Finance Officer

Finance Officer

The Finance Officer role will be structured as a part-time position requiring approximately two (2) full working days per week (equivalent to 16 hours per week) and will be responsible for supporting the organization's financial administration, regulatory compliance, and donor reporting functions.

Education/Professional Background:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or equivalent related qualification.

Experience:

• 6 months to 1 year of experience in accounting or finance-related roles.
• Experience working with NGOs, INGOs, or NPOs will be an added advantage.
• Experience using accounting software such as QuickBooks, Tally, FAMAS, or other ERP systems.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Understanding of financial reporting, bank reconciliation, petty cash handling, and budget tracking.
• Knowledge of SARS compliance procedures, tax filing requirements, VAT, and statutory reporting.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive financial information.

Required Competencies & Skills:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong time management and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Google Workspace tools, and accounting systems.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet reporting deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

Responsibilities:

Financial Compliance and Administration

• Ensure adherence to organizational financial policies and procedures.
• Support financial compliance processes and maintain accurate financial documentation.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with donor and statutory financial requirements.

Payroll Administration and Payment Tracking

• Support payroll administration, salary processing, and payment tracking.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and assist in monthly payroll reporting.
• Track outstanding payments and ensure timely processing.

Accounting and Financial Record Management

• Record all financial transactions in the organization's accounting systems, including QuickBooks.
• Maintain accurate records for daily vouchers, cashbooks, and financial entries.
• Ensure all supporting documentation is properly filed and maintained.

SARS and Government Compliance

• Support compliance with SARS and other government regulatory requirements.
• Assist in preparing and filing statutory and financial returns within required deadlines.
• Maintain organized tax and compliance documentation.

Donor Budgets and Financial Proposal Support

• Assist in preparing donor budgets, financial proposals, and supporting financial spreadsheets.
• Support project budget monitoring and financial tracking.
• Assist in Budget vs Actual (BvA) reporting and variance analysis.

Financial Operations Support

• Support day-to-day financial operations, including bank reconciliations and petty cash management.
• Assist with audit preparation and donor financial reporting.
• Maintain organized financial records and filing systems.
• Ensure financial information is accurately documented and accessible when required.

Budget Planning and Forecasting Support

• Assist in annual and project-level budget preparation and revisions.
• Support financial forecasting processes based on project expenditure and commitments.
• Maintain updated budget tracking tools for active projects.

Bank and Stakeholder Liaison

• Coordinate with banks, vendors, tax offices, and government institutions to support smooth financial operations.
• Assist with financial correspondence and stakeholder documentation.

Audit Support

• Assist in preparing financial records and supporting documentation for annual audits and donor audits.
• Support audit verification processes and compliance reviews.

Other Duties

• Perform any additional duties assigned by the supervisor, Finance Manager, or Wine To Water South Africa management.

Finance Officer Operational Guidelines

Financial Discipline

• Ensure strict adherence to approved budgets and financial policies.
• Ensure all expenditures are supported by valid documentation and approvals.

Transparency and Accountability

• Maintain transparency in all financial transactions.
• Ensure proper audit trails are maintained for all financial activities.

Donor Compliance

• Ensure compliance with donor financial requirements and reporting procedures.
• Maintain separate financial tracking for each donor and project.

Internal Controls

• Ensure segregation of duties between approvals, payments, and financial recording.
• Support regular review and strengthening of internal control systems.

Reporting Timelines

• Ensure monthly financial reports are completed within agreed timelines.
• Ensure donor reports are submitted according to donor-specific schedules.