JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Specialist — Finance & Accounting functions as the primary operational finance lead for the Area Office, reporting to the Finance Director. This position oversees all financial operations, encompassing transactional processing, statutory compliance, budgeting, donor reporting, and audit management. Collaborating closely with the Finance Director as a strategic advisor, the role fosters financial discipline, enhances internal controls, and ensures adherence to HFHI policies, donor mandates, and legal regulations. Additionally, this position provides direct supervision to two team members while contributing to the development of finance capabilities throughout the Area Office.
We are seeking a highly motivated professional to fulfill essential duties including the implementation of strategic initiatives, the management of key projects, and the oversight of daily operations to ensure organizational success. The ideal candidate will be responsible for maintaining compliance with regulatory standards, fostering team collaboration, and driving continuous improvement across departments. Qualified applicants should possess strong analytical skills, proficiency in relevant software tools, and a proven track record in leadership and decision-making. This role requires effective communication abilities, attention to detail, and the capacity to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment while upholding high ethical and professional standards.
The position involves overseeing financial accounting and reporting functions, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and accurate financial statement preparation. Responsibilities include maintaining the general ledger, reconciling accounts, and analyzing financial data to support decision-making. Requirements encompass proficiency in accounting principles, ERP systems, and strong analytical skills, along with a degree in Accounting or Finance and relevant certifications preferred.
Ensure the accuracy and completeness of the general ledger while managing the month-end and year-end close processes—including journal entries, accruals, prepayments, and balance sheet reconciliations—in alignment with HF HI’s global financial calendar.
Prepare annual statutory financial statements while ensuring donor grant-specific account reconciliations, fund balance schedules, and intercompany entries are updated and maintained on a monthly basis.
Administer Workday ERP processes, ensuring the integrity of the chart of accounts, configuring workflows, generating system reports, and providing first-line user support.
Responsible for managing accounts payable, processing payroll, and overseeing treasury operations, the role ensures accurate and timely financial transactions, compliance with regulatory standards, and efficient cash flow management. Key duties include verifying invoices, reconciling accounts, disbursing payments, calculating employee compensation, and maintaining payroll records. Additionally, the position involves monitoring cash balances, forecasting liquidity needs, and optimizing working capital to support organizational financial health. Strong attention to detail, proficiency in financial software, and adherence to internal controls are essential requirements for success in this role.
Ensure all procurement transactions are correctly assigned to budget codes, thoroughly documented, and executed in adherence to HF HI’s procurement and financial controls’ framework, while closely collaborating with the Office Operations Coordinator.
Oversee the complete accounts payable cycle, spanning invoice verification, approval workflows, payment scheduling, and quarterly vendor statement reconciliations, while ensuring full adherence to HF HI procurement standards.
Collaborate with the HR department to guarantee precise, punctual payroll processing, timely approval of timesheets, and accurate allocation of payroll within the financial system.
Responsibilities include managing staff travel advances, ensuring prompt liquidation, reviewing expense reports for accuracy and compliance, and maintaining an aged advance report.
Responsibilities include overseeing daily operations of petty cash and Area Office liquidity, conducting regular cash audits, submitting cash requests to HQ, and proactively managing banking relationships to guarantee prompt and adequate operational funding.
Oversee financial planning, budget development, and expenditure tracking to ensure efficient resource allocation and fiscal responsibility. Conduct comprehensive financial analysis to assess performance against budgets, identify variances, and recommend corrective actions to optimize financial outcomes. Prepare detailed reports, forecasts, and presentations to support strategic decision-making and stakeholder communication. Collaborate with department heads to align financial goals with organizational objectives while maintaining compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
Facilitate the Area Office’s budgeting cycle—spanning preparation of the annual fiscal year budget to monthly Budget vs. Actuals (BVA) reporting—by delivering insightful variance analysis and proactive commentary to inform strategic management decisions.
Partner with the Finance Director to lead the forecasting process, proactively identifying budget risks and advising corrective measures.
Collaborate with the Resource Development team to prepare and evaluate project proposal budgets, realignments, and cost extensions, maintaining financial precision and adherence to donor guidelines.
Conduct comprehensive audits, ensure strict adherence to regulatory compliance standards, and manage intricate tax-related matters to safeguard organizational integrity and financial health.
As the Area Office lead, you will oversee all internal, external, and donor audits, managing audit schedules, document request lists, and management responses while ensuring documentation remains audit-ready and tracking the resolution of findings to completion.
Oversee all statutory tax obligations, specifically withholding tax and corporate income tax filings, while staying vigilant of legislative updates to ensure internal processes remain current and compliant.
Oversee adherence to the financial authority matrix for every transaction and associated documentation, guaranteeing that all payments and commitments receive proper authorization prior to processing.
Grants Management & National Office Support
Oversee the complete grants management lifecycle for Area Office-administered grants, collaborating closely with Grants Officers and the Project Lead to ensure rigorous sub-grantee oversight, adherence to donor compliance standards, and accurate financial reporting.
Facilitate monthly Budget versus Actuals review meetings in collaboration with the Project Lead to monitor grant performance and ensure prompt implementation of corrective measures.
Collaborate with the Regional Finance Manager to guarantee that fund requests from the National Office are prepared accurately and submitted punctually to the Headquarters and the Global Fundraising Network Offices.
Deliver expert technical assistance and compliance guidance to National Offices, encompassing the meticulous review of financial submissions and offering practical, actionable advice on donor-specific requirements.
Maintain a meticulously structured, audit-ready filing system—both digital and paper-based—for all grants and financial documentation across the Area Office.
Oversee operational controls, drive process enhancement initiatives, and provide strong leadership to teams, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and fostering an environment of continuous improvement.
Enhance financial processes in collaboration with the Finance Director and bolster internal controls by implementing robust SOPs, enforcing segregation of duties, and integrating anti-fraud and safeguarding measures.
Collaborate with the Finance Director to pinpoint, develop, and execute enhancements to financial processes, leveraging operational insights to create more streamlined and scalable workflows.
Deliver comprehensive financial education to the Area Office, equipping non-finance personnel with actionable insights and foundational knowledge of policies, procedures, and regulatory obligations.
Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to direct reports while establishing well-defined performance standards to cultivate a dynamic and high-performing team.
Education
A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or an equivalent field is required.
We are seeking candidates who hold a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential, an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ARCA) qualification, or an equivalent professional certification in accounting or finance.
Minimum of three years of relevant work experience in a comparable role is required. Candidates must possess a strong background in the field, having accumulated substantial hands-on expertise through dedicated professional engagement.
A minimum of eight years of progressive finance and accounting experience is required, including at least three years in a senior or specialist capacity. Prior experience in an international NGO or donor-funded setting is highly preferred.
Preferred Requirements
Professional experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is required, with a preference for familiarity with Workday.
Individuals with a proven track record in international NGOs or projects funded by external donors are encouraged to apply. Experience in such settings is preferred, as familiarity with cross-border collaboration and donor reporting protocols is often necessary. Candidates who have previously worked in these environments will be given special consideration during the selection process.
Proven track record in administering grants from major institutional donors, including UN agencies, BMZ, the Adaptation Fund, or comparable organizations.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , Professional Certificate
Experience Required
8 years
