Finance Manager

Finance Manager

Common Wellbeing

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Reports to: CEO

About Common Wellbeing

Common Wellbeing focuses on the foundations that make wellbeing possible.

Our work includes Ethica Farms, our growing agricultural enterprise, and Common Wellbeing Foundation, which develops and delivers health programs in Zambia.

The Role

The Finance Manager will manage finance and accounting across Common Wellbeing in Zambia.

This is a hands-on role. The Finance Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day accounting and financial management of the organization, working alongside and managing our accounting staff. They will ensure our books, reporting, controls, payments, payroll, tax, and compliance are managed well and will step directly into accounting work where needed.

At the same time, we are looking for someone who can take our finance function further. This means building strong budgets and forecasts, understanding financial performance, managing cash flow, analyzing what the numbers mean, and helping management make better decisions.

The Finance Manager will report to the CEO and work closely day-to-day with the Managing Director of Ethica Farms and the Foundation Director. They will also prepare financial reporting for management and the Board.

Key Responsibilities

Finance & Accounting

• Manage finance and accounting across Common Wellbeing.
• Take responsibility for accurate and timely bookkeeping and financial records.
• Prepare and review reconciliations, journals, payments, receivables, payroll, and month-end accounts.
• Maintain the general ledger and ensure transactions are recorded and allocated correctly.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and financial statements.
• Manage accounts payable and receivable and ensure payments and collections are properly controlled.
• Manage cash flow and banking.
• Lead annual budgeting and maintain rolling forecasts.
• Analyze actual financial performance against budgets and forecasts.
• Develop financial models and scenario analyses where needed.
• Provide practical financial analysis and recommendations to management.
• Manage and work alongside accounting staff while remaining hands-on in the accounting function.

Ethica Farms

• Work closely with the Managing Director on financial performance and day-to-day financial management.
• Monitor revenue, costs, margins, profitability, inventory, working capital, and cash flow.
• Develop and monitor budgets and forecasts.
• Strengthen understanding of product costs and unit economics.
• Support inventory accounting and controls.
• Provide financial analysis for investments, expansion, pricing, and other commercial decisions.

Common Wellbeing Foundation

• Work closely with the Foundation Director on financial management, budgets, and forecasts.
• Monitor program and organizational expenditure against budget.
• Manage grant and restricted-fund accounting.
• Prepare and support donor budgets and financial reports.
• Ensure expenditure is appropriately recorded and allocated across programs and funding sources.
• Analyze program costs, cost efficiency, and financial sustainability.

Management & Board Reporting

• Prepare clear monthly financial reporting for management.
• Prepare financial reporting for the Board.
• Present financial performance, forecasts, cash position, risks, and key financial issues.
• Explain significant variances and identify areas requiring management attention.
• Develop and monitor appropriate financial KPIs.

Controls, Tax & Compliance

• Maintain strong financial controls and appropriate segregation of duties.
• Ensure compliance with Zambian tax, statutory, regulatory, and financial reporting requirements.
• Prepare or oversee tax and statutory filings.
• Coordinate annual audits and prepare required schedules and supporting documentation.
• Manage relationships with auditors, banks, tax advisers, and other financial service providers.
• Maintain appropriate financial policies and procedures.

Administration & HR

• Oversee key corporate administration including insurance, contracts, organizational records, asset management, and procurement controls.
• Oversee HR administration including employment documentation, payroll coordination, leave records, onboarding and offboarding, and HR policies.
• Maintain appropriate administrative systems and processes across the organization.

What We're Looking For

• Professional accounting qualification such as ACCA, CIMA, CA Zambia, or equivalent.
• At least 7 years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Strong hands-on accounting skills and a solid understanding of the full accounting cycle.
• Experience preparing monthly accounts, reconciliations, financial statements, and management reports.
• Strong experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow management, and financial analysis.
• Ability to interpret financial information and turn it into practical recommendations.
• Experience working with senior management and contributing to business decisions.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues and Boards.
• Commercial finance experience, particularly within agriculture, FMCG, manufacturing, distribution, or another operating business, would be highly valuable.
• Experience with nonprofit, donor, or grant-funded organizations would be an advantage but is not required.
• Strong understanding of Zambian tax, statutory, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong Excel and financial modelling skills.
• High level of integrity, judgment, and accountability.

The Person We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable getting into the accounts and stepping back to understand what the numbers are telling us.

You should be able to keep the accounting function accurate and well controlled, while also helping us improve budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow management, financial analysis, and decision-making.

This role will work closely with both Ethica Farms and Common Wellbeing Foundation and requires someone who can understand the different financial needs of a growing commercial enterprise and a health-focused foundation.

We need someone who takes ownership, gets into the detail when needed, and gives management clear and practical financial information.

How To Apply

To apply, please complete our short application form:

https://forms.gle/5LeCWciaGidcizLt5

You will be asked to submit your CV, a brief cover letter, and some basic information about your qualifications, experience, and salary expectations.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.