Revenue Accounting Consultant

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Uganda Airlines

is hiring a Revenue Accounting Consultant responsible for overseeing the functioning of the Passenger Revenue Accounting (PRA) team throughout the one-year term of the engagement, ensuring the successful implementation and sustainability of improvements in the airline’s revenue accounting processes.

Objectives of the Consultancy

The primary objectives are to:

Perform a full assessment of current PRA processes within the first three (3) months and implement at least three industry-standard improvements to enhance accuracy and efficiency by the end of the consultancy term.

Deliver a comprehensive training program and transfer knowledge on critical revenue accounting areas, with a target of having 100% of the PRA team proficient in key processes within eight (8) months.

Implement auditing controls and system optimizations to decrease identified revenue leakage by 20% within the first six (6) months.

Ensure full compliance with IATA and IFRS standards within three (3) months and establish documented procedures to support continuous improvement and regulatory adherence for future operations.

Review & Development of Standard Operating Procedures in line with IATA Revenue accounting principles or guidelines, within six (6) months of commencement of the assignment.

2. Scope of Work

The consultant will be expected to deliver on the following areas of focus in detail:

2.1 Comprehensive PRA Assessment

Conduct a detailed assessment of the existing Amadeus Revenue Accounting system and processes.

Benchmark against industry best practices to identify gaps and opportunities.

Conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of the revenue accounting function with clear recommendations on ways to close the identified gaps.

2.2 Customized Training & Capacity Building

Provide practical, hands-on sessions to build competency in managing critical PRA processes such as:

Handling of sales data

Maintenance of fares, taxes and agents commission

Proration (Multilateral Prorate Agreement [MPA]/Special Prorate Agreement [SPA])

Refunds processing and application handling on BSP link

Handling of Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMDs)

Auditing of fares, commissions and taxes

Unreported sales

Creation of Agent Debit Memos & Agent Credit Memos (ADMs/ACMs) and upload to BSP/ARC

ADM/ACM Administration

Flown data processing

SPA Management

PRL and uplift data reconciliation

EMD uplift processing

Sales and flown data reconciliation and balance of differences

Interline billing

2.3 Revenue Leakage Minimization

Implement robust auditing processes to identify and mitigate revenue leakage sources, such as uncollected cancellation fees, fare discrepancies, and tax settlements.

Develop automated checks and balances to prevent common errors and fraud in ticketing and revenue recording.

2.4 System Integration & Optimization

Support the integration and optimization of existing revenue accounting systems, ensuring seamless data flow between Global Distribution System (GDS), reservation systems platforms and financial systems (ERP).

Recommend enhancements to support real-time revenue recognition, enabling faster and more accurate financial reporting.

2.5 Reporting, Compliance & Regulatory Alignment

Ensure all PRA processes comply with IATA, IFRS reporting, and local regulations.

Deferred Revenue Management

: Establish practices for managing and recognizing deferred revenue from un-flown tickets or advanced bookings.

Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide PRA activities.

2.6 Mentorship and Support

Provide ongoing mentorship and support to ensure the sustainability of improvements.

Conduct periodic reviews and evaluations to measure the impact of the training and process changes.

2.7 Revenue Accounting Support & System Integration

Offer guidance on optimizing the existing Amadeus Revenue Accounting system and integrating new features to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Assist in the configuration and use of systems for better data management and reporting.

Automation Solutions

: Support the integration of automated revenue accounting systems to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and reduce manual errors.

Interfacing with GDS/Reservation Systems

: Ensure seamless integration between Global Distribution Systems (GDS), reservation platforms, and revenue accounting system for accurate data flow.

2.8 Interline Revenue Management

Train PRA staff on handling interline billing, managing prorate agreements, and settlements through IATA’s Clearing House, BSP (Billing and Settlement Plan) and Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC).

Establish robust procedures for effective interline revenue management.

2.9 Revenue Assurance & Audit

Implement procedures to ensure revenue data integrity and prevent revenue leakage.

Train the team in conducting regular audits and establishing controls to recover missed revenues.

Hand-hold the Revenue Accounting team to optimize the Amadeus Sales Audit tool.

Fare Auditing

: Ensure that all tickets and fares processed comply with published or agreed rates, preventing revenue leakage from incorrect fares or tax calculations.

2.10 Revenue Optimization through Analytics

Data-Driven Insights

: Incorporate advanced analytics into revenue accounting processes, allowing the airline to make informed decisions on pricing strategies, sales performance, and route profitability.

Real-Time Reporting

: Develop real-time financial reporting systems to monitor key revenue metrics, offering immediate insight into performance against financial targets.

2.11 Dispute Management & Interline Accounting

Dispute Resolution Process

: Implement procedures to handle and resolve disputes with partner airlines regarding interline billing, ensuring timely settlement.

Interline Billing Automation

: Train staff on automating interline billing processes using IATA’s systems, ensuring accurate and efficient financial settlements with partners.

2.12 Advanced Financial Reconciliations

Automated Reconciliation

: Implement automated reconciliation tools to compare sales, revenue, and cash flow data across multiple systems, ensuring consistency and identifying discrepancies.

Payment Reconciliation

: Ensure the accurate recording of payments received through various channels like online bookings, agency sales, and credit card transactions.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

The ideal consultant should possess:

Extensive Experience of at least 15 years in Airline Revenue Accounting

: Demonstrated expertise in managing the airline revenue accounting function, including the ability to assess, optimize, and enhance critical passenger revenue accounting process regulations, including interline billing, revenue recognition, and compliance with international standards such as IFRS. Familiarity with the latest trends and best practices in airline revenue management systems is crucial.

Proven Track Record in Revenue Assurance and Audit Procedures

: The consultant must have a successful history of implementing robust revenue assurance frameworks and audit controls, designed to minimize revenue leakage and ensure data integrity within the PRA function.

The consultant must hold full revenue accounting diploma-passenger stream and other relevant qualifications.

In-depth Knowledge of IATA Regulations and Revenue Management Systems

: A deep understanding of IATA regulations, including interline billing, revenue recognition, and compliance with international standards such as IFRS. Familiarity with the latest trends and best practices in airline revenue management systems is crucial.

Proven experience with Revenue Accounting Systems (Added Advantage – Amadeus Revenue Accounting system)

: Experience in utilizing and optimizing the Amadeus Revenue Accounting system will be a significant advantage. The consultant should be able to assess its current implementation, provide recommendations for improvement, and support integration with other systems.

Strong Communication and Training Skills

: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex processes and systems to diverse teams. The consultant should also have a proven ability to mentor and train PRA staff, ensuring sustainable improvements and knowledge transfer.