Finance and Grant Lead

• Listing summary: Master's Degree in Accounting, Accounting & Finance, Finance, Masters of Business Administration in finance, Financial Management with relevant work experience

Organizational Overview

ORDA Ethiopia is a national non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1984 and duly registered by the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (Registration in 2019 with registration No. 0607. ORDA Ethiopia has over 42 years of humanitarian and development experience, which applies a humanitarian-development nexus approach, seamlessly integrating emergency response with sustainable, long-term interventions.

The organization is deeply rooted in the Amhara Region and has expanded its geographic reach to neighbouring regions, including Tigray, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz.

ORDA Ethiopia is currently preparing to implement a major five-year initiative (2026–2031) titled "Sustainable Transformation through Resilient WASH and Private Sector Engagement for Conflict-Affected areas with Integrated Natural Resource Management" (STREAM), funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The STREAM project is designed to achieve a sustainable and climate-resilient transformation of WASH systems. It ensures inclusive, community-owned, and market-supported access to safe WASH services and livelihood opportunities, ultimately benefiting over 500,000 people across 20 conflict- and climate-affected woredas in four regions of Ethiopia: Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, and Benishangul-Gumuz.

To ensure the successful, high-impact implementation of the STREAM project across all four regions, ORDA Ethiopia is seeking a competent, and committed professional for the role of Finance and Grant lead.

Program/Unit: Finance

Reports to: National Hub Director

Salary: Negotiable

Terms of Employment: Fixed Term (One year with possibility of extension based on performance)

Location: Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Position Summary:

ORDA Ethiopia signed with Donor to implement STREAM project “(Sustainable Transformation through Resilient WASH and Private Sector Engagement for Conflict-Affected areas with Integrated Natural Resource Management)” The project focuses on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) model combines water security, environmental sustainability, institutional collaboration, and peace building by strengthening the joint planning, implementation, and oversight of shared water resources between different regions.

The Finance and Grant lead is responsible for financial oversight, compliance and grant management of the STREAM project.

Job Requirements

Education:

• MA/ MSc in Accounting, Accounting & Finance, Finance, Masters of Business Administration in finance, Financial Management.

Experience

• Minimum of eight years with relevant experience of years and out of this five years in managerial or leadership positions.

• Experience in International NGOs

Duties and Responsibilities

Finance and Procurement

•  Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process in coordination with the Hub Director.

• Track burn rates and budget variances monthly, proactively alerting leadership to potential overspends or underspends and facilitating necessary budget realignments.

• Ensure accurate day-to-day bookkeeping, maintenance of the general ledger, timely bank reconciliations, and strict adherence to internal controls.

• Monitor cash positions across all bank accounts and field offices to ensure sufficient liquidity for ongoing program activities.

• Analysing allocable expenses and projection of expenses on a quarter basis or depending on the donor requirements

• In collaboration with the Hub project director will prepare and submit cash requests and financial reports to successfully administer finance.

• Work with Hub project director to ensure compliance and effective and proactive fiscal management

• Ensure financial files are maintained according to Organization’s, Netherland Embassy and the government standards.

• Ensure the management of project payroll and legal deductions.

• Support the preparation of project procurement plan.

• Work with Organization head office procurement department to ensure vendors follow all the tendering regulations, procedures and instructions and meet Organization procurement internal policies.

• Perform other duties as deemed necessary.

Grant Management & Donor Compliance

•  Collaborate with program development and proposal writing teams to design accurate, cost-effective budgets aligned with donor cost principles.

• Oversee the full lifecycle of grants from kick-off to closeout, ensuring all expenditures comply with specific donor rules (eligibility, cost-sharing, procurement, and allocability).

• Prepare and submit accurate, timely financial reports and expenditure statements to donors, headquarters, and internal management.

• Conduct financial capacity assessments of local implementing partners, review partner financial reports, and provide coaching or audits to ensure compliance.

• Work closely with STREAM Hub Project Director and project team to ensure the sub-award monitoring and evaluation are conducted as required and that financial deliverables, deadlines, outputs and impact are captured and recorded in the project data bases in an accurate and timely manner.

• Provide support focusing on compliance, grant and contracts management, and successful implementation of grant and contracts implementation partners,

• Ensure timely and accurate use of Organization’s sub award management manual for sub-award issuance and management.

Audit & Risk Management

• Serve as the primary focal point for internal and external annual audits, as well as donor-specific project audits.

•  Implement recommendations from internal/external audit reports promptly to strengthen internal controls.

