Assistant Project Finance and Control Manager at Africa Leadership Foundation

ROLE SUMMARY:

• The Assistant Manager, Project Finance & Control will play a strategic role in securing, managing, and safeguarding the financial integrity of ALF’s donor-funded and internally funded projects. The role ensures that all projects are adequately financed, budgets are sound and well-monitored, financial risks are mitigated, and internal controls are enforced to prevent errors, fraud, and non-compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the financial structuring, negotiations, and engagements with donors, partners, and other external stakeholders to secure the funding required for ALF’s projects.
• Identify and assess major project-related economic and financial risks (e.g. exchange and interest rate exposure, credit risk) and provide management with appropriate mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
• Develop detailed project budgets that align with donor requirements and programmatic objectives, continuously monitor expenditures against these budgets, and prepare variance analyses with recommended corrective measures.
• Provide strategic financial insights, forecasts, and advisory support to senior management and project teams to strengthen decision-making, enhance accountability, and ensure compliance with donor expectations.
• Design, implement, and monitor an effective internal control framework that governs all project finance activities, ensuring full adherence to organizational financial policies, donor regulations, and compliance standards.
• Review and verify the accuracy, validity, and completeness of all financial transactions by checking entries against supporting evidence to prevent errors, irregularities, and potential fraud.
• Identify control deficiencies within the internal financial control systems, collaborate with department and project managers to implement corrective measures, and monitor the timely resolution of identified issues.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline. Professional certification (ICAN, ACCA, CPA, or CFA) is a strong advantage.
• Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in project finance, donor-funded financial management, financial controls, audit, or related roles within NGOs, development organisations, or the corporate sector.
• Proven experience preparing and managing donor budgets and ensuring compliance with donor financial rules and reporting requirements.
• Strong financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and modelling skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and monitor internal controls, compliance systems, and financial risk mitigation measures.
• Excellent documentation, reporting, and communication skills, with high attention to detail and the ability to present financial information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple deadlines, collaborate effectively, and maintain high ethical standards and accountability.