Finance Officer

Location: Assosa, Benishangul Gumuz

Deadline: Sep 29, 2022

Job Description

Organisation Overview

The Pharo Foundation (the ‘’Foundation”) is a privately funded entrepreneurial organisation that runs philanthropic programmes as well as a for-profit arm, Pharo Ventures. The Vision of the Foundation is an economically vibrant and inclusive Africa. The Mission is to achieve the Vision by investing in the human and physical capital of Africa, with a strong focus on job creation.

Established in 2011, the Foundation has been implementing numerous programmes in Ethiopia and Somaliland and is in the process of expanding into Rwanda and Kenya. The strategic pillars of the Foundation are education, health, water, and agriculture. One such example is the ongoing implementation of a large-scale water project in Somaliland with the aim of bringing water to 6,000 households and their livestock. In 2020, the Foundation also established Pharo Ventures, its wholly owned social enterprise arm, with the objectives of economic value and job creation in East Africa.

The Foundation has a Programme Office in Assosa, the regional capital of Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz Regional State (BGRS), with plans to expand operations in the country. Since its establishment in 2016, the Foundation’s Programme Office has been working on an integrated livelihood development programme that covers agriculture, water, health, and education.

Headquartered in London, the Foundation has an operational head office in Nairobi, Kenya with Country Offices in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa and Assosa), Somaliland (Hargeisa), and Rwanda (Kigali) with further expansion plans in Africa.

Position Summary

The Finance Officer will be responsible for supporting the PDC by recording and reporting revenue and expenses to the PDC team. The ideal candidate will be tasked with compliance, budgeting, reporting, and contributing to the overall financial management of PDC. The Foundation is interested in hiring a competent and dedicated Finance Officer who is passionate about its work and finds fulfillment in making a real impact.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

  • Review purchase requests and ensure their correctness, budget availability, and stock balance.
  • Review payment requests, and ensure alignment with the Foundation’s policies, approved budget, tax law, and sound financial management.
  • Record transactions in Q-faya, our accounting system accurately and on time.
  • Produce monthly management account reports; income statements, balance sheet, and budget visa-vis actual variance explanations from budget holders and submit them to the Assosa Finance team.
  • Produce revenue and cost of services analysis by department and seek an explanation from the PDC Director on unexpected results.
  • Update Fixed Asset register regularly and ensure smooth bi-annual/annual physical verification.
  • Oversee proper recording and maintenance of stocks and ensure smooth bi-annual/annual physical verification.
  • Review purchases critically, and consult the Programme Manager/Finance and Admin Manager on contentious issues.
  • Maintain strong internal control systems in financial and property management.
  • Assist the Country Office Finance team during the management account report preparation.
  • Other duties as assigned by the line manager.

Location:  Assosa, BGRS

Contract Type: Permanent

Reporting to: PDC Director

Functional Relationships: Assosa Programme Office Finance team, Country Office Finance team

Job Requirements

Qualification Requirements

  • BA degree with a major in accounting from a reputable university.
  • Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience.
  • Prior experience in working in a diagnostic center or any medical institution is a plus.
  • Experience in managing inventory in a business setting.
  • Excellent computer skills and ability to work on accounting software.
  • Very good planning & organizational skills.
  • Strong analytical skills and good knowledge of financial techniques.
  • Fluency in spoken and written Amharic and English.

Personal Attributes

  • Great attention to detail and a flexible approach to work.
  • High level of commitment and self-motivation
  •  High professional and ethical standards.
  • Positive outlook and outgoing personality with solid interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
  • Structured and process-oriented.
  • Excellent time management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
  • Motivated to learn and perform and not afraid to ask questions.
  • Willing to challenge the status quo and add value by introducing positive change.
  • Excellent communicator and comfortable working in a team environment.
  • Demonstrate the ability of strong communication skills in English verbally and in writing.

How to Apply

Review of complete applications will be on a rolling basis. In the event that we identify an outstanding candidate early in the search process, we reserve the right to appoint before the deadline. For this reason, we encourage interested candidates to apply at the earliest possible time. Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.

Please send the information listed below, as a single PDF file, to the following email address: recruiting.et@pharofoundation.org. Please indicate “Finance Officer – PDC” in the email subject line.

  1. A detailed CV and Covering Letter. In your cover letter, please state where you heard about this position or saw it advertised e.g. through our website, jobs board, etc.
  2. A 1000-word essay on the below:
    1. What experience have you gained that makes you the most qualified candidate for the role?
    2. What major challenges would you envisage in Finance and Accounting in Ethiopia and how would you contribute to resolving these using your experience?
  3. A one-page list of five references with current addresses, phone numbers, and email contacts.

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