Finance Manager

Salary Range (65,000 To 80,000 ETB)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Employment Type: Full-time

The Opportunity

As Finance Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring effective financial management, reliable accounting, sound cash planning and robust financial controls across Frontieri’s operations. The role combines strategic financial planning with hands-on oversight in a project-based consulting business.

You will work closely with business development, technical and delivery teams, People and Operations, and country office colleagues to ensure that financial decisions support the firm’s operational priorities and business objectives.

Your responsibilities will extend from project costing and pricing through project delivery, financial reporting, invoicing and collection. You will also oversee the firm’s administrative costs, payroll, treasury, assets and statutory finance activities. You will lead the effective implementation and continuous improvement of the Finance Operating Model, strengthen the capacity of the Finance team, and ensure that financial information supports timely and informed management decisions.

What You Will Lead

• Financial Planning and Advice: Develop annual budgets and rolling forecasts that integrate project demand, staffing requirements, corporate costs and anticipated revenue. Analyze financial performance, identify risks and opportunities, and provide timely financial advice and recommendations to management.
• Costing and Commercial Control: Oversee project costing and pricing within the firm’s approval framework. Review project delivery assumptions, cost structures, profit margins and payment terms, and provide financial assessments before contractual and commercial commitments are made.
• Project Financial Management: Work closely with project directors and delivery teams to establish and maintain project budgets, monitor actual and committed costs, forecast project completion costs, and identify and address potential budget overruns and financial risks.
• Revenue and Working Capital Management: Ensure accurate revenue recognition and proper management of client receivables. Oversee invoicing and collection processes, maintain cash flow forecasts, monitor working capital requirements, and recommend appropriate funding and payment management strategies.
• Accounting and Financial Reporting: Ensure accurate and timely accounting records, bank and balance sheet reconciliations, monthly and annual financial statements, tax reporting, statutory compliance and audit coordination across the firm’s relevant operations.
• Corporate and Field Finance Management: Oversee payroll and payment controls, staff advances, payments to consultants and fieldworkers, administrative expenditures, asset management and other corporate financial commitments. Ensure that expenditures are properly authorized, documented and aligned with operational requirements.
• Financial Controls and Compliance: Establish, implement and monitor effective internal financial controls, financial policies and procedures, risk management measures and appropriate segregation of financial duties. Ensure compliance with applicable financial regulations, tax requirements and accounting standards.
• People and Systems Management: Lead, supervise and develop the Finance team, strengthen financial management systems and processes, improve financial reporting practices, clarify roles and responsibilities, and promote accountability and efficiency within the Finance function.
• Success in this role will be reflected in reliable financial information, timely financial reporting, disciplined project and corporate financial management, effective cash flow management, and a Finance function that enables efficient organizational and project delivery while maintaining strong financial governance and professional standards.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Accounting and Finance, or a closely related discipline, with strong competence in financial reporting, accounting and financial controls.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance and accounting, including a minimum of five years in a finance management or finance team leadership position.
• Demonstrated practical experience in project or contract accounting, financial planning and budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial reporting and financial close within consulting, research, professional services or a comparable project-based organization.
• Strong commercial judgment and demonstrated experience translating project plans, staffing requirements and delivery commitments into reliable financial estimates, budgets and cost projections.
• Proven experience overseeing financial controls, with strong working knowledge of Ethiopian tax requirements and demonstrated experience coordinating external audits, tax advisers and improvements to financial processes and systems.
• Ability to manage Ethiopian accounting and tax compliance, obtain qualified professional advice when required, and coordinate financial and regulatory requirements across Frontieri’s operations in Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.
• Strong spreadsheet skills and proficiency in accounting software, particularly Peachtree. Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to prepare high-quality financial reports, provide clear financial insights and communicate financial issues effectively to non-finance colleagues.
• Demonstrated professional integrity, discretion and accountability, with the ability to challenge unsupported financial assumptions constructively, make evidence-based recommendations and develop the capacity of finance personnel.