Finance Officer – Zambia
1PWR
Position Overview
The Finance Officer will be responsible for managing and strengthening 1PWR’s country-level financial operations in Zambia. The role supports sound financial planning, reporting, compliance, and controls to enable effective project delivery and sustainable growth. Reporting to the Country Manager and working closely with Group Finance, the Finance Officer ensures compliance with donor, sponsor, statutory, and internal financial requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Setup & Controls
- Establish and manage country-level financial systems, processes, and controls in line with 1PWR policies and donor requirements.
- Manage daily financial transactions and ensure sufficient liquidity to meet operational and project needs, including FX exposure monitoring.
- Record, review, and maintain accurate financial records in QuickBooks with adequate supporting documentation.
- Ensure compliance with donor, sponsor, organizational, and statutory requirements, including Zambian tax laws.
- Periodically review internal controls and recommend improvements to strengthen financial governance.
Project & Donor Financial Management
- Prepare accurate weekly, monthly, and quarterly cashflow forecasts and statements.
- Support project teams with budgeting, grant revisions, budget realignments, and no-cost extensions.
- Prepare and submit timely financial and narrative donor and sponsor reports, including milestone-based reports.
- Review quarterly financial reports from sub-recipients and support timely disbursement of milestone payments.
- Coordinate internal and external audits, respond to audit queries, and support implementation of recommendations.
Other responsibilities
- Ensure timely month-end closure and accurate postings.
- Reconcile all balance sheet accounts.
- Manage accounts payable and ensure supplier balances are accurate.
- Maintain prepaid expense schedules and fixed asset registers; track and safeguard company assets.
- Provide financial analysis and reports to the Country Manager and Group Finance.
- Mentor and support finance staff on policies, procedures, and system updates.
- Support donor and sponsor engagements and respond to financial queries.
Success Metrics
- Accurate and timely financial reporting with full donor and statutory compliance.
- On-time month-end and year-end financial closures.
- Effective cashflow management with no project delays due to funding gaps.
- Clean audit outcomes and timely resolution of audit findings.
- Strong financial support enabling on-time and on-budget project delivery.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
- Professional qualification (ZICA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) preferred.
- 3–5 years’ experience in financial management, preferably in donor-funded or project-based environments.
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles, cash management, and internal controls.
- Proficiency in QuickBooks and strong Excel/data analysis skills.
- Good understanding of Zambian tax laws and regulatory requirements.
- High level of integrity and strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
- Performance-based incentives.
- Health and wellness benefits.
- Professional development and training opportunities.
