Junior Accountant job at Space for Giants

Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Space for Giants is an international conservation organisation founded in 2011 that works across Africa to conserve the continent’s most important natural landscapes for the benefit of both people and wildlife. Through long-term partnerships with governments, communities, development partners and the private sector, we support the protection, restoration and sustainable management of protected areas and their surrounding landscapes. Our work is focused on two interconnected programme areas: Landscape Protection and Human-Wildlife Coexistence. Through these programmes, we strengthen protected area governance and management, improve biodiversity conservation, support sustainable financing mechanisms, and develop practical solutions that enable people and wildlife to coexist. Collaboration is central to our approach. We work alongside national and local governments to develop and implement science-based conservation programmes that align with national priorities and deliver measurable ecological, social and economic outcomes. Combining technical expertise, strategic partnerships and innovative financing, we help secure resilient landscapes that conserve Africa’s natural heritage while creating lasting benefits for neighbouring communities. To learn more, visit www.spaceforgiants.org.

The Junior Accountant provides day-to-day financial administration and bookkeeping support to the Pian Upe Landscape Programme, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely financial records, and supporting compliance with donor and Ugandan statutory requirements.

Responsibilities or duties

• Process routine financial transactions, payments, receipts, and petty cash accurately and in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate financial records and filing systems, both digital and physical, in line with Space for Giants’ finance policies.
• Support monthly bank reconciliations for programme accounts.
• Assist in preparing monthly management accounts and donor financial reports under the supervision of the Finance Manager.
• Maintain the programme’s fixed asset register and support periodic asset verification.
• Support statutory compliance, including URA tax filings, NSSF contributions, and withholding tax, under guidance from the Finance Manager.
• Assist with payroll processing and staff expense reimbursements for the Pian Upe team
• Support budget monitoring and expenditure tracking against approved project budgets
• Maintain complete and orderly supporting documentation in readiness for internal and donor audits
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the Finance function as required
• Basic procurement responsibilities
• Any other duties reasonably required, commensurate with the grade of the post

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

• Bachelor’s or Diploma in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field
• Progression toward CPA (Uganda) or ACCA
• Strong numeracy and high attention to detail
• Familiarity with donor compliance and reporting requirements
• Proficient in MS Excel and standard office software
• Basic working knowledge of Uganda tax and statutory requirements (URA, NSSF)
• Knowledge of NGO / not-for-profit accounting principles
• High personal integrity, honesty, and discretion with confidential financial information
• Demonstrated commitment to conservation and community development
• Willingness to live and work in a remote, field-based location
• Must have the legal right to reside and work in Uganda. Candidates who are already legally based or Citizens of Uganda will be preferred.
• Valid driving license
• Willingness to undergo a police clearance/background check
• Willingness to travel to remote field locations as required

Experience needed

• At least 1–2 years’ experience in a finance/account’s role
• Prior experience within an NGO or donor-funded project
• Experience processing payments, reconciliations, and basic bookkeeping
• Experience using accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, Navision)

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Values & Behaviours

• Integrity – handles financial information honestly, accurately and with discretion
• Accountability – takes ownership of tasks and meets deadlines, including donor reporting deadlines
• Collaboration – works constructively with programme, field and Kampala-based finance colleagues
• Respect – for local communities, culture and the conservation goals of the Pian Upe Landscape Programme

Working Conditions & Special Requirements

This is a field-based role located in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. The post-holder will be required to travel periodically to the Kampala country office and, occasionally, to other programme locations (e.g. SFG HQ in Kenya). Some flexibility in working hours will be required around month-end closing, donor reporting deadlines and audits.

Flexibility

This job description is a guide to the main duties and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. It may be reviewed and amended from time to time in consultation with the post-holder to reflect changes in the needs of the programme.

Space for Giants is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applicants, in line with the Uganda Employment Act 2006 and the Equal Opportunities Commission Act. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and base recruitment decisions solely on merit against the criteria in this job description and person specification.

• Process routine financial transactions, payments, receipts, and petty cash accurately and in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate financial records and filing systems, both digital and physical, in line with Space for Giants’ finance policies.
• Support monthly bank reconciliations for programme accounts.
• Assist in preparing monthly management accounts and donor financial reports under the supervision of the Finance Manager.
• Maintain the programme’s fixed asset register and support periodic asset verification.
• Support statutory compliance, including URA tax filings, NSSF contributions, and withholding tax, under guidance from the Finance Manager.
• Assist with payroll processing and staff expense reimbursements for the Pian Upe team
• Support budget monitoring and expenditure tracking against approved project budgets
• Maintain complete and orderly supporting documentation in readiness for internal and donor audits
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the Finance function as required
• Basic procurement responsibilities
• Any other duties reasonably required, commensurate with the grade of the post

• Strong numeracy and high attention to detail
• Familiarity with donor compliance and reporting requirements
• Proficient in MS Excel and standard office software
• Basic working knowledge of Uganda tax and statutory requirements (URA, NSSF)
• Knowledge of NGO / not-for-profit accounting principles
• High personal integrity, honesty, and discretion with confidential financial information
• Demonstrated commitment to conservation and community development
• Willingness to live and work in a remote, field-based location
• Must have the legal right to reside and work in Uganda. Candidates who are already legally based or Citizens of Uganda will be preferred.
• Valid driving license
• Willingness to undergo a police clearance/background check
• Willingness to travel to remote field locations as required

• Bachelor’s or Diploma in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field
• Progression toward CPA (Uganda) or ACCA
• At least 1–2 years’ experience in a finance/account’s role
• Prior experience within an NGO or donor-funded project
• Experience processing payments, reconciliations, and basic bookkeeping
• Experience using accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, Navision)