Senior Finance Officer at Masakhane Research Foundation

Position Overview

• The Senior Finance Officer is responsible for the effective day to day management and delivery of Masakhane Research Foundation’s finance function, ensuring accurate financial records, strong financial controls, timely reporting and effective budget and cash flow management.
• The role leads core financial processes including month-end close, accounting, reconciliations, financial reporting, cash-flow forecasting, budget monitoring and audit preparation. Reporting  to the Lead, Institutional Finance & Grants, the Senior Finance Officer translates MRF’s institutional financial policies and frameworks into effective financial practice and provides high quality financial information to support organisational decision making.
• The role also provides technical guidance to the Finance & Grants Officer and works closely with budget holders, programme teams and the Senior Grants Manager to ensure sound financial stewardship across MRF’s institutional and grant portfolios

Key Responsibilities

Month-End Close and Accounting

• Lead the monthly financial close process, ensuring transactions are accurately recorded and accounts are complete and up to date.
• Review transaction postings, reconciliations, adjusting journal entries and supporting schedules.
• Review general ledger and balance sheet accounts and ensure outstanding items are investigated and resolved promptly.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and submit complete and financial information for review by the Senior Manager, Institutional Finance & Grants.
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of MRF’s accounting records.

Internal Controls and Financial Compliance

• Implement and monitor MRF’s financial policies, procedures and internal control framework.
• Review financial transactions and payments for completeness, accuracy, appropriate authorisation and compliance with established policies and delegated authorities.
• Ensure financial processes comply with applicable statutory, regulatory, donor and funder requirements.
• Identify weaknesses in financial controls and recommend practical improvements.
• Support measures to safeguard organisational resources against fraud, error and mismanagement.

Cash Flow and Treasury Management

• Prepare and regularly update organisational cash flow forecasts to ensure adequate liquidity for programme and operational requirements.
• Prepare funding and cash transfer requests based on projected expenditure and funding needs.
• Monitor cash balances, funding flows, receivables and anticipated financial commitments.
• Monitor foreign exchange exposure and support implementation of measures to minimise associated financial risks.
• Escalate emerging liquidity or treasury risks to the Lead, Institutional Finance & Grants.

Budget Monitoring, Forecasting and Variance Analysis

• Support preparation and consolidation of organisational, programme and grant budgets.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and provide regular financial information and BVA’s  to budget holders.
• Conduct detailed variance analysis, investigate significant variances and identify emerging financial risks.
• Work with budget holders to develop appropriate corrective actions and updated forecasts.
• Prepare financial projections and models to support resource planning, funding requirements and management decision-making.

Financial Reporting

• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts, financial statements and internal financial reports.
• Prepare and review financial information required for donor and grant reporting.
• Ensure balance sheet accounts are regularly reconciled and appropriately supported.
• Ensure accounting and financial reporting are undertaken in accordance with applicable accounting standards, organisational policies and donor requirements.
• Provide clear financial analysis to support management and programme decision-making.

 Audit and Assurance

• Coordinate finance preparations for internal and external audits.
• Prepare audit schedules, supporting documentation, reconciliations and clear audit trails.
• Respond to financial audit queries and coordinate timely provision of supporting information.
• Track finance-related audit findings and support implementation of agreed corrective actions.
• Maintain financial records and supporting documentation to ensure continuous audit readiness.

Cross-Functional Financial Support

• Provide technical financial advice to programme teams, budget holders and other non-finance colleagues.
• Support teams to understand budgets, financial reports, expenditure trends and donor financial requirements.
• Deliver practical training and guidance on financial policies, systems, controls and budget management.
• Promote shared accountability for sound financial stewardship across the organisation.

Team Support and Systems Improvement

• Provide day to day technical guidance and coaching to the Finance & Grants Officer on finance related responsibilities.
• Review finance work for accuracy, completeness and compliance with established procedures.
• Support consistent application of financial processes and controls across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen financial systems, workflows, automation and reporting.
• Contribute to the continuous development of MRF’s institutional finance capability as the organisation grows.

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics or a related field.
• CPA, ACCA or equivalent recognised professional accounting qualification is strongly preferred.

Professional Experience

• At least 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting and financial management, preferably within a non-profit, research, philanthropic or international development organisation.
• Strong practical experience in month-end close, general ledger management, reconciliations, financial reporting and financial controls.
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and financial analysis.
• Experience managing the financial requirements of donor-funded grants and programmes.
• Experience supporting internal and external audits and maintaining audit-ready financial records.
• Experience providing technical financial support to non-finance colleagues and budget holders.
• Experience working within distributed or cross-cultural teams, ideally in a pan-African environment, is an advantage.