Operations & Finance Manager job at Rooted Wisdom Africa

About the Role

Rooted Wisdom Africa is seeking a highly organized, proactive, and dependable Operations & Finance Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of our new Community Empowerment Center and strengthen the financial and administrative systems that support RWA’s work. This person will be responsible for making sure the Center works—every day.

The Operations & Finance Manager will oversee daily Center operations, facilities, administrative systems, finances, procurement, assets, HR administration, and organizational compliance working closely with the Managing Director From ensuring classrooms and facilities are ready for programs to making sure financial reconciliations and payroll are completed on time, this position will help keep the organization running smoothly behind the scenes.

Key Responsibilities

Community Empowerment Center Operations – 40%

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Community Empowerment Center starting in December 2026.
• Oversee the planning, coordination, and implementation of future onsite construction projects.
• Ensure the Center is open, prepared, safe, clean, secure, and functioning effectively each day.
• Manage the Center calendar, including classroom, meeting, training, and community-use schedules.
• Coordinate room reservations and use by Rooted Wisdom Africa programs, partners, and community groups.
• Oversee visitor and participant check-in/check-out systems and security
• Ensure classrooms and shared spaces are properly prepared before activities and secured afterward.
• Coordinate cleaning, security, maintenance, repairs, utilities, and other facility needs.
• Ensure supplies and equipment are available and properly maintained.
• Develop and maintain systems for keys, facility access, equipment use, and Center security.
• Respond to operational issues and ensure problems are resolved quickly.
• Coordinate with program staff to ensure the Center is prepared for trainings, events, meetings, and community activities.
• Monitor how the Center is being used and identify opportunities to improve its operations.
• Help establish a welcoming, organized, professional, safe and community-centered environment.

Finance & Accounting – 30%

• Maintain accurate and complete organizational financial records.
• Complete monthly bank, mobile money, petty cash, and other reconciliations.
• Coordinate monthly financial close and prepare financial reports.
• Prepare monthly payroll and maintain required payroll documentation.
• Monitor organizational and program budgets and prepare budget-to-actual reports.
• Maintain complete documentation for financial transactions.
• Track expenditures by program, project, grant, and funding source.
• Support annual budgeting, donor financial reporting, and external audits.

Procurement, Assets & Inventory – 5%

• Coordinate organizational and Center procurement.
• Ensure purchases have appropriate quotations, approvals, invoices, receipts, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain vendor and contractor records.
• Maintain the organization’s asset register and Center inventory.
• Establish systems for equipment check-in/check-out and asset accountability.
• Coordinate purchasing of Center supplies and identify needs before they affect operations.
• Track maintenance and repair needs for facilities and equipment.

Administration & Human Resources – 10%

• Maintain organized administrative systems and organizational records.
• Maintain personnel files, contracts, leave records, attendance records, and other HR documentation.
• Track staff contract dates, probation periods, performance reviews, and other deadlines.
• Support employee onboarding and offboarding.
• Maintain organizational contracts, agreements, policies, procedures, forms, and administrative records.
• Ensure important documents are properly filed and accessible.

Compliance & Organizational Systems – 15%

• Maintain a calendar of financial, HR, statutory, audit, contract, and organizational deadlines.
• Ensure required documentation and filings are completed on time.
• Develop and improve operational systems, forms, trackers, checklists, and procedures.
• Follow up with staff regarding missing documentation or overdue requirements.
• Identify operational or financial problems early and bring significant concerns to the Managing Director.
• Help build a culture of accountability, organization, timeliness, and transparency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or professional qualification in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Experience managing organizational, office, facility, or Center operations.
• Experience with bookkeeping, accounting, budgeting, or financial administration.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with procurement, vendors, assets, or administrative systems.
• Strong computer skills, including spreadsheets and financial/accounting software.
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines.
• High level of integrity and attention to detail.
• Experience working with an NGO, nonprofit, school, training center, or community-based organization is preferred.
• Fluent in Luganda and English.
• Applicants must be Ugandan citizens or already hold a valid work permit to be considered for this position.

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who takes ownership. When someone arrives at the Center, this person knows where they need to go. When a classroom is needed, it is ready. When something breaks, there is a plan to fix it. When supplies are running low, they are reordered before they run out. When a financial deadline is approaching, the work is already underway.

The ideal candidate notices problems before they become emergencies, follows through without needing constant supervision, and enjoys building systems that help other people do their jobs well.

Most importantly, this person will take pride in making the Community Empowerment Center a welcoming, organized, safe, and well-run place for the community it serves.

Position benefits include salary, accommodation and lunch stipend, communication stipend, insurance stipend. The position also provides an annual medical stipend.

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Community Empowerment Center starting in December 2026.
• Oversee the planning, coordination, and implementation of future onsite construction projects.
• Ensure the Center is open, prepared, safe, clean, secure, and functioning effectively each day.
• Manage the Center calendar, including classroom, meeting, training, and community-use schedules.
• Coordinate room reservations and use by Rooted Wisdom Africa programs, partners, and community groups.
• Oversee visitor and participant check-in/check-out systems and security
• Ensure classrooms and shared spaces are properly prepared before activities and secured afterward.
• Coordinate cleaning, security, maintenance, repairs, utilities, and other facility needs.
• Ensure supplies and equipment are available and properly maintained.
• Develop and maintain systems for keys, facility access, equipment use, and Center security.
• Respond to operational issues and ensure problems are resolved quickly.
• Coordinate with program staff to ensure the Center is prepared for trainings, events, meetings, and community activities.
• Monitor how the Center is being used and identify opportunities to improve its operations.
• Help establish a welcoming, organized, professional, safe and community-centered environment.
• Maintain accurate and complete organizational financial records.
• Complete monthly bank, mobile money, petty cash, and other reconciliations.
• Coordinate monthly financial close and prepare financial reports.
• Prepare monthly payroll and maintain required payroll documentation.
• Monitor organizational and program budgets and prepare budget-to-actual reports.
• Maintain complete documentation for financial transactions.
• Track expenditures by program, project, grant, and funding source.
• Support annual budgeting, donor financial reporting, and external audits.
• Coordinate organizational and Center procurement.
• Ensure purchases have appropriate quotations, approvals, invoices, receipts, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain vendor and contractor records.
• Maintain the organization’s asset register and Center inventory.
• Establish systems for equipment check-in/check-out and asset accountability.
• Coordinate purchasing of Center supplies and identify needs before they affect operations.
• Track maintenance and repair needs for facilities and equipment.
• Maintain organized administrative systems and organizational records.
• Maintain personnel files, contracts, leave records, attendance records, and other HR documentation.
• Track staff contract dates, probation periods, performance reviews, and other deadlines.
• Support employee onboarding and offboarding.
• Maintain organizational contracts, agreements, policies, procedures, forms, and administrative records.
• Ensure important documents are properly filed and accessible.
• Maintain a calendar of financial, HR, statutory, audit, contract, and organizational deadlines.
• Ensure required documentation and filings are completed on time.
• Develop and improve operational systems, forms, trackers, checklists, and procedures.
• Follow up with staff regarding missing documentation or overdue requirements.
• Identify operational or financial problems early and bring significant concerns to the Managing Director.
• Help build a culture of accountability, organization, timeliness, and transparency.

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Strong computer skills, including spreadsheets and financial/accounting software.
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines.
• High level of integrity and attention to detail.
• Fluent in Luganda and English.

• Bachelor’s degree or professional qualification in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Experience managing organizational, office, facility, or Center operations.
• Experience with bookkeeping, accounting, budgeting, or financial administration.
• Experience with procurement, vendors, assets, or administrative systems.
• Experience working with an NGO, nonprofit, school, training center, or community-based organization is preferred.