HEKS/EPER (Swiss Church Aid), an organization founded in 1946 by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, is seeking a Senior Finance Officer to support its Country Office finance function in Uganda and South Sudan. The successful candidate will be responsible for day-to-day finance operations, treasury, taxation, and statutory compliance, as well as financial reporting, budgeting, audit coordination, and finance systems management. The position is based in Kampala, Uganda.
The Senior Finance Officer will provide direct technical finance supervision to field-based Finance and Administration staff and work closely with the Senior Finance and Partnerships Officer to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant financial management and reporting. The role requires a University Degree in Finance and Accounting, Commerce, or a related field, with a Master's degree being an advantage. A professional accounting qualification or active progression toward ACCA, CPA, or equivalent is strongly preferred.
The Senior Finance Officer will be responsible for maintaining a sound Country Office financial system in accordance with HEKS/EPER policies and procedures. This includes coordinating day-to-day finance operations, ensuring bookkeeping and financial records are complete and accurate, and preparing monthly and quarterly Country Office financial information for review and submission to HQ. The role also involves supporting preparation and monitoring of annual, project, and Country Programme budgets.
In terms of taxation, statutory compliance, and audit, the Senior Finance Officer will ensure timely preparation and submission of finance-related statutory obligations, monitor financial transactions for compliance with local law and donor requirements, and coordinate preparation of audit schedules and supporting documentation. The role also involves tracking finance-related audit findings and agreed management actions and following up on their timely implementation.
The Senior Finance Officer will be responsible for ensuring that Country Office financial transactions are managed with appropriate controls, including segregation of duties, authorised approvals, and secure banking arrangements. The role also involves supporting consistent application of HEKS/EPER financial procedures and finance systems across the Country Office and field locations, as well as identifying financial-control, compliance, and process risks and recommending practical corrective measures.
In addition to technical finance responsibilities, the Senior Finance Officer will provide direct technical finance supervision to field-based Finance and Administration Officers/Assistants and set finance deliverables, review finance outputs, and provide technical coaching. The role also involves coordinating with the HR and Administration Officer on HR and office-administration matters affecting the field office.
The successful candidate will have a minimum of 4 years' relevant experience in a similar senior finance function, preferably in an international NGO or NPO, with proven ability in budgeting, cash-flow forecasting, treasury management, financial analysis, and monitoring. Excellent analytical and conceptual skills, good communication skills, and professional command of English (spoken and written) are also required.
Key points
- The Senior Finance Officer will support the Head of Finance and Administration in managing the Country Office finance function across all interventions in Uganda and South Sudan.
- The role requires a professional accounting qualification or active progression toward ACCA, CPA, or equivalent.
- The successful candidate will have a minimum of 4 years' relevant experience in a similar senior finance function.
