Save the Children International is currently seeking a qualified Finance Officer to join their Zambia Finance Team in Lusaka. The successful candidate will be responsible for implementing financial procedures and policies, preparing financial statements, and maintaining cash controls. The Finance Officer will also oversee award budgeting, donor reporting, and financial and partner compliance aspects. This is a full-time position, and the ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of financial management and donor regulations.
The Finance Officer will report to the Finance Coordinator and will be responsible for the overall day-to-day activities of budgeting, donor reporting, and partnership management. Key areas of accountability include budget preparation, management, and monitoring, as well as ensuring high-quality services to partners in line with Save the Children International's policies and procedures. The Finance Officer will also participate in monthly budget monitoring meetings and provide advice and training to budget holders on budget management and budget phasing.
In terms of partner and contract management, the Finance Officer will advise budget holders on how best to utilize a program's funding portfolio and ensure that donor regulations are communicated to all staff. The Finance Officer will also lead on award close-out processes and reconciliation, collect and review financial reports from partners, and provide capacity strengthening to partners to meet donor rules and regulations. This includes monitoring the financial performance of partners and ensuring they are compliant with donor regulations.
The Finance Officer will also be responsible for sub-award management, including reviewing potential sub-grantees' proposals and budgets, participating in the process of awarding sub-grants, and organizing technical assistance and capacity-building trainings to cover finance capacity gaps. The Finance Officer will review sub-grantees' financial reports, ensure compliance with donor requirements, and advise budget holders on compliance issues. This includes leading on sub-award close-out processes and reconciliation.
In terms of compliance, the Finance Officer will ensure that all payments to partners are correctly coded, approved, and supported by documents. The Finance Officer will provide financial analysis on partner advance payments and expenditure and advise the Project Team on potential problems and issues requiring discussion or action. The Finance Officer will also be accountable for implementing Save the Children International's finance manual and strengthening internal control systems.
The Finance Officer will also assist in the preparation of documents for audits, facilitate the work of auditors, and familiarize themselves with relevant local laws, including taxation and social security laws. The Finance Officer will serve as a resource for the office on these laws and donor requirements on grants and contracts. This includes reviewing monthly cash projections on budget availability for the project.
Save the Children International is committed to promoting equal opportunity in employment and banning any kind of discrimination. The organization values diversity, equity, and inclusion and expects all employees to uphold these values. The Finance Officer will be expected to hold themselves and others accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, and achieving and role-modeling Save the Children International's values.
Key points
- The Finance Officer will be responsible for managing financial procedures, preparing financial statements, and ensuring compliance with donor regulations.
- The Finance Officer will oversee award budgeting, donor reporting, and financial and partner compliance aspects.
- The Finance Officer will be expected to uphold Save the Children International's values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
