Terms of Reference for External Financial Auditor at Solidaridad Eastern & Central Africa Expertise Centre (SECAEC)

The auditors will identify any weaknesses during the audit and report them to senior management and the board. These reports may only be shared with third parties upon written approval from the Managing Director. Approval will only be granted because the reports are intended solely for Solidaridad, and the auditors do not assume responsibility for any other parties.

The primary purpose of the reports is to highlight observations during the audit, including:

• Design and operation of accounting and internal control systems, with recommendations for improvement.
• Identified weaknesses in the accounting and internal control systems and potential risks to Solidaridad.
• Constructive advice on cost savings or operational efficiency improvements.
• Comments on any adjusted or unadjusted errors and accounting policies and practices.
• The audit firm will issue an opinion on the financial statements. Alongside the audit report, the firm will also prepare a management letter. Finally, the firm will file the organisation’s income tax return after the firm and company directors sign the final audit report.

SCOPE OF WORK

• The scope of services will include testing transactions and verifying the existence, ownership, and valuation of assets and liabilities as necessary. The auditor must plan and conduct the audit to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatements.
• This involves understanding Solidaridad’s (global and regional) accounting and internal control systems to evaluate their adequacy in preparing financial statements and maintaining accurate accounting records. The auditor must gather sufficient evidence to draw reasonable conclusions.
• The audit will involve examining evidence on a test basis, assessing the accounting principles and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
• Consolidating the 2025 annual financial statements for the Regional Office, which includes Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. And coordinating with the country auditors regarding instructions, templates and timelines for this process.
• The audit must be conducted between 01 February 2026 and 31 March 2026.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATION

The audit firm must meet the following criteria:

• Be registered and licensed by a recognised national authority.
• Have substantial experience in accounting and auditing development projects, especially donor-funded initiatives.
• Possess relevant experience working with NGOs and project-based operations.

The key audit team must include the following:

• An audit manager with at least 8 years of auditing experience.
• Strong knowledge of donor-funded projects.
• Membership in a recognised professional accountancy body