Accountant

Job description

VVOB – education for development is an international non-profit organisation with over 40 years’ experience in strengthening the quality of education systems in Africa, Asia and South America in close partnership with ministries of education and their institutions. Our head office is based in Brussels, Belgium.

We implement our programmes and projects with one shared passion: to ensure the improvement of quality education.

Do you share our ambition to ensure that learners around the world can enjoy their fundamental human right to quality education, without exception? Are you convinced as well that quality education guarantees equal opportunities for everyone and is the key to a better world?

We are looking for an Accountant who will operate from our office in Lusaka. Do you want to take on this challenge? Then continue reading!

As Accountant, you report to the Finance Manager and the following are the responsibilities of the Accountant:

Ensure compliance with VVOB’s financial policies, donor regulations, and local laws; assist in the preparation for audits and implement any necessary recommendations.
Actively participate in the development and improvement of financial systems and processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Assist in the development and monitoring of project budgets, providing regular updates and variance analysis to the Finance Manager.
Conduct regular reconciliations of bank statements, project accounts, and donor funds to ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data.

You will:

Ensure proper and timely update of the accounting system (Navision) and timely collection of good quality accounting documentation according to the latest financial guidelines.
Accounting and administrative support to the project, including donor reporting and bookkeeping.
Review all procurement processes for specific programme activities of assigned projects to ensure accuracy in the use of budget lines and account codes, donor compliance and reporting requirements.
Pro-actively provide information and support to the programme team and relevant partners to improve the accounting system and to develop the capacity of them in the field of accounting and accounting requirements.
Coordinate and supervise the compliance and correct implementation of financial guidelines and procedures.
Regularly prepare and review financial reports to ensure expenses are in line with projections and identify any areas of overspending and unusual underspending.
Assist in the development and preparation of proposal budgets, ensuring accuracy and alignment with strategic objectives.
Support ongoing forecasting efforts to project future financial performance based on historical data and current trends in line with the programme work plan.
Work closely with project coordinators to ensure adherence to budgets and provide financial insights to support programme implementation.
Facilitate continuous improvement, knowledge building sharing on financial operations.
Contribute to the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures related to budget management.

If you’re our Accountant your workweek at the office may include the following highlights:

In the monthly team meeting of the finance and operations team, you share with your manager and team members the status on your deliverables such as a donor report or no cost extension forecast.
You prepare the relevant documentation for budget monitoring meetings with project coordinators and together review the bookings, expenditure and forecast and take up the follow up actions
Lunch! A perfect time to nurture informal relationships with the other team members in Zambia and hear how everyone is doing.
The Zambia projects team discusses the project workplan. You are part of the team, providing guidance on the financial forecast.
You discuss the progress you made with the Finance Manager, and finetune the financial plans afterwards.
There is an upcoming donor report. You work with the Grants Coordinator and programmes colleagues to review the bookings and prepare the finance report.
By the end of the week, you make sure that all the validated invoices are booked and ready for payment. You discuss some open vendors with a finance staff colleague.

Who are you?

This position is open to Zambian Nationals.

Expertise and experience:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or Full ACCA/CIMA/ZICA profession qualification
All professional and academic qualifications must be verified by ZAQA.
5+ years’ experience in Financial Operations, specifically in accounting, budgeting and procurement.
Excellent computer skills in MS Office and ERP and Other financial system.
Fluent in English + based on Country needs

VVOB core competences:

Cooperation
Continuous Improvement
Result Orientation

Function specific competencies:

Reliability
Development oriented
360° empathy
Communication Skills
Problem analysis and judgement
Accuracy

What we’re offering:

A fixed term contract ending in December 2026, with a possibility of renewal subject to funding and performance.
An attractive compensation package and professional development opportunities.
A dynamic working environment in an international context.
An opportunity to contribute to exciting, evidence-based projects aimed at ensuring the education sector in Zambia is strengthened from supporting learners to acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills to developing vocational skills for adolescents.

What’s next?
Send your motivation letter detailing your match with the profile as well as your motivation behind applying for the vacancy along with your CV by e-mail no later than 1st May 2025 to recruitmentzambia@vvob.org Don’t forget to refer to the job title in the subject line of your e-mail.
Before a job offer, shortlisted candidates can expect:
1.a written test
2. an interview process
VVOB firmly believes that quality education can only be achieved if equity is ensured. Qualities of people prevail, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or disability.