Field Finance Manager

Job description

Field Finance Manager (CIGZambia2) – Terms of Reference

Position Title: Field Finance Manager

Position Type: Full time

Duration/Level of Effort: 18 days per month, max 220 per year (pro-rated)

Reports to: Senior Project Finance Officer

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Background

Cowater International is a global international development consultancy firm that works with partners to deliver technical assistance to governments and the private sector in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. Cowater counts on a dynamic and diverse team of professionals committed to designing and implementing projects that deliver lasting results for the clients and countries with whom it works.

The Cities and Infrastructure for Growth Zambia Phase 2 (CIGZambia2) programme supports Zambia’s ambition to build a more reliable, competitive and sustainable energy sector as a foundation for economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction. Zambia’s energy sector is critical to the country’s economic growth ambitions but remains vulnerable to infrastructure constraints and climate-related shocks, particularly given the country’s 80% dependency on hydropower. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), CIGZambia2 works alongside government, regulators, utilities and private sector stakeholders to unlock investment and accelerate transformative energy sector reforms. Building on Cowater’s successful delivery of the first phase of CIGZambia, the programme works through trusted partnerships, embedded technical expertise and flexible, demand-led assistance to help deliver lasting reforms across Zambia’s energy sector.

Role Description

We are seeking to recruit a highly experienced Finance Manager to set up and maintain robust financial management processes to support delivery. They will work closely with the Senior Project Finance Officer to play a vital role in managing project finances for CIGZambia, ensuring successful execution within budgetary constraints, in compliance with donors’ financial requirements, as well as local financial regulations.

They must be able to work under minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment and possess excellent communication and organizational skills. They must be proficient in MS Office (Excel and Word), and have previous experience with accounting software (such as Sage) and Zambian tax administration.

Key Responsibilities:

The Employee will perform the following duties under the direction of the Senior Project Finance Officer (SPFO), ensuring all financial management, reporting and compliance activities support delivery of FCDO client requirements:

Budgeting, forecasting and invoicing  

• Support the SPFO to prepare monthly project and corporate cashflow forecasts.
• Review project expenses, consultant and supplier invoices, and budget forecasts for SPFO review.
• Support the SPFO to monitor expenditure against approved budgets and strengthen budget controls.
• Support the SPFO to prepare monthly invoices and update FCDO forecasts.
• Work with the Project Manager, Operations Manager, and SPFO to manage field cashflow requests and project advances.
• As required, work with the PMU team to track CIG’s Value for Money and implement Value for Money Initiatives.

Bank and Petty Cash Management 

• Maintain complete and accurate bank transaction records.
• Monitor project bank activity through field expense reports and monthly reconciliations.
• Prepare monthly and periodic bank reconciliation statements.
• Maintain petty cash custody and complete monthly petty cash reconciliations.
• Review and reconciliation of monthly travel logs
• Monthly Weighted Average Exchange Rate (WAER) calculations

Payables accounting – vendors, suppliers and consultants  

• Verify consultant timesheets, invoices and expense claims.
• Prepare payment requisitions for approved invoices and initiate local field bank payments.
• Liaise with suppliers and consultants to support timely invoicing and payment.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external stakeholders to process invoices and payments accurately.
• Prepare purchase requisitions and secure required approvals, maintaining complete procurement documentation and audit trails.

Payroll Accounting  

• Quality assure monthly payroll calculations, changes, deductions and withholdings for local staff.
• Support the Operations Manager to resolve payroll queries promptly.
• Manage monthly payroll administration and statutory filings in Zambia, including NAPSA, NHIMA, PAYE and SDL

Financial reporting, compliance and audit

• Support preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reports for Cowater and FCDO client reporting requirements.
• Support the SPFO to prepare annual corporate and programme financial reports for audit.
• Support the SPFO to identify, monitor and escalate fiduciary risks, recommending mitigation measures to protect the programme and Cowater.
• Work with the SPFO and Project Manager to monitor commercial performance and contract profitability.
• Prepare quarterly and annual financial projections, including margin forecasts.
• Support the SPFO with inter-company reconciliations with Cowater UK
• Prepare annual IATI financial reporting for FCDO.
• Manage annual audits for Cowater UK (Zambia) Ltd, liaising with UK and Canada finance leads.
• Support Cowater Zambia tax compliance activities.
• Post transactions accurately into Sage.

General administrative, financial and compliance roles  

• Maintain complete electronic and hard-copy financial records, including SharePoint filing.
• Maintain books of account by posting, updating and retrieving financial data as required.
• Under SPFO guidance, ensure project financial procedures and systems comply with Cowater and FCDO requirements.
• Support operational planning and follow-up to ensure timely delivery of assigned finance tasks.
• Provide flexible finance and administrative support to the wider programme team as required.
• Analyse trial balances and variances against forecasts and budgets.
• Support budgeting and commercial inputs for business development opportunities, as required.

Job Requirements

Education:

• Formal academic and/or professional qualifications in accounting and/or financial management;  

o  Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field.

o  Professional certification such as CPA, ACCA, CIMA

Minimum Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience coordinating financial management and field operations management of mid- to- large multi-component projects in a developing country context
• Experience and knowledge of FCDO donor requirements is an asset

Essential Skills:

• Highly proficient in using standard accounting and bookkeeping software (i.e., Sage) and Excel; 
• Proficient in designing and maintaining digital and paper (hardcopy) financial filing systems; 
• Ability to communicate in a diplomatic but clear and concise manner with project staff, and, if required, with project partners; 
• Ability to find solutions to complex problems and foresee and prevent problems by proactively taking action and ability to escalate issues appropriately; 
• Ability to deal with challenging and sometimes stressful situations, while maintaining a professional and solutions-oriented attitude; 
• Demonstrate an awareness of fundamental office management principles;  
• Strong reading, writing, and oral communication skills in English
• Understanding of Zambian tax system, with experience engaging with ZRA an asset

Reporting lines 

 The Field Finance Manager will report to the Senior Project Finance Officer, with regular communications with the Project Manager and Operations Manager.

Performance Management 

Performance objectives will be identified jointly by SPFO, in consultation with the Project Manager. 

The Field Finance Manager will participate in an annual performance management review to be conducted by SPFO. The objective of the performance review will be to formally measure progress against the TORs and the identified performance objectives, as well as assess the demonstration of a team ethic and effective communication with project counterparts.  

Duration and LoE 

The duration of this role is initially until August 2027 with potential for this role to be extended to dependent on performance. This role includes a 3-month probationary period.

The Level of Effort during this period will be a maximum of 220 days (in line with FCDO yearly caps) with an average of 18 days per month. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply by July 22^nd 2026 or as soon as possible.

To apply, please submit your CV and Covering Letter to admin@cigzambia.org with the subject ‘Field Finance Officer Application’

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater international strives to maintain a fair, transparent, and human centred recruitment process. As part of our commitment to responsible hiring practices and compliance with evolving recruitment regulations, we may use AI assisted tools to support limited aspects of our talent acquisition workflow, such as reviewing or shortlisting applications. These tools are used only to enhance efficiency and consistency in our processes. 

All assessments, interviews, and final hiring decisions are made exclusively by our human recruiting managers. Candidates may request additional information about the use of these tools or reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process. 

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only shortlisted will be contacted.