Technical Advisor for Financial Management

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is the implementing agency of the Federal Republic of Germany for technical and international cooperation. It offers flexible, sustainable and effective solutions in political, economic and social change processes. Most of the work of GIZ is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). GIZ also operates on behalf of other German ministries as well as public and private bodies in Germany and abroad. These include the European Commission, the United Nations, the World Bank and governments of other countries.

The Good Financial Governance (GFG) Programme 2019-2022 phase is foreseen to focus on increasing transparency, efficiency, and accountability of public financial governance in Zambia. Its main partner institutions are envisioned to be the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Development Planning, selected line ministries, the Zambia Revenue Authority and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority. The GFG Programme is set to provide advisory services and capacity development measures in the areas of enhancing revenue mobilisation and supporting the reforms in budget planning, management and execution, as well as the revision of intergovernmental fiscal relations, to its partner institutions.

In this context, GIZ is seeking a suitable candidate for the following position:

Technical Advisor on Financial Management (Lusaka based)

REF: GIZ_GFG_FM                                     

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• Supporting programme management in reaching programme objectives and team objectives, especially in the area financial management and controls
• Providing technical advice, individually and in close collaboration with other team members/short term experts, on questions of public financial management with a focus on financial management and controls to the programme partners, for example Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Development Planning, selected line ministries and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority
• Conducting research activities and studies relating to framework conditions for financial governance reforms in Zambia, including reconciliation and analysis of public sector financial information and diagnostic studies published by the Government of the Republic of Zambia
• Supporting programme management in preparing Terms of Reference for short term experts to support the team in advising programme partners in his/her area of expertise, i.e. on financial management and controls in Zambia
• Designing, preparing and implementing workshops, seminars or other events on issues connected with the area of activity, both individually and with other team members
• Assisting the programme management in monitoring the development and implementation of operational plans and activities in close consultation with the partners
• Supporting the programme management in maintaining regular contact and dialogue with partners for programme steering purposes
• Preparing appropriate input for various programme reports including annual reports and other reports required by the programme management
• Performing tasks on an ad hoc basis at the request of programme management

Qualifications and requirements:

• Must be a Licentiate member (minimum) of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA)
• A bachelors’ degree in Business, Accountancy, Finance, Statistics and/or Economics;  a higher-level qualification in a related field (e.g.) or specific qualifications relating to public administration and/or public financial management; information systems, and/or organisational development, education, training or human resource management is an added advantage
• At least five (5) years’ professional experience in areas such as enhancing controls frameworks, financial analysis and management reporting and the implementation and management/systems administration of financial information systems
• Experience in the design and management of chart of accounts in an information systems environment and financial statement preparation and management of audits
• Experience in the presentation of financial analysis and information to senior managers as well as in the supervision of teams performing accounting and financial management processes is an additional asset
• Previous experience in risk identification, assessment and management including the implementation of formal risk management frameworks
• Previous professional experience in a technical assistance advisory role, in organisational development and change management, including leadership buy-in and stakeholder identification and involvement, is an added advantage

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial reports and data
• Fluency in English, both written and oral
• Excellent report writing skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, consensus and respect required for good working relationships with internal and external contacts
• Knowledge in the design of training programmes, curricula, training courses and materials, as well as training delivery and evaluation is desirable
• Ability to manage the development of competences, skills and abilities (mentoring)
• Must be proactive and be able to manage and prioritise workload and be accustomed to working under pressure with high resilience and self-motivation
• Ability to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team
• Strong IT skills, i.e. very good working knowledge of MS Office and the ability to and the ability to use financial information systems with a high degree of proficiency; experience with SAP software (particularly Human Capital Management (HCM), Financial Intelligence (FI) or Business Intelligence / Business Objects (BO) applications is an additional asset
• Willingness to upskill; corresponding measures to be agreed with management

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