Finance Manager - Lusaka

About the role

Meraki is looking for a Finance Manager based in Lusaka, Zambia, who will report directly to the CEO and lead the finance function across five locations. The role covers financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, statutory compliance, internal controls and leading a small finance team.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow) by the 10th of each month, and weekly and monthly branch-wise profit and loss statements for senior management.
• Produce a monthly budget versus actual report for the CEO and prepare quarterly and annual statements in line with IFRS and Zambian regulations.
• Lead the annual budgeting process, approve weekly departmental budgets and maintain a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast; ensure a cash reserve of two weeks' operating costs and flag shortfalls early.
• Oversee daily cash management, approve payment requisitions, manage the weekly payment run and petty cash, and perform monthly bank reconciliations.
• Review procurement requisitions, reconcile GAAP Unity with QuickBooks monthly, monitor food cost and wastage by branch, and review stock adjustments.
• Ensure timely ZRA compliance (VAT, PAYE, NAPSA, NHIMA), file VAT claims, liaise with tax consultants and PACRA, and keep financial records for at least seven years.
• Maintain the finance policy manual, enforce segregation of duties, support internal audit, manage staff advances and keep the fixed asset register in QuickBooks.
• Manage and develop the accounts receivable and payable functions and build a high-performing finance team.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of hands-on financial management experience, including reporting, budgeting, cash flow and statutory compliance.
• Experience managing financial controls in a multi-site or multi-department business and working directly with a CEO or business owner.
• ZICA membership or ACCA/CIMA qualification (full or part-qualified).
• Experience in hospitality, food service or FMCG.

Required skills

• Proficiency in QuickBooks (non-negotiable).
• Solid working knowledge of Zambian tax law (VAT, PAYE, NAPSA, NHIMA, ZRA Smart Invoicing).
• Strong Excel skills, including financial modelling, pivot tables and dashboards.
• Familiarity with GAAP Unity or similar POS and stock systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.