaboration with governments, the private sector and other partners strengthen our ability to scale and sustain these solutions. Our work increases access to quality health care for more than 70 million people in Africa. VillageReach in incorporated in Washington State and has offices in Seattle (USA), Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique.

Summary

VillageReach is a global company that operates in a decentralized manner, with teams working remotely across different regions and time zones. We are looking for a skilled payroll accountant to join our finance team and handle our payroll operations.

As a payroll accountant, you will oversee payroll processing for our employees and contractors, using various payroll platforms and currencies. You will also maintain accurate payroll records, update employee information, and resolve any payroll issues or queries. You will collaborate with other finance team members and external partners to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing, reporting and compliance.

To be successful in this role, you should have a strong background in accounting, payroll, and tax, as well as experience working in a decentralized or distributed organization. You should also be proficient in using various payroll software and tools. You should have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.

Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

• Process payroll for employees, using different payroll platforms and currencies, according to the agreed schedule and frequency.
• Calculate salaries, overtime, benefits, deductions, and withholdings, based on the contract terms and local regulations.
• Ensure payroll compliance with applicable tax laws and regulations in different jurisdictions, and file tax reports and payments as required.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date payroll records and reconcile payroll transactions with the general ledger and bank statements.
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries and requests from employees, managers, and external partners, and resolve any payroll issues or discrepancies.
• Prepare and distribute payroll reports and statements, such as payroll summaries, and tax forms, to the relevant parties.
• Collaborate with other finance team members and external partners, such as accountants, payroll related service providers, auditors, and tax advisors, to ensure smooth and efficient payroll operations and reporting.
• Research and stay updated on the latest payroll trends, best practices, and regulations in different regions and countries.
• Recommend and implement improvements to the payroll processes and systems, to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.

Competencies:

The following competencies reflect what is expected of all VillageReach employees; including examples of how one might demonstrate each of these competencies in one’s role.

• Personal Motivation and Drive: Is self-directed in one’s approach to work, but asks for help when needed; holds oneself accountable; undertakes self-development activities; seeks to build and master new skills; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities within the organization
• Collaboration & Effective Communication: Establishes and maintains effective relations with coworkers, partners & stakeholders and external parties; works collaboratively with others to accomplish organizational and team goals and objectives; works actively to resolve conflicts; expresses ideas and thoughts effectively; selects and uses appropriate communication methods and maintains meaningful communication with virtual coworkers and other parties to keep them informed
• Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Takes personal responsibility for and supports others across the organization in creating and sustaining a diverse work environment where individuals are welcomed, valued, respected and supported; personally committed to attaining cultural competency including self-awareness of one’s own attitudes about culture and cross-cultural interactions; exhibits the willingness and ability to engage openly and respectfully around issues of race, colonialism, identity and culture; upholds equity in access to sharing of information, ideas, and opportunities throughout VillageReach
• Commitment to Excellence: Produces a high output of work, both in terms of quality and quantity; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; monitors work to ensure quality; has a personal commitment to the mission of VillageReach
• Solution Orientation & Innovation: Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how to best achieve them; gets the job done; sees opportunities for creative problem-solving while staying within the parameters of good practice; sees old problems in new ways and has novel approaches to solving those problems; contributes original and/or resourceful ideas to their area of responsibility; is able to consider and articulate risks and consequences of proposed innovations and factor these into decision-making

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• At least 3 years of experience as a payroll accountant or in a similar role, preferably in a decentralized or distributed organization.

Other Qualifications:

• Comply with VillageReach’s COVID-19 vaccination policy which requires full vaccination for in-person work or travel.
• Established cultural competency in partnering with racial, cultural and linguistically diverse groups.
• Demonstrated understanding of challenges with working in rural, underserved and low-income context; experience living in and/or working in a low-income country a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel) and payroll software and tools. Comfortable in a fast-paced technical environment.
• Knowledgeable of payroll and tax laws and regulations in different jurisdictions, especially in the US, EU, and Sub- Saharan Africa.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with remote teams and partners across different regions and time zones.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to identify and resolve errors and discrepancies.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.

Environment and Physical Demands:

VillageReach has no private offices, employees work in a shared, open environment with task and conference rooms accessible to employees for privacy and meetings. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Due to the time zone differences between our USA office and our Country Offices and location of other global staff, we have established core collaboration hours between 6am Pacific Time and 18:00 South Africa Time (GMT+1) Monday through Thursday. All staff, regardless of location are expected to be available between these hours. During Daylight Savings Time, this allows for 12 hours per week (3 hours/day) of collaboration time and during Standard Time, 8 hours (2 hours/day). We do not hold cross-office meetings on Friday.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:

VillageReach is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to workforce diversity. We believe that diverse, equitably weighted perspectives foster an organizational capacity to create novel solutions that improve health in the most under-reached and hard-to-reach areas. To align our values, innovations and impact, VillageReach is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse global workforce.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

This is an immediate hire and therefore resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled. To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter to our online portal: http://www.villagereach.org/join-us/.  In your cover letter, please address (1)Why you are interested in this position, (2)What is one reason you think you’d be a good fit for this position and, (3)what is one strength you would bring to this position?

Hiring Process:

The hiring process will include the following steps:

• Review submitted applications
• Conduct 20-30 minute screening interviews for shortlisted candidates
• Conduct skills and value-based interviews for 3-5 candidates.
• Request that top candidates submit a practical assessment (designed to take no more than two hours to complete). Sometimes the assignment will occur before the interview.
• Conduct final interview if necessary
• Request references 
• Make offer 
• Conduct background check

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, but candidates who proceed to step 2 will be notified if they are not chosen for step 3.

Safeguarding:

VillageReach is committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults, and beneficiaries with whom it engages. We expect everyone working with us to share this commitment through our code of conduct.All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which may include criminal records. VillageReach participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, in line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Benefits

VillageReach has an established compensation structure that is based on the relevant market and internally transparent. The range for this position is $64,400 to $77,200 USD. We hire people into the established range based on one’s experience and education and considering internal equity. We do not inquire about salary history. Please refer to our compensation overview on our website for more information and for more information on employee benefits.