Finance Officer - Partner, Budget, Reporting and Compliance

About the role

Save the Children Zambia is looking for a Finance Officer (Grade 4) for its Zambia Finance Team in Lusaka. The post reports to the Finance Coordinator and covers budget preparation, management and monitoring, partner and contract management, sub-award management and compliance with donor requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Budget preparation, management and monitoring: maintain budget availability information, update BvA reports, produce Budget vs. Actuals analyses, advise and train budget holders, and take part in monthly budget monitoring meetings.
• Partner and contract management: ensure donor regulations are communicated to staff, that donor financial reports are submitted on time, and lead award close-out and reconciliation (financial aspects only).
• Collect and review financial reports from partners, provide capacity strengthening, and monitor partners' financial performance and compliance.
• Sub-award management: review proposals and budgets, take part in awarding sub-grants/sub-contracts, organise finance capacity-building training, review sub-grantee reports and variances, conduct field visits to check supporting documents, and lead sub-award close-out and reconciliation.
• Compliance: implement the country office finance manual and strengthen internal controls, review monthly partner advance and debtor reconciliations, review proposed reclassifications and monthly expense bookings, and ensure payments and journals are authorised in line with SCI, donor and national laws.
• Other: assist with audit documentation, stay up to date on local laws (taxation, social security) and donor grant and contract requirements, and review monthly cash projections.

Required profile

• BS in Accounting/Finance or a related field.
• Recommended 4+ years of relevant experience in budgeting and budget management, especially in grant management within an international organisation.
• Experience with donor financial policies and guidelines (USAID, CDC, ECHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, etc.).
• Good sense of responsibility, organisational and communication skills, and good spoken and written English.
• Willingness to adapt work practices and hours during major emergencies.

Required skills

• Computerised accounting packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Spreadsheets and data analysis (Excel and Access); familiarity with accounting software is preferred.
• Analytical skills to turn complex financial data into management information.

Applications are made through the Save the Children careers process with a cover letter and an updated CV; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.