Finance Manager job at ForAfrika

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized Finance Manager to lead finance and compliance operations for Uganda Country Office. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial management and compliance with regulatory and other requirements to ensure the smooth functioning of the operations. He/she is responsible for ensuring all transactions are accurate, correctly charged, allowable, reasonable and allocable, and compliant with ForAfrika policies, donor regulations, GAAP and applicable country laws. The Finance manager will facilitate annual budget development, cashflow management , statutory compliance, audits and financial reporting.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. LMA (Leadership + Management = Accountability)

• Establish clear direction and objectives, providing a compelling vision, and ensuring each team member understands how their role supports the organisation’s broader mission and goals.
• Provide essential resources and support ensuring team members have the resources they need—including training, tools, and personnel support—to perform effectively and grow in their roles.
• Empower through delegation and development delegating responsibilities thoughtfully, allowing team members to take ownership while encouraging their professional growth and advancement.
• Lead with integrity and organisational alignment by modelling behaviours that reflect the organisation’s core values, making decisions and taking actions that prioritise organisational needs and align with core principles.
• Maintain effective communication and reporting by fostering regular, transparent communication to keep expectations clear, provide timely feedback, and ensure accurate reporting of performance metrics and goal progress to support accountability and team effectiveness.

2. Budgeting, budget management and resource mobilization

• Provide technical support to project staff in preparation of budgets in line with ForAfrika and donor requirements.
• Work with the ForAfrika funding team to develop project proposals for donors and advise ForAfrika management on financial implications.
• Conduct monthly finance and grant review meetings with project staff.
• Responsible for budgeting, monitoring and control of project budgets and administrative expenditure, ensuring all transactions are in line with policy.
• Prepare monthly BVA Reports, assist in monitoring the burn rates and, advising management on matters arising.

3. Financial reporting

• Prepare accurate, complete and timely financial reports for different stakeholders that include management, statutory bodies and donors as per stipulated timelines.
• Prepare annual accounts for external audit purposes.

4. Risk management and compliance

• Facilitate all audits in collaboration with the GSO Finance and Audit, Risk and Compliance (ARC) departments.
• Respond to audit findings and lead the implementation of audit recommendations.
• Preparation and update of the risk register.

5. Financial operations including bank and cash management

• Prepare monthly cash forecasts to support country office operations, ensuring receipts are processed per the laid down procedures that include proper coding and posting into the accounting system.
• Perform bank reconciliations on time and clear all reconciling items in a timely manner
• Control and receipt of business advances accounting documentation by staff for adequate supporting documents. Check the information presented for budget availability, correct coding and, follow up of any queries.
• Support the project teams in executing the project related procurement functions as per the laid down policies and procedures.
• Provide training and technical support to the project staff in respect of their financial responsibilities and functions.
• Ensure that project assets and inventory systems are accurately recorded in the accounting system.
• Manage sub-grantee portfolio by reviewing monthly financial reports, discussing any variances, ensuring compliance with donors and ForAfrika policies and with any legal & regulatory provisions, build capacity and follow up on any review action plans.
• Review transactions posting on an ongoing basis, making sure they meet all donor and ForAfrika standards.
• Ensure timely withholding and payment of income taxes, withholding taxes, VAT and, file the necessary returns as required by local authorities.
• Perform all month-end processes including balance sheet reconciliations, within stipulated timelines.
• Ensure there is a proper filing and archiving system that is running efficiently.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance or a related field.
• Professional qualification in either CPA or ACCA required,
• 5+years’ experience in grants, financial management, and accounting and 3+ year’s supervisory experience.
• Strong management Skills, Technical & Supervisory Skills and experience required.
• Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
• International NGO experience and knowledge of UN donor rules and regulations preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and skill with financial reports preparation and presentation and proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel. Working experience with SAGE is an advantage.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Willing to travel regularly to ForAfrika and sub grantees field offices and project sites approximately 10%.

Success Factors

An ability to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information is essential. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. An impeccable professional standard of finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with ForAfrika and donor policies and procedures is essential.

• Establish clear direction and objectives, providing a compelling vision, and ensuring each team member understands how their role supports the organisation’s broader mission and goals.
• Provide essential resources and support ensuring team members have the resources they need—including training, tools, and personnel support—to perform effectively and grow in their roles.
• Empower through delegation and development delegating responsibilities thoughtfully, allowing team members to take ownership while encouraging their professional growth and advancement.
• Lead with integrity and organisational alignment by modelling behaviours that reflect the organisation’s core values, making decisions and taking actions that prioritise organisational needs and align with core principles.
• Maintain effective communication and reporting by fostering regular, transparent communication to keep expectations clear, provide timely feedback, and ensure accurate reporting of performance metrics and goal progress to support accountability and team effectiveness.
• Provide technical support to project staff in preparation of budgets in line with ForAfrika and donor requirements.
• Work with the ForAfrika funding team to develop project proposals for donors and advise ForAfrika management on financial implications.
• Conduct monthly finance and grant review meetings with project staff.
• Responsible for budgeting, monitoring and control of project budgets and administrative expenditure, ensuring all transactions are in line with policy.
• Prepare monthly BVA Reports, assist in monitoring the burn rates and, advising management on matters arising.
• Prepare accurate, complete and timely financial reports for different stakeholders that include management, statutory bodies and donors as per stipulated timelines.
• Prepare annual accounts for external audit purposes.
• Facilitate all audits in collaboration with the GSO Finance and Audit, Risk and Compliance (ARC) departments.
• Respond to audit findings and lead the implementation of audit recommendations.
• Preparation and update of the risk register.
• Prepare monthly cash forecasts to support country office operations, ensuring receipts are processed per the laid down procedures that include proper coding and posting into the accounting system.
• Perform bank reconciliations on time and clear all reconciling items in a timely manner
• Control and receipt of business advances accounting documentation by staff for adequate supporting documents. Check the information presented for budget availability, correct coding and, follow up of any queries.
• Support the project teams in executing the project related procurement functions as per the laid down policies and procedures.
• Provide training and technical support to the project staff in respect of their financial responsibilities and functions.
• Ensure that project assets and inventory systems are accurately recorded in the accounting system.
• Manage sub-grantee portfolio by reviewing monthly financial reports, discussing any variances, ensuring compliance with donors and ForAfrika policies and with any legal & regulatory provisions, build capacity and follow up on any review action plans.
• Review transactions posting on an ongoing basis, making sure they meet all donor and ForAfrika standards.
• Ensure timely withholding and payment of income taxes, withholding taxes, VAT and, file the necessary returns as required by local authorities.
• Perform all month-end processes including balance sheet reconciliations, within stipulated timelines.
• Ensure there is a proper filing and archiving system that is running efficiently.

• Strong management Skills
• Technical & Supervisory Skills
• Strong accounting skills
• Financial reports preparation and presentation
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance or a related field.
• Professional qualification in either CPA or ACCA required
• 5+ years’ experience in grants, financial management, and accounting
• 3+ years’ supervisory experience
• International NGO experience and knowledge of UN donor rules and regulations preferred
• Working experience with SAGE is an advantage