Assistant Accountant

Job Overview

Zanaco Bank Plc is inviting applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals for the position of Assistant Accountant in the Commercial Division at Head Office – Commercial Retail. This is a permanent and pensionable role.

Role Description

To provide accurate, timely and well-controlled accounting and finance support to Zanaco Insurance Brokers by processing financial transactions, maintaining accounting records, reconciling accounts, supporting premium and commission accounting, assisting with payments and receipts, and ensuring compliance with internal finance procedures, regulatory requirements and audit standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Process approved receipts, payments, journals, invoices, debit notes, credit notes and other accounting entries accurately and within agreed timelines.
• Capture and update accounting records in relevant finance and insurance systems in line with approved procedures.
• Record premium receipts, allocations, refunds and insurer payments, and support commission accounting and reconciliation.
• Prepare routine bank, premium, insurer, customer, commission, suspense and general ledger reconciliations and promptly follow up reconciling items.
• Prepare payment schedules, vouchers and supporting documents, and support supplier payments, insurer remittances, statutory payments and refunds.
• Issue and record receipts and support follow-up of outstanding premiums, unpaid invoices, overdue accounts and other receivables.
• Assist with debtor schedules, ageing reports, collection updates, monthly schedules and finance reports for management reporting.
• Support month-end, quarter-end and year-end closing activities, budgeting, forecasting, audits, tax and regulatory reporting.
• Prepare, reconcile and submit statutory returns and supporting schedules, including Insurance Premium Levy, Withholding Tax, PAYE, NAPSA and NHIMA, within prescribed deadlines.
• Apply internal controls, delegated authority requirements, segregation of duties, documentation standards and approved procedures in all finance activities.
• Identify and escalate errors, unusual transactions, control exceptions, suspected fraud, duplicate payments and unresolved reconciliation items.
• Maintain accurate, complete, confidential and audit-ready finance records, working papers, registers and supporting documentation.
• Uphold the highest standards of ethics, integrity and professional conduct by complying with the organisation’s Code of Conduct, declaring conflicts of interest, safeguarding confidential information and reporting suspected misconduct or unethical behaviour through approved channels.
• Provide timely finance support to internal stakeholders, clients, insurers, suppliers, auditors, tax authorities and regulators.

Requirements

• Grade 12 Certificate or equivalent, with credits in Mathematics and English.
• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Banking and Finance, Business Administration or a related field.
• Qualification in ACCA, CIMA, ZICA, CA Zambia or an equivalent accounting professional programme will be an added advantage.
• At least four (4) years experience in accounts support, finance administration, transaction processing, reconciliations, receivables, payables or accounting operations, preferably within insurance, banking or financial services.
• Knowledge of accounting principles, reconciliations, payables, receivables, statutory returns, finance documentation and internal controls.
• Understanding of insurance finance processes, including premium accounting, commission accounting, insurer remittances and customer accounts, will be an added advantage.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and relevant accounting or business systems.