Finance Officer – TRANSFORM PROJECT

Project: Transform Soil Fertility management in Ethiopia (TRANSFORM)

Duty station: Dessie

Duration: One year, subject to renewal based on performance and availability of funding

Reports to: Project Field Site Coordinator

Background

Stichting Wageningen Research (SWR) is an international NGO registered in Ethiopia since March 2021 with the FDRE Agency for Civil Society Organizations. The organization is established with the objectives of promoting a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems in Ethiopia. The projects implemented by SWR Ethiopia are Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian Food Systems (RAISE-FS+LOGIC), Ethiopian Seed Partnership (ESP), Food Futures Eastern Africa (REFOOTURE) Phase II and Transform Soil Fertility management in Ethiopia (TRANSFORM).

TRANSFORM is a consortium program led by IFDC with key consortium partners (Stichting Wageningen Research /SWR/ Wageningen Environmental Research /WENR/, World Soil Information /ISRIC/, SOS Sahel Ethiopia, Environment and Coffee Forest Forum /ECFF/), and preferred collaborating partners (MoA, EIAR and RARIS the Well In Action, TWA). The program implementation will last from January 2025 to December 2028.

As part of its intervention in three districts of South Wollo Zone, Amhara Regional State, the project operates through liaison office teams based in Dessie and respective implementation site woreda’s of the project, while financial and administrative functions are centrally managed at the head office. Accordingly, SWR Ethiopia seeks a qualified Finance Officer to provide financial administration, HR and logistical support to ensure effective project implementation in compliance with organizational policies and donor requirements.

Position Summary

Working within Dessie Liaison office, under the direct supervision of the Field Site Coordinator and technical supervision of the SWR Ethiopia Finance and Admin Manager, the Finance officer has the overall function to support financial administration, documentation management, human resource coordination, and operational logistics of the liaison office, ensuring timely processing of advances, proper settlement, accurate documentation, and effective coordination with SWR Ethiopia Finance and Administration functions.

Key responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Finance officer will include the following:

Financial Administration and Compliance:

• Facilitate financial administration of the liaison office in coordination with the SWR Ethiopia Finance.
• Prepare and submit payment requests, travel advances and working advances to the SWR Ethiopia finance team.
• Follow up and ensure proper utilization, timely settlement, and accurate documentation of travel advances and working advances.
• Review supporting documents for completeness, eligibility, and compliance with organizational and donor requirements prior to submission.
• Monitor activity implementation against approved budgets and support expenditure tracking.

Compile and submit financial documents and supporting documents required for financial reporting and audits.

• Follow up pending advance settlements and ensure compliance with financial procedures.
• Support the SWR Ethiopia Finance and Administration team in audit processes through organized documentation and follow-up actions.
• Promote adherence to organizational policies, donor compliance requirements, and internal control procedures.
• Follow up, review and compile staff timesheets and submit them timely to the head office.
• Support and facilitate staff travel authorization processes and related administrative documentation.
• Ensure staff compliance with organizational policies and administrative procedures.
• Provide financial and administrative support for field activities, trainings, workshops, and meetings.
• Facilitate procurement administration by collecting quotations, preparing documentation, and coordinating with the central procurement team.
• Manage working advances for operational activities and ensure proper and timely settlement and documentation.
• Maintain inventory records and asset documentation of the liaison office.
• Coordinate office operational logistics, including supplies, service requests, etc.
• Act as focal person linking the liaison office with SWR Ethiopia Finance, HR, and Administration teams.
• Perform any other similar tasks that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Job Minimum Requirements

• Eight years and more related experience in related field of which 5 years at.
• First Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or related discipline
• Demonstrated competency with computerized general ledger software is a plus
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly in Word and Excel
• Excellent oral and written English communication skill.
• Willing to travel to TRANSFORM project sites, when required
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and appropriate flexibility.

What we offer

Depending on candidate’s education and work experience, we offer a competitive salary as per the organization scale which is negotiable within the range of the salary scale assigned for the position. We also offer other benefit packages as per the internal HR manual.