This position is responsible for timely, accurate, and proactive management of all aspects of the Country office in Coordination with the Finance Manager. This position is responsible to model the highest levels of standards in technical accounting and provide the Country Office leaders and staff with the best advice on technical finance management, budgeting, and accounting aspects of program operations, especially during planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. This includes monthly reporting and planning. Together with the Finance Manger, the Finance Officer is responsible for all financial matters and take part in procurements, financial reporting (both internal and to the government stack holders), and budgeting in line with Lifewater International (LI) guidelines, procedures, and policies.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Ensure financial management, budgeting and timely reporting
• Working with the Finance Manger to support budgeting processes and ensure that all expenses are made in line with the approved budgets
• Review and register the completeness of documents received by the Finance department.
• Timely preparation and submission of statutory deduction payments such as Income tax & Withholding tax.
• Posting transactions into the designated accounting package
• Keeping track of all un cleared advances and escalating it to the Finance Manger
• Prepare and submit timely financial reports to the Finance Manager.
• Providing acknowledgment of receipts for wires to project accounts from HQ
• Review accountability for correctness and completion, prepare Journal Vouchers, Cheque payment Voucher and submit for approval
• Work with the Finance Manger to ensure that all donor budgets are mapped out as per specific requirements.
• Prepare books of accounts for internal and external audit in time
• Conduct surprise cash counts on a monthly basis and ensure the cash count forms are completed, signed and filed.
• Provision of information to field offices on the status of payment for each of their requests.
• Provide regular reports as and when required
• Ensure compliance with the set Finance and Procurement policies and procedures
• Collaborate with the Finance Manager in disseminating financial processes, policies and procedures to program staff
• Identifying and communicating gaps with LI Accounting processes and procedures and suggest improvements
• Carryout quality checks on supplier deliveries / goods to ensure they meet required contract specifications.
• Update Ethiopia office Asset Register on a quarterly basis and ensure all new assets are engraved
• Consolidate LI Ethiopia program asset register
• Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development
• Support new staff finance induction
• Working with all staff to enhance efficient processes
• Supervise and motivate and assist program Accountants
• Carry out any other responsibilities assigned by supervisor
• CONFIDENTIALITY:
• Maintain confidentiality of financial information.

Duty Station: Hawassa, Sidama

Reporting:  Finance Manager

Employment Type: One year, possibilities of extension

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATION:

• Master's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance from recognized University/Institution

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 3 years for Master’s degree and 5 years for First degree in a similar role preferably with an INGO with demonstrated experience managing teams
• Experience in preparing variance analysis reports
• Knowledge on financial regulations
• Proficiency in computer skills and accounting software packages such as QuickBooks, MS Excel, Internet and Email
• Excellent practical knowledge of financial accounting and of report development
• Demonstrated experience managing master budgets with many different funding streams
• Excellent understanding of the reporting requirements of senior managers and ability to convey financial concepts to non-financial staff
• Experience in managing teams

PERSONAL SKILLS:

• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively within a team setting
• Well organized and efficient in time management whenever there is task pressure
• Commitment to the core values of Lifewater International
• Strong ethics, with an ability to manage confidential data
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relations within and outside the team
• Ability to contribute towards resource stewardship
• Excellent command of the English language
• Punctual, honest, dependable, servant leader, trust worthy, encourager, peace keeper, multi-tasking, and self-starter

How to Apply

Interested applicants are required to send a CV, copies of driving license, transcripts, and proof of dumping truck driving within 10 consecutive days to ethiopia@lifewater.org

Note: Use "Finance Officer" as the subject line of your email.