Finance and Accounting Manager

Open Positions: Four (4) — one position in each of the following countries: Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Ethiopia.

• Location: Fika’s country office in the selected country.
• Eligibility: Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the country they are applying for. (Work permit sponsorship and relocation support will not be provided.)
  
  

About Fika

Fika (formerly “Bridges to Prosperity”) exists to innovate cost-effective rural infrastructural solutions through advocacy, evidence and technical assistance to promote safe access for geographically isolated communities through partnership with governments and donors.

We provide flexible work arrangements, comprehensive mental and physical wellness support, and annual salary reviews aligned with our compensation policy. Additionally, we offer opportunities for professional growth, allowing individuals to shape their own career paths through targeted development programs.

Job Purpose

The Finance and Accounting Manager owns the financial management of Fika’s country office: the full accounting cycle, month-end close, internal controls, payroll, banking, and country-level donor financial reporting. The role ensures accurate, compliant, audit-ready country books that roll up cleanly to regional and global finance, and partners closely with the Country Director and program teams to keep spending aligned with budgets and donor terms. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Country accounting and month-end close

• Own the complete accounting cycle for the country office, ensuring accurate and complete financial records and supporting documentation in accordance with Fika’s finance policies and procedures.
• Lead month-end and year-end closing processes, including reconciliations, accruals, allocations, and revenue releases, ensuring compliance with reporting timelines established by the Africa Controller.
• Maintain the general ledger in Sage Intacct, including the chart of accounts, employee receivables and advances, prepaid expenses, fixed-asset register, and supporting financial schedules.
• Prepare monthly country financial reporting packs for the Africa Controller, including trial balances, budget variance analysis, and balance-sheet reconciliations.
• Investigate and resolve accounting discrepancies, ensuring timely corrections and accurate financial reporting.

Banking, payments, and internal controls

• Initiate and review country office payments, including electronic funds transfers and mobile money transactions, ensuring appropriate authorization and segregation of duties.
• Monitor bank balances and working capital requirements to ensure adequate cash availability for operational and program activities.
• Oversee bank reconciliations, petty cash management, cash counts, and accounts payable processes.
• Enforce financial approval workflows and expenditure authorization limits in accordance with Fika’s Delegation of Authority.
• Conduct monthly internal reviews of country transactions to identify control weaknesses, non-compliance, and opportunities for improvement.
• Track control findings and ensure corrective actions are implemented and closed within agreed timelines.

Payroll and timekeeping

• Manage country payroll administration and timekeeping processes, ensuring accurate and timely payroll inputs and processing.
• Ensure employee timesheets are completed, reviewed, and certified, with personnel costs accurately allocated to relevant projects, grants, and cost centres.
• Ensure payroll reconciliations are completed and employee payments and statutory deductions are accurately accounted for.
• Ensure compliance with applicable statutory payroll obligations, including PAYE, social security contributions, and other local requirements.
• Coordinate timely statutory payroll filings and payments, maintaining appropriate supporting documentation.

Donor financial management — country portfolio

• Prepare and submit accurate and timely country-level donor financial reports in accordance with grant agreements, award terms, and applicable donor regulations.
• Monitor grant expenditure against approved budgets throughout the award period, identifying variances and potential over- or under-spending risks.
• Work closely with program teams to review budget performance, address expenditure variances, and recommend corrective actions.
• Support proposal budget development, working budgets, and grant expenditure planning.
• Prepare expenditure projections and financial analyses to support quarterly program reviews and grant management.
• Maintain appropriate financial documentation and audit trails to demonstrate compliance with donor funding restrictions and reporting requirements.

Sub-recipients and partners

• Conduct financial due diligence on prospective in-country sub-recipients and implementing partners to assess their financial management capacity and internal controls.
• Support the development and implementation of sub-award agreements, ensuring appropriate financial reporting requirements and expenditure controls are established.
• Monitor sub-recipient expenditure against approved budgets and funding conditions.
• Review sub-recipient financial reports and supporting documentation to assess accuracy, expenditure eligibility, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Follow up on questioned costs, unsupported expenditure, and reporting discrepancies, ensuring timely resolution.
• Support the financial management and reporting capacity of sub-recipients and implementing partners.

Audit, statutory compliance, and systems

• Serve as the country finance lead for external audits, statutory audits, and donor verification exercises, coordinating the preparation of financial schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate responses to audit findings and ensure corrective actions are implemented within agreed timelines.
• Ensure country compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, including tax filings and relevant NGO reporting obligations, in coordination with the Africa Controller.
• Monitor changes in local financial and statutory requirements and escalate emerging compliance risks.
• Champion effective use of Sage Intacct, ensuring accurate transaction processing, data integrity, and timely financial reporting.
• Strengthen financial processes, reconciliations, documentation standards, and month-end close disciplines to improve financial accountability and operational efficiency.

Team leadership

• Supervise country finance staff, including Finance Officers and Finance Assistants, in accordance with the approved country staffing structure.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching, and training to strengthen the team's capabilities in accounting, financial reporting, donor compliance, and internal controls.
• Set clear performance expectations, allocate responsibilities, and monitor the quality and timeliness of financial deliverables.
• Promote a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement within the country finance function.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA, ACCA, or a recognized local equivalent strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including at least two years with an international NGO. Experience managing multi-donor projects is preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of the complete accounting cycle, including general ledger management, reconciliations, accruals, financial reporting, and month-end and year-end close.
• Demonstrated experience in grant accounting, including restricted funds management, donor financial reporting, expenditure eligibility, and revenue recognition.
• Working knowledge of institutional donor regulations and compliance requirements, including USAID, FCDO, EU, or other international donor frameworks, preferred.
• Experience with Sage Intacct or a comparable ERP system, with advanced Excel skills.
• Strong understanding of internal financial controls, audit requirements, statutory compliance, payroll administration, and banking operations.
• Experience conducting financial reviews of sub-recipients or implementing partners is an advantage.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in the principal local working language is an advantage.
• High integrity and discretion when handling confidential financial information.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across different cultures and geographical locations.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Regular collaboration with regional and global finance colleagues across different time zones.
• In-country travel to field sites and other operational locations as required (approximately 10–15%).
  
  

Physical Requirements

The role is primarily office-based and is not physically demanding.

Direct Reports

Finance Officer(s) and Finance Assistant(s), as per the approved country staffing structure.

CV Guidelines

• Maximum two pages.
• Highlight relevant diplomas, degrees, and recognized professional certifications.
• Exclude personal information: photographs, gender, religion, marital status, number of dependants, and non-certified training.
  
  

Data Protection

By submitting your application, you consent to Fika collecting, storing, and processing your personal data for the purpose of evaluating your qualifications for this position and managing the recruitment process.

Fika may retain your application materials and contact details for up to 3 years to consider you for similar job opportunities that match your qualifications and interests.

You have the right to access, rectify, or delete your personal information at any time by contacting data@fika.org.  If you prefer not to be contacted about future opportunities, please indicate your preference during the application process or email us at the address above.

For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.