Healthy Learners
BACKGROUND
Healthy Learners is an award-winning non-profit organization committed to improving the health of children in Zambia and beyond. We partner directly with the government and local communities in Zambia so that school children can stay healthy, learn effectively and have a brighter future. This year, Healthy Learners was the inaugural winner of the 2021 Duke F.M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Social Impact and the UBS Optimus Foundation COVID-19 Relief Prize and has seen strong, steady growth in philanthropic support over time.
School-aged children in low resource settings suffer from a high burden of disease and lack access to even basic healthcare, which causes otherwise preventable and curable illnesses to frequently result in life-long health challenges or disability. In the short term, these illnesses contribute to school absenteeism, poor academic performance, and high drop-out rates. In the long term, they undermine physical, cognitive, and emotional development and hinder economic prosperity.
Healthy Learners is bridging this gap in Zambia through our unique model of school-based community health. By training teachers to be community health workers and making schools entry points into the public healthcare system, children now receive medical attention in substantially greater numbers, improving health outcomes and reducing absenteeism. We currently serve over 500,000 students in Lusaka, Kitwe Ndola, Choma, Kabwe, Solwezi and, with our program now adopted by the government as a policy, we are working with the Zambian government to scale nationally.
THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The role of the Senior Finance Officer is to support the finance unit in the day-to-day running of all financial matters of the head office. S/he will provide timely efficient and effective finance support tasks including the receipt and disbursement of funds maintaining accurate financial records, preparing financial reports and supporting the implementation of Healthy Learners’ shined financial policies.
This position will report to the Finance Manager.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Finance Tasks
- Support the Finance Manager to ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures throughout Healthy Learners.
- Review payment schedules for trainings, meetings and other activities taking place in the Healthy Learners; ensure accuracy and completeness of all documentation.
- Review funding requests and invoices for accuracy with completeness;
- Review and verify vendor legitimacy prior to payment request; ensure that all selected vendors meet our organizational requirements and have physical locations where they can be traced.
- Help process payments for approved requests within the Organisation.
- Counter check receipts and other financial documentation for accuracy and completeness; report any discrepancies to the Finance Manager.
- Compile, review and submit petty cash retirements and staff retirements.
- Deposit all cash receipts from retirements and other receipts in the organization’s bank account.
- Manage the financial filing system and record keeping both hard copies and soft copies.
- Assist the Finance Manager with the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
- Tracking of accounts payable and accounts receivable.
- Work as the organization’s bank agent and deliver cash transfer letters to the bank.
- Perform any other roles as may be assigned from time to time.
Warehouse Management Tasks
- Provide warehouse oversight including planning process, in creating annual budgets, and quarterly forecasts.
- Provide insight and commentary for all major variances from these targets from the finance perspective.
- Collaborate warehouse management and the finance indignation to ensure all parties have an accurate picture of the inventory status.
- Provide financial guidance for all warehouse capital investments and related strategic justifications.
- Support the development of inventory controls & procedures to maintain accurate cost data for all products.
- Safeguard and manage Healthy Learners stock to ensure integrity of financial statements.
- Recommend process improvements to increase accuracy and timeliness of the accounting close and reporting process.
- Develop bench strength by supervising, developing and monitoring direct report.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE
- Comprehensive cash management skills to handle, disburse and record all transactions.
- High level of integrity and ability to work as part of a professional team
- Ability to multi –task, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Meticulous high level attention to detail, Action-oriented and flexible.
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Working knowledge of finance platforms i.e. QuickBooks, pastel, sage etc.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills and solid proficiency in other common office applications, like
- Adobe/Word/Outlook and google apps.
- High level of integrity, humility, positive attitude.
- Ability to work as part of a professional team.
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent organizational and management skills and ability to work with minimum supervision
- Passion for Healthy Learners mission and vision
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum Degree in accounting from a recognized institution.
- A degree in finance or ACCA, CIMA, and any finance-related qualifications from a recognized university is an added advantage.
- Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience.
- Must be a registered member and paid up member of ZICA.
- NGO experience is an added advantage.
Method of Application
To apply please use the link provided here