•  Identify financial risks (such as foreign exchange fluctuations, compliance gaps, or fraud risks) and implement robust mitigation strategies.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Manage, mentor, and evaluate the performance of finance and grant team members.

• Conduct training for non-finance staff (project managers, field coordinators) on basic budget management, financial tracking, and procurement compliance.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced proficiency in accounting software and advanced MS Excel skills.

• Thorough understanding of the donor cost principles, procurement guidelines, and compliance frameworks.

• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Excellent cross-cultural communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.

• Strong interpersonal (verbal and written) communication skills, including professional fluency in English.

Personal Values

• Integrity and honesty

• Hard working

• Firm belief in gender equality, disability inclusion, team work, transparent and participatory management.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

• ORDA Ethiopia is committed to equal employment opportunity and an inclusive workplace.

How To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their updated CV, application letter, and supporting credentials in a single merged PDF file, compressed into a ZIP archive, to info@ordaethiopia.org indicating the Job Title “Finance and Grant Lead” in the application letter.  

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Only short listed applicants will be contacted.  

Note: References will be taken and background checks will be carried out in conformity with the ORDA Ethiopia’s code of conduct (Child safe guarding, Inclusion of persons with differently abled and adults at risk, Prohibiting of sexual exploitation & abuse, trafficking in persons as well as child labor) in general. We operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required but with due convergence of the code of conduct aforementioned above.

Education:

• MA/ MSc in Accounting, Accounting & Finance, Finance, Masters of Business Administration in finance, Financial Management.

Experience

• Minimum of eight years with relevant experience of years and out of this five years in managerial or leadership positions.
• Experience in International NGOs

Duties and Responsibilities

Finance and Procurement

• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process in coordination with the Hub Director.
• Track burn rates and budget variances monthly, proactively alerting leadership to potential overspends or underspends and facilitating necessary budget realignments.
• Ensure accurate day-to-day bookkeeping, maintenance of the general ledger, timely bank reconciliations, and strict adherence to internal controls.
• Monitor cash positions across all bank accounts and field offices to ensure sufficient liquidity for ongoing program activities.
• Analysing allocable expenses and projection of expenses on a quarter basis or depending on the donor requirements
• In collaboration with the Hub project director will prepare and submit cash requests and financial reports to successfully administer finance.
• Work with Hub project director to ensure compliance and effective and proactive fiscal management
• Ensure financial files are maintained according to Organization’s, Netherland Embassy and the government standards.
• Ensure the management of project payroll and legal deductions.
• Support the preparation of project procurement plan.
• Work with Organization head office procurement department to ensure vendors follow all the tendering regulations, procedures and instructions and meet Organization procurement internal policies.
• Perform other duties as deemed necessary.

Grant Management & Donor Compliance

• Collaborate with program development and proposal writing teams to design accurate, cost-effective budgets aligned with donor cost principles.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of grants from kick-off to closeout, ensuring all expenditures comply with specific donor rules (eligibility, cost-sharing, procurement, and allocability).
• Prepare and submit accurate, timely financial reports and expenditure statements to donors, headquarters, and internal management.
• Conduct financial capacity assessments of local implementing partners, review partner financial reports, and provide coaching or audits to ensure compliance.
• Work closely with STREAM Hub Project Director and project team to ensure the sub-award monitoring and evaluation are conducted as required and that financial deliverables, deadlines, outputs and impact are captured and recorded in the project data bases in an accurate and timely manner.
• Provide support focusing on compliance, grant and contracts management, and successful implementation of grant and contracts implementation partners,
• Ensure timely and accurate use of Organization’s sub award management manual for sub-award issuance and management.

Audit & Risk Management

• Serve as the primary focal point for internal and external annual audits, as well as donor-specific project audits.
• Implement recommendations from internal/external audit reports promptly to strengthen internal controls.
• Identify financial risks (such as foreign exchange fluctuations, compliance gaps, or fraud risks) and implement robust mitigation strategies.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Manage, mentor, and evaluate the performance of finance and grant team members.
• Conduct training for non-finance staff (project managers, field coordinators) on basic budget management, financial tracking, and procurement compliance.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced proficiency in accounting software and advanced MS Excel skills.
• Thorough understanding of the donor cost principles, procurement guidelines, and compliance frameworks.
• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Strong interpersonal (verbal and written) communication skills, including professional fluency in English.

Personal Values

• Integrity and honesty
• Hard working
• Firm belief in gender equality, disability inclusion, team work, transparent and participatory management.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

• ORDA Ethiopia is committed to equal employment opportunity and an inclusive workplace.