Finance Manager

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We currently manage 23 national parks and protected areas in 13 countries covering over 20 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Gambella National Park was established as a protected area in 1973 and is 4,575 km² in size. It forms the northern anchor of a much larger contiguous system, with a network of protected areas in southern Ethiopia and neighboring South Sudan. The park hosts several wildlife species including an important population of Nile Lechwe, Ethiopia’s largest population of elephant, healthy lion populations, one of the most endangered giraffe populations in the world and a shoebill population. Gambella also forms part of the white-eared kob migration between South Sudan and Ethiopia – the largest land mammal migration on earth comprising around 6 million animals.

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Finance Manager oversees all financial activities, ensuring accurate and timely reporting and compliance with international standards. Key duties include managing accounting processes, budgets, cash flow, assets, payroll, and audits. This role provides financial guidance, supports staff training, and helps implement financial systems. Strong leadership and financial expertise are essential.

MAIN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Accounting and Reporting

• Maintain and update accounts to ensure an efficient financial information system compliant with international standards and legal requirements.
• Review accounting transactions (e.g., vouchers, invoices, journal entries) before entry into the accounting system.
• Reconcile all balance sheet accounts monthly.
• Provide guidance and coaching to accounting staff to ensure accurate, correct, and complete transaction recording.
• Supervise monthly and yearly closing processes.
• Ensure timely financial reporting to Park Management, APN, and other stakeholders.
• Prepare and discuss periodic financial performance reports with Park Management.
• Prepare monthly cash flow projections and monitor fund availability for operations and projects.
• Reconcile disbursement accounts, intercompany accounts, petty cash, and bank balances with records, ensuring reviews and sign-offs by Park Management.
• Assist in the planning, budgeting, and forecasting process, ensuring compliance with assumptions, guidelines, and policies.
• Monitor departmental budget performance and recommend improvements.
• Provide cost data to program personnel for budget preparation and updates.

Treasury and Cash Management

Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting

Fixed Asset Management

• Conduct annual inventory of fixed assets to determine their location and condition.
• Ensure accurate depreciation in accordance with APN’s policy and adequate protection of assets.
• Prepare requests for approval to dispose of missing, lost, stolen, damaged, or obsolete equipment.

Internal Control

• Continuously review internal controls to ensure accurate financial information, asset protection, adherence to policies, and smooth implementation of plans.

Payroll

• Ensure systems and procedures for accurate payroll preparation and disbursement in compliance with statutory requirements.
• Review and sign off monthly payroll, verifying amounts to be paid to staff.

Due Diligence and Audit

• Coordinate external audits with the Head of Finance, prepare draft financial statements and necessary notes, and draft responses to audit management letters.
• Ensure the closure and resolution of audit findings

Recruitment and Training of the Finance Team, and implementation of APN Finance SOP;

• The Finance Manager will arrive on site with no finance team in place. They will have to set up the entire Finance team and implement all APN Finance SOP and process.

• A Deputy Finance Manager will have to be recruited by the end of the 1st year of contract, and the Finance Manager will have 1 year to train him/her in the perspective of a succession plan by end of 2027.

  EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or related field;

• At least 9 years’ experience in a similar role, with 5 years in a similar field;

• Strong understanding of accounting, Finance and management principles;

• Exceptional Math skills;

• Exceptional communication skills delivered both verbally and in writing;

• Skills in managing, organizing, planning and implementing assigned tasks under pressure of frequent and tight schedules;

• Ability to gather and analyze data and to work with figures;

• Strong ability to apply good judgment and decision-making skills in difficult and complex working environments.

How to apply

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to ethiopiarecruitment@africanparks.org by Monday, 7th April 2025. Please mention the position name in the subject line of the email.

In case you do not hear from us within two weeks after the closing date, this means that your application was not successful. We thank you for your interest in working for African Parks.