Principal Finance Officer Full Time

AU Values

• Respect for Diversity and Team Work • Think Africa Above all                     

• Transparency and Accountability • Integrity and Impartiality                       

• Efficiency and Professionalism • Information and Knowledge Sharing

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Organization Information

Reports to: Head of Division
Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: P4
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Appointment for Limited Duration (ALD)
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Purpose of Job

The Principal Finance Officer will be responsible for providing senior-level professional support in financial management, budgeting, accounting, donor and grant management, and financial reporting for Africa CDC programs and operations. The position will ensure compliance with African Union financial rules and regulations, donor requirements, and international best practices in financial management.
The incumbent will contribute to strategic financial planning and resource optimization, reinforce internal control and governance mechanisms, ensure high-quality financial reporting, and provide senior-level technical advice to program and management teams to enhance accountability, transparency, and value for money.

Main Functions

• Provide senior technical support for financial management, accounting, budgeting, and reporting activities.
• Ensure compliance with AU/Africa CDC financial regulations, policies, and procedures, as well as donor requirements.
• Support effective budget formulation, implementation, monitoring, and financial analysis.
• Strengthen internal controls, risk management, and audit compliance.
• Provide advisory support to program teams on financial management and grant implementation.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of financial systems, processes, and reporting tools.

Specific Responsibilities

Financial Management and Accounting

• Manage and oversee financial transactions, ensuring accurate recording in ERP systems (SAP) in accordance with AU financial rules and regulations.
• Monitor expenditures, commitments, payables, and receivables to ensure financial integrity and timely processing of payments.
• Provide strategic oversight of financial operations and ensure alignment with institutional priorities and financial sustainability objectives.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.

Budget Management

• Support the preparation of annual and multi-year budgets and budget revisions in line with approved workplans.
• Monitor budget execution, analyze variances, and provide recommendations to management.
  Review purchase requisitions and commitments to ensure availability of funds and correct classification of expenditures.
• Oversee budget performance management, including advanced variance analysis and forward projections.
  Provide strategic guidance on resource allocation, prioritization, and cost optimization across programs.
• Lead the development and consolidation of annual and multi-year budgeting frameworks aligned to strategic plans.
• Support mid-year and periodic budget reviews and reallocations. 

Compliance, Controls, and Audit

• Serve as a senior subject matter expert on financial compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, and donor financial requirements, providing authoritative advice to management and program teams.
• Provide technical advice to head of Division Finance Directorate to identify gaps and risks and contribute to identify mitigation activities oriented to ensure full compliance with AU/Africa CDC financial rules, regulations, policies, and donor agreements, and interpret financial policies to guide complex and high-risk financial decisions.
• Lead and coordinate responses to internal and external audits, including preparation of financial documentation, engagement with auditors, and follow-up on implementation of audit recommendations.
  Identify, assess, and advise on financial risks, control weaknesses and compliance gaps, and propose mitigation measures to strengthen governance and accountability.
• Provide strategic financial advisory support to program managers, technical leads, and senior management to enhance effective implementation, financial stewardship, and value for money.
• Contribute senior-level financial inputs to resource mobilization efforts, including development of costed proposals, donor agreements, and financial frameworks.
• Guide and mentor finance and non-finance staff on financial management, compliance, and donor requirements, strengthening institutional capacity.
  Collaborate with senior finance leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to continuously improve financial policies, systems, processes, and reporting standards.

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Compliance, controls and auditing 

• Acting as the lead expert in financial compliance, internal controls, audit readiness and donor financial requirements, providing authoritative advice to management and program teams.
• Provide technical advice to the Director of Finance and the Head of Division to identify gaps and risks and contribute to the identification of mitigation activities aimed at ensuring full compliance with AU/Africa CDC rules, regulations, policies and donor agreements,
•  Interpreting financial policies to guide complex and high-risk financial decisions.
• Lead and coordinate responses to internal and external audits, including preparing financial documentation, engaging with auditors, and monitoring the implementation of audit recommendations.
• Identify, assess and advise on financial risks, control weaknesses and compliance gaps and propose mitigation measures to strengthen governance and accountability.
• Provide strategic financial support to program managers, technical managers and senior management to improve effective implementation, financial management and value for money.
• To contribute financially at a high level to resource mobilization efforts, including the development of costly proposals, donor agreements and financial frameworks.
• To guide and mentor financial and non-financial staff on financial management, compliance and donor requirements, thereby strengthening institutional capacity.
• Collaborating with senior financial management and cross-functional stakeholders to continuously improve policies, systems, processes and standards for financial reporting.

Financial reports

• Oversee the quality assurance of financial reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness and alignment with management needs.
• Provide executive-level financial analysis and interpretation to support strategic and operational decision-making.

Leadership and Capacity Building

• To lead, mentor and supervise financial staff, ensuring high performance and continuous professional development.
• Strengthening financial management capacity through programs via training and technical support.
• Represent the finance function in management forums and contribute to institutional decision-making processes.

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Financial reporting 

• Oversee the quality assurance of financial reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with management needs.
• Provide executive-level financial insights and interpretation to support strategic and operational decision-making.

Leadership and Capacity Building

• Lead, mentor, and supervise finance staff, ensuring high performance and continuous professional development.
• Strengthen financial management capacity across programs through training and technical guidance.
• Represent the finance function in senior management forums and contribute to institutional decision-making processes.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

Master’s degree in accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related field with a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial management, accounting, and reporting, including at least six (6) years at an expert level;
OR
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related field with a minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at least six (6) years at an expert level.

• A professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA or equivalent) is required.
• Experience in financial management of large programs, preferably in the public sector, public health, or international organizations.
• Experience working with AU systems, SAP, and Donor–funded projects is an added advantage.

Required Skills

• Expertise in financial analysis, management, and executive reporting, with strong strategic insight.
• Proven leadership in budgeting, resource optimization, and financial performance management.
• Strong strategic advisory and problem-solving capabilities for senior management decision-making.
  Excellent prioritization and delivery in high-pressure, complex environments.
• Advanced stakeholder management, influence, and communication skills.
• High integrity, judgment, and accountability in handling complex financial matters. Advanced proficiency in SAP/ERP systems with oversight of data integrity and controls.
• Demonstrated leadership in multicultural and cross-functional environments, including team guidance.

Leadership Competencies

Core Competencies

Functional Competencies

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TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

• The Appointment will be for a period of Eleven (11) Months, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance, and agreed deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

• The Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

REMUNERATION:

• The salary attached to the position for the eleven month period is US$ 101,705.53 (P4 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 85,128.97 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union.