About Evidence Action
At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.
Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 9 countries, our team of 800+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.
- Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.
- Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children.
- Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.
At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.
About the Finance Team
The Finance team is responsible for the management of Evidence Action's financials in compliance with applicable accounting standards. The Evidence Action finance team helps the various programs carry out their highly impactful work by processing and recording financial transactions, providing useful insights through reporting, assisting with financial planning and budgeting, and ensuring compliance and quality financial stewardship. The team operates in a nearly paperless environment, working with Intacct (a cloud-based accounting system), Microsoft Excel and Google Workspace on a daily basis.
The Role
You will provide leadership and management of the country's Finance functions, including overseeing accounting, financial reporting, and budget tracking.
You will report to the Country Director and the Regional Senior Finance Manager, and you will supervise a Finance Officer.
Responsibilities
Team Management: 20% of role
- Provide leadership, management, and guidance on the Zambia’s Finance functions.
- Will regularly communicate with program, country, and regional leads to identify capacity needs and oversee Finance function.
- Responsible for developing/refining and regularly reporting on Key Performance Indicators and Metrics to management concerning the teams’ operations and capacity/gaps.
- Represent Finance team in various program meetings.
Accounting: 60% of role
- Overall overseer of the Finance activities in Zambia.
- Oversee accurate maintenance of the accounting system by ensuring accurate entries are done and charged to the correct donor.
- Checking the procurement processes and documentations and ensuring compliance.
- Timely monthly payroll processing and salary payout.
- Timesheet reports preparation and billing as per Allocation.
- Review monthly schedules, GL reconciliations and ensure the timely monthly close.
- Asset and inventory management. Ensuring periodic audit and constant updates.
- Preparation of monthly cash forecast/projection for the month.
- Ensuring all taxes and legal requirements are accurately and timely remitted and tracked monthly to ensure compliance.
- Ensuring all other tax related issues and tax related payments are properly tracked and timely submission to legal authorities is done on or before the deadline.
- Review for compliance with donor and organizational policies/guidelines on all payments.
- Provide financial and compliance guideline/refresher training to program staff.
- Providing Capacity building of Finance and non- Finance staff on compliance in relation to accounting principles and organizations financial policies.
- Support and spearhead the country’s statutory and program audit exercises.
- Support the Senior Manager, Finance & Accounts, ESA on discharging accounting responsibility when required.
- Perform auditing of activities, including reconciling cash, verifying invoices, and reviewing bank statement.
Budgeting, disbursements and accountability: 20% of role
- Participate in program meetings and contribute budget implications of proposed implementation decisions.
- Continuous and effective budget tracking Ensuring proper budget utilization, proper cost allocations communication with program team, full accountability of funds.
- Develop financial accountability documents for all budgeted program activities.
Additional Responsibilities: Any other finance related duties that may be assigned.
Position Location
This role will be based in Lusaka, Zambia
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of a Zambia employment visa at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Zambia for roles based in Zambia.
Requirements
- At least (5) years’ relevant work experience in a similar role.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, accounting or any other related field.
- Master’s Degree in related field is an added advantage.
- Professional certification from recognized organizations, such as ACCA, ZICA, or IFAC.
- International Development experience (Experience working for a non-profit).
- Audit management experience in donor funded programs.
Benefits
Evidence Action provides a comprehensive benefits package for employees worldwide*. Benefits include:
- Comprehensive health insurance
- Retirement savings options
- Generous leave
- Avenues for engagement and recognition.
*Benefits may differ based on country-specific regulations
Evidence Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.
Top Skills
What We Do
Evidence Action is a global non-profit operating in seven countries in Africa and Asia. We were founded in 2013 to address a big gap in the fight against global poverty–many of the most promising interventions are either implemented at a very small scale, or not at all. We set out to address this gap by building programs that would scale evidence-based and cost-effective interventions, leading to significant improvements in quality of life for hundreds of millions.
Our model worked. In less than a decade, our two flagship programs, the Deworm the World Initiative and Dispensers for Safe Water, have grown to measurably impact over 280 million people each year by supporting governments to deworm and through our last-mile delivery network providing safe water access. This success is achieved through the dedication and talent of our staff, the hard work of our partners, and the commitment of our supporters.
Every part of our work across the lifecycle of our programs is driven by evidence. This starts with the interventions we select to invest in, and continues as we use real-time data to refine and adapt our operations, including responding rapidly and effectively to resolve challenges as they arise.
Our pursuit of cost-effectiveness is driven by a recognition that when we optimize every aspect of our programs, we can reach as many people–and do as much good– as possible with each dollar. We measure value for money in terms of the number of lives we can help improve.
Scale enables our massive impact. We invest in solutions for which the need is great, and leverage existing networks like schools or community organizations to grow rapidly, minimize costs, and increase efficiencies. We think big and act urgently–because poverty does not wait.
By 2024, we seek to double our impact. We are strengthening and expanding our existing programs, and working to identify a new generation of evidence-based and cost-effective interventions that we can scale to reach millions more
