SENIOR FINANCE OFFICER

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reporting To: Directors

ABOUT THE ROLE

Avencion is seeking a Senior Finance Officer to join and support its existing finance and operations team. The successful candidate will contribute to the effective day-to-day management of the organization’s financial operations and provide financial support across Avencion’s projects and programs, including donor-funded initiatives.

Working within the organization’s existing systems and structures, the Senior Finance Officer will support sound financial management, accurate reporting, effective budgeting, donor compliance, and strong financial controls.

The role requires a detail-oriented and collaborative finance professional who can work closely with the existing team and program/project staff to ensure that financial processes are well maintained, resources are properly accounted for, and financial information is available to support informed decision-making.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Management & Reporting

• Support the existing finance team in managing day-to-day accounting and financial operations.
• Prepare accurate monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Conduct bank, supplier, customer, project, and general ledger reconciliations.
• Monitor accounts payable, receivables, cash flow, and expenditure.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Assist management and the finance team with financial analysis and reporting.

Donor & Grant Financial Management

• Support the financial management of donor-funded projects and grants in line with approved budgets, donor agreements, and organizational procedures.
• Track project expenditure, commitments, donor funds, and balances.
• Support the preparation of donor financial and grant expenditure reports.
• Monitor expenditure against approved project budgets and support investigation of variances.
• Ensure project costs are properly supported, appropriately allocated, and compliant with donor requirements.
• Support preparation of donor budgets, budget revisions, cash-flow projections, and financial forecasts.
• Monitor grant burn rates and work with program teams to support effective budget utilization.
• Support appropriate allocation of shared and indirect costs across projects.
• Assist with donor audits, financial reviews, and responses to audit queries.
• Maintain accurate and organized financial records and supporting documentation.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Support compliance with Zambian statutory requirements, organizational financial policies, donor regulations, and grant agreements.
• Support internal and external audits and follow-up on audit findings.
• Assist in maintaining and strengthening existing financial controls.
• Ensure expenditure is appropriately authorized and adequately documented.
• Support timely preparation and submission of statutory returns, including ZRA, NAPSA, NHIMA, and other applicable obligations.

Payroll & Team Support

• Support accurate and timely payroll processing and statutory deductions.
• Provide financial guidance and support to program, project, and administrative teams.
• Work collaboratively with existing finance and operations staff.
• Provide support and mentorship to junior finance staff where applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A professional qualification such as ACCA, CIMA, ZICA, or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in NGO, development, donor-funded, or project-based environments.
• Demonstrable experience in donor/grant financial management and reporting.
• Strong understanding of donor compliance requirements and grant financial controls.
• Good knowledge of Zambian tax and statutory requirements.
• Experience using accounting and financial management systems.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and project accounting.
• Strong analytical, Organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• High level of accuracy, integrity, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with program and management teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

KEY COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Financial integrity and accountability
• Strong analytical and numerical skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Donor compliance and grant management expertise
• Planning and Organizational ability
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a finance professional who will work alongside and strengthen the existing team, bringing experience, attention to detail, and sound financial judgement to Avencion’s operations and programs.

The successful candidate should be comfortable working in a dynamic, project-based environment and be able to contribute positively to existing financial systems and processes while identifying opportunities for improvement where necessary.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested and suitably qualified candidates should fill in the application form by clicking the link below;

Application Form Link: https://forms.gle/HaTdAqEijbRwUuQU6

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.