JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – Cashier and Accounts Assistant AA ( 07/25 FT)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)

Job Subcategory

Finance

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The post holder will provide essential day to day financial processes to support the operation of the British High Commission in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This will include the management of all cash payments and receipts, recording transactions accurately on the appropriate documents for monthly submission and approval.

The postholder will also be expected to play a team role with the Finance Analyst to build financial understanding and capability across the High Commission.

The role holder will be responsible for day to day accounting operations at the BHC Freetown

• Management of payments and reciepts from/to the post account
• Daily / weekly / monthly reconciliations and cash checks
• Maintenence of the Network Post Account for all cash transactions
• Administration of cash advances to staff
• Preparation of UK Staff monthly cash draws
• Issue invoices to staff owing BHC money, and issue reciepts for payments

The role holder will assist the Fianace Analyst with:

• Preparation of the CBS payroll
• Monitoring local credit card transactions
• Ensure that end of month accounts are submitted promptly and accurately
• Supplier management activities
• All documents are filed correctly, both electronically and on paper

Day-to-day management of the BHC’s cash resources. This amounts to around 150 cash transactions a month in Leones and US$.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

We are looking for someone with strong technical skills including:

• Strong financial knowledge and skills – with a track record of delivering high-quality services, financial advice and accountability
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain financial issues to non-specialist audiences; and identify the implications for effective delivery of operational and strategic goals.
• Practical skills in cash accounting and document preparation and filing
• Understands different financial planning and budgeting techniques and their application in different contexts
• A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement of self and service, with an appetite to work with others to simplify processes and improve efficiency.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Knowledge of Public Sector accounting policies and practices.
• Some formal financial qualification/s, and willingness to work towards a qualification with one of the five Consultative Committees of Accounting Bodies [CCAB] i.e. ACCA; CIPFA; ICAEW; ICAI or ICAS; or CIMA; or a European or international equivalent qualification; or someone who has undergone a period of equivalent structured training and accreditation in a specialist area of finance/accountancy.

Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Developing Self and Others, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together

Application deadline

26 November 2025

Grade

Administrative Assistant (AA)

Type of Position

Permanent

Working hours per week

39

Region

Africa

Country/Territory

Sierra Leone

Location (City)

Freetown

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary

Monthly salary equivalent to USD 143.70 paid in SLE

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

5 January 2025

Additional information

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.”

The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position

Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Freetown are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Sierra Leone

All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit

The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;

1.Obtain the relevant permit

2.Pay the fees for the permit

3.Make arrangements to relocate

4.Meet the costs to relocation

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Please note: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5

Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates

Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements