Senior Finance Advisor job at TechnoServe

About TechnoServe:

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Job Summary:

• The Senior Finance Advisor role is a dynamic and agile position that will play a key role in enabling the implementation of project activities in an efficient and compliant manner and ensuring the effective use of resources for maximum impact.
• The Senior Finance Advisor ensures that Uganda adheres to legal standards, donor contract terms and in-house policies. They are responsible for improving planning and implementation capabilities in all areas, particularly in forecasting and program work plans. They enforce regulations and provide guidance, best practices, and training on operational effectiveness and compliance matters.
• Reporting to the Project Director, the Senior Finance Advisor adapts and designs new systems and processes that address emerging business priorities in all our administrative and financial departments.

Program Overview:

Building on the successes of TechnoServe’s Horticulture Market Acceleration Program (HortiMAP), Growing Resilience and Opportunities for Wealth Through Horticulture (GROWTH) will deepen farmer ownership and drive lasting transformation in Uganda’s horticulture sector.

Over five years, GROWTH will support 200,000 smallholder farmers to engage in profitable and resilient horticulture markets. The program will increase and stabilize farmer incomes, reduce post-harvest losses, enhance food security, and create thousands of new jobs across value chains. At a systems level, it will expand access to affordable finance, strengthen compliance with food safety standards, and improve market linkages across domestic and regional trade. GROWTH is rooted in a farmer-led approach that leverages participatory planning, so that farmers and their organizations will define their priorities, shaping interventions that reflect local needs.

GROWTH aligns with the Dutch Embassy’s Multi-Annual Country Strategy 2023–2026, contributing to food and nutrition security, sustainable land use, private sector growth, and climate adaptation. It also supports the Netherlands’ broader ambition to connect aid and trade, facilitating partnerships between Dutch and Ugandan enterprises in areas such as irrigation, seed systems, and cold chain solutions. GROWTH will be a EUR 13 million investment over five years.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

The Senior Finance Advisor will provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for all financial and administrative functions of the GROWTH program. This role ensures compliance with donor requirements and TechnoServe policies, maintains strong financial controls, and supports seamless program delivery across regional offices. This role will oversee subawards, financial management and reporting, while enabling technical teams to focus on achieving impact. As a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Senior Finance Advisor will contribute to program-wide decision-making and ensure operational excellence that drives efficiency, accountability, and sustainability.

Financial Management and Analysis

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all financial systems to ensure efficiency, compliance, and accountability.
• Supervise finance teams, ensuring seamless support services to regional and technical staff.
• Ensure reliability, integrity and accuracy of data entered into the system by the finance team by reviewing & approving transactions before posting.
• Review all cash receipts/credits to ensure that revenue is recognized in accordance with corporate policies and that program budgets have been created in the financial system to track expenditure of the funds received.
• Oversee the Subawards Advisor and monitor subawards and compliance with subaward agreements and TechnoServe sub-award manual.
• Ensure GROWTH is implemented with sound financial and administrative practices;
• Ensure that all processes and procurements adhere to corporate policy, legal and contractual obligations and corporate and donor standards.
• Oversee program budgets to ensure spending rates are on target.
• Produce financial reports for internal and external consumption (to include total grant amount, spend to date, spend this year, amount remaining, cash received, cash remaining/ short and estimated months remaining);
• Prepare the annual budget proposals to the donor in collaboration with the Program Director;
• Resolve any discrepancies and errors in a timely manner.
• Manage Program Payroll and leave and ensure timely submission of pension deductions and statutory returns i.e. PAYE, NSSF, WHT, VAT
• Process payments and manage cash float
• Prepare monthly reconciliation for all the accounts by ensuring that entries are posted correctly and also prepare the supporting schedules for the trial balance
• Monitor the liquidity position of the project to ensure that business cash flow adequately supports project activities
• Ensure all taxation and legislative requirements of Uganda are complied with at all times.
• Oversee the Program audit by preparing and maintaining audit files for review by internal and external auditors
• Any other tasks or duties assigned from time to time
• Ensure effective internal controls and risk management systems to safeguard resources and prevent fraud or misuse of funds.

Program Coordination:

• Provide overall coordination and quality monitoring of GROWTH team’s finances.
• Work closely with Regional Program Manager to ensure that program work plans and financial programs are in sync.
• Share spending analyses and trends with program team members to help synchronize program and financial decision-making processes.
• Coordinate with TechnoServe Uganda’s Controller on program’s contribution to country budget.
• Interface with other country, regional and HQ staff.
• Ensure financial information is shared and flows transparently within the program team and to other organizational levels, as appropriate.
• Work with program team to identify financial/administrative needs.
• Liaise with donor representative regarding financial and administrative oversight, as needed.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in accounting, business administration, economics, or other relevant area;
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience, of which some may be substituted by certification such as ACCA, CPA or other related certification
• Operation management experience in similar organisation required
• PC computer skills in MS word, excel and PowerPoint required and knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics or other fund-based accounting software preferred;
• Extensive knowledge of EU donors’ procedures. Familiarity with other donors would be a plus.
• Experience in international development, including working with foundations, corporations, and other multi- and bilateral donors

Required Languages: Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills, including fluency in English. Understanding of Luganda, Swahili, and other native languages is an advantage.

Travel: Travel up to 10 %

Preferred Qualifications:

•  Uganda or Regional Experience
•  Experience developing reports for multiple audiences
•  Experience developing and facilitating training
•  Familiarity dealing with ethic and compliance in the non-profit sector

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

•  Proven ability to serve as a trusted advisor, providing business leaders with professional, accurate, and timely support; able to diagnose complex matters and develop relevant and balanced solutions
•  Innovative self-starter with strong organisational skills
•  Good leadership and team management skills
•  Great cultural and emotional intelligence
•  Ability to work under pressure
•  Ability to handle sensitive and confidential topics with care and respect

Supervisory Responsibilities: This role will be responsible for supervising the Accountant, and Subawards Advisor.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all financial systems to ensure efficiency, compliance, and accountability.
• Supervise finance teams, ensuring seamless support services to regional and technical staff.
• Ensure reliability, integrity and accuracy of data entered into the system by the finance team by reviewing & approving transactions before posting.
• Review all cash receipts/credits to ensure that revenue is recognized in accordance with corporate policies and that program budgets have been created in the financial system to track expenditure of the funds received.
• Oversee the Subawards Advisor and monitor subawards and compliance with subaward agreements and TechnoServe sub-award manual.
• Ensure GROWTH is implemented with sound financial and administrative practices;
• Ensure that all processes and procurements adhere to corporate policy, legal and contractual obligations and corporate and donor standards.
• Oversee program budgets to ensure spending rates are on target.
• Produce financial reports for internal and external consumption (to include total grant amount, spend to date, spend this year, amount remaining, cash received, cash remaining/ short and estimated months remaining);
• Prepare the annual budget proposals to the donor in collaboration with the Program Director;
• Resolve any discrepancies and errors in a timely manner.
• Manage Program Payroll and leave and ensure timely submission of pension deductions and statutory returns i.e. PAYE, NSSF, WHT, VAT
• Process payments and manage cash float
• Prepare monthly reconciliation for all the accounts by ensuring that entries are posted correctly and also prepare the supporting schedules for the trial balance
• Monitor the liquidity position of the project to ensure that business cash flow adequately supports project activities
• Ensure all taxation and legislative requirements of Uganda are complied with at all times.
• Oversee the Program audit by preparing and maintaining audit files for review by internal and external auditors
• Any other tasks or duties assigned from time to time
• Ensure effective internal controls and risk management systems to safeguard resources and prevent fraud or misuse of funds.
• Provide overall coordination and quality monitoring of GROWTH team’s finances.
• Work closely with Regional Program Manager to ensure that program work plans and financial programs are in sync.
• Share spending analyses and trends with program team members to help synchronize program and financial decision-making processes.
• Coordinate with TechnoServe Uganda’s Controller on program’s contribution to country budget.
• Interface with other country, regional and HQ staff.
• Ensure financial information is shared and flows transparently within the program team and to other organizational levels, as appropriate.
• Work with program team to identify financial/administrative needs.
• Liaise with donor representative regarding financial and administrative oversight, as needed.

• PC computer skills in MS word, excel and PowerPoint required
• Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics or other fund-based accounting software preferred
• Extensive knowledge of EU donors’ procedures
• Familiarity with other donors would be a plus

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in accounting, business administration, economics, or other relevant area;
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience, of which some may be substituted by certification such as ACCA, CPA or other related certification
• Operation management experience in similar organisation required
• Experience in international development, including working with foundations, corporations, and other multi- and bilateral donors