Project Finance Officer

Positive Action for Development (PAD) is one of the most vibrant, rapidly expanding, and results-driven civil society organizations in Ethiopia. PAD is currently scaling up its interventions across the humanitarian, NEXUS, and development spectrum—expanding operations throughout the country, including in Addis Ababa, Amhara, Oromia, Harari, Afar, Somali, Tigray, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Ethiopia’s southern regional states. As PAD broadens its reach, it remains firmly committed to inclusive, equitable, and conflict-sensitive programming—respecting the diverse realities of communities while fostering peaceful coexistence and sustainable development.

Vision: PAD strives to see a community of hope, humanity, and social justice.

Mission: PAD brings people together to work in partnerships; promotes hope, humanity, and social justice for every human life in all its fullness; and improves the livelihoods of disadvantaged groups for social and inclusive economic growth by actively engaging in positive actions, promoting responsive care and support, and addressing the root causes of poverty in Ethiopia.

General Overview:

This document outlines the standard roles and responsibilities associated with this position. The descriptions of the post cannot be exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties that align with the key responsibilities described herein. The roles and responsibilities are also subject to change.

The Project Finance Officer will be responsible for all head office financial, procurement, property administration, and Human resources activities within the organization, and for technically supporting the co-workers working under the Junior Finance & Administration Officer in all such matters. This includes supervising cashier, handling all financial and procurement transactions, verifying, consolidating and assist preparing financial reports, assist prepare monthly branch officer budget and cash request, ensuring that sufficient cash is available to cover programmatic activities of the branch office, assist familiarize the branch office staffs in implementing Human Resources Policies and Procedures, assist recording and posting of financial data; assist maintaining and controlling inventory movements, vehicles, and all other fixed assets management and keeping up-to-date pertinent records of the organization books of accounts..

Duties and responsibilities

Financial Management:

• Check that all proper documents are attached to payment requests before preparing payments.
• Prepares payments as per the organization’s financial policy and procedures.
• Writes cheques and prepares the corresponding payment vouchers.
• Follow-up timely collections of receivables and cash on hand are promptly deposited in the bank accounts intact.
• Prepares monthly volunteers payment and regular payments with due consideration to deductions (Charity contribution, advance, loan…)
• Check coding of all source documents stamp ‘PAID’
• Ensure monthly office rental payment effect timely
• Collect monthly bank statements form all bank accounts
• Timely payment of government taxes including income tax, pension and withholding tax
• Ensure properly keeps chequebooks in safe custody.
• Effects payment of cheques against receipts/invoices and proper signature of the recipient
• Ensures valid cash receipts/invoices are delivered to finance for all cheques issued to Payees.
• Prepare and effect training and workshop participants’ payment with due consideration to deductions (taxes, advance….).
• Checks all petty cash payments
• Keeps up to date and orderly controlling records of receipts
• Participate in the annual physical count of inventories and fixed assets
• Sequentially arranges, files and labels financial records in a professional and easily retrievable manner
• Ensure that all financial and procurement transactions are conducted per PAD’s financial policies and procedures and procurement regulations as well as following donor compliance requirements
• Ensure that the proper implementation of internal control system and financial policy of the organization.
• Undertakes any other related duties that may be assigned to him/her.

Financial System Development

• Identify internal control weaknesses and assist in developing policies, systems, and procedures to address such weaknesses
• Assist all staff in understanding the organization’s financial policies, procedures, systems, and applications.
• Assist in development of good financial management systems and procedures, in line with best practices

Financial Reporting

• Review and analyse financial statements and all other required reports for the statutory and project audit purpose
• Facilitate with team year-end financial statements for external audit purposes
• Review monthly grant income charged to each donor and ensure that all are properly booked and fully reflect the actual transactions in accordance with grant document
• Prepare and submit other regular or on request financial reports, as per the reporting
• requirements of branch office, government agencies and other project funders.

Finance Team Leadership

• Provide direction to PAD finance team in consultation with the finance coordinator and Finance and Operation Head.
• Identify training needs for all PAD finance staff, and ensure the training is provided in collaboration with finance coordinator.
• Develop performance targets with staffs, conduct performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to the staff consultation with the Finance Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management or other related fields.

Work Experience

• At least three years of work experience in the Accounting and Finance sector in local or international NGOs.
• Proficiency in accounting software like QuickBooks, Peachtree or other ERP systems is Advantages.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks related to finance, admin, and logistics simultaneously.
• Familiarity with financial policies and compliance regulations (tax laws, procurement standards, etc.).
• Experience in financial management and procurement processes.
• Motivated self-starters, able to carry out work independently but also coordinate effectively as part of a team

Skills Required, Attitudes, and Attributes

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Fluency in the local language, both written and verbal.
• Previous experience working in complex and volatile contexts.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Team management and leadership skills.
• Handling insecure environments.
• Managing resources to optimize results.
• Innovation, flexibility, and a solution-oriented approach

Number required: 1 (One)

Duty Station: South Ethiopia Regional State, Arba Minch (with frequent travel).

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply

Equal Employment Opportunity

• Positive Action for Development (PAD) promotes fairness, equity, and diversity in the workplace. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or other personal status. Hiring decisions are made based on skills, experience, and suitability for the role.
• We are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive environment where all staff can thrive, contribute meaningfully, and grow professionally.

Zero Tolerance for Misconduct

• PAD has zero tolerance for any form of abuse, harassment, exploitation, or misuse of power. We take safeguarding seriously and expect all staff, volunteers, and partners to follow our policies and uphold our values at all times. All successful candidates will go through background checks and be required to follow PAD’s code of conduct and safeguarding principles.

Recruitment Flexibility

• PAD reserves the right to recruit more than one candidate from this announcement or keep qualified applicants in our database for future similar roles.

Important Notice on Recruitment Fraud

• PAD does not request any payment at any stage of the recruitment process. If you receive any suspicious messages claiming to be from PAD, please report them to our office through official contact channels. www.padethiopia.