Finance Officer - APPM (AfCDC)

Purpose of Job

The African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM), coordinated by Africa CDC, is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening access to quality-assured health products across African Union Member States through collective procurement. The Finance Officer plays a critical role in ensuring sound financial management, transparency, and accountability within the APPM. This includes:

• Supporting budget execution
• Conducting financial reporting
• Optimizing costs
• Mitigating risks in alignment with Africa CDC’s goals and donor requirements

Main Functions

• Lead preparation and monitoring of APPM budgets and financial forecasts
• Deliver timely financial reports and analyses to support decision-making
• Manage liquidity, forecast cash flows, and coordinate treasury operations
• Monitor costs, identify savings, and mitigate financial risks
• Ensure adherence to financial regulations and internal controls
• Enhance financial workflows and tools for transparency and efficiency

Specific Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation, monitoring, and implementation of APPM budgets, ensuring alignment with program objectives and donor requirements
• Support the financial planning process for APPM including forecasting resource needs and preparing budget proposals
• Conduct periodic reconciliation of vendor balances and trust fund
• Assist in the review and analysis of financial reports, statements, and transactions to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance
• Collaborate with program and project managers to track expenditure against budget allocations and identify variances and trends
• Assist in the preparation and submission of financial reports to donors, government agencies, and other stakeholders, ensuring timeliness and accuracy
• Provide guidance and support to APPM staff on financial management policies, procedures, and systems
• Assist in conducting financial assessments and risk analyses for programs and projects
• Liaise