Junior Accountant Associate

Department: Finance & Accounts
Reports to: Accountant / Finance Manager
Employment Type: Full-time
Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Role Overview

The Junior Accountant Associate will support the Finance & Accounts function in maintaining accurate financial records, processing transactions, reconciling accounts, preparing financial reports, and ensuring that financial documentation is complete and properly maintained.

The ideal candidate should have a strong foundation in accounting principles, excellent attention to detail, good numerical and analytical skills, and the ability to work with spreadsheets and accounting systems.

This role is suited to an early-career accounting professional who is looking to develop practical experience across accounting operations and financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting & Bookkeeping

• Record and maintain accurate financial transactions and accounting entries.
• Assist with maintaining the general ledger and subsidiary ledgers.
• Prepare journal entries and supporting schedules.
• Assist with month-end and year-end accounting activities.
• Ensure transactions are properly classified and supported by appropriate documentation.

Accounts Payable & Receivable

• Assist with processing supplier invoices and payment documentation.
• Maintain accurate records of outstanding payables.
• Support customer invoicing and receivables tracking.
• Follow up on outstanding balances where required.
• Assist with vendor and customer account reconciliations.

Bank & Account Reconciliation

• Perform regular bank reconciliations.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies between bank statements and accounting records.
• Reconcile selected balance sheet accounts and identify unusual or outstanding items.

Financial Reporting

• Assist in preparing periodic financial reports and management schedules.
• Support the preparation of trial balances and financial statements.
• Compile financial information and supporting documentation for management review and audit purposes.
• Assist with variance analysis and explain significant discrepancies.

Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain organised and accurate financial records.
• Ensure accounting documentation is properly filed and easily retrievable.
• Support statutory and audit-related requests as required.
• Maintain confidentiality of financial and business information.

General Finance Support

• Assist with budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis.
• Support the Finance Manager/Accountant with ad hoc financial tasks.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes and record-keeping.
• Work collaboratively with other departments to obtain required financial information.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree/HND in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline.
• 0–2 years of relevant accounting or finance experience.
• Strong understanding of basic accounting principles.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Familiarity with accounting software or ERP systems is an advantage.
• Professional accounting qualification or progress toward one, such as ICAN or ACCA, is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Strong attention to detail
• Numerical accuracy
• Analytical thinking
• Good organisation and record keeping
• Problem-solving ability
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Good written and verbal communication
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

What Success Looks Like

Within the role, the successful candidate should be able to:

• Maintain accurate and well-supported accounting records.
• Complete reconciliations accurately and on time.
• Identify and escalate accounting discrepancies.
• Produce reliable financial schedules and reports.
• Keep financial documentation organised and audit-ready.
• Demonstrate increasing independence in routine accounting activities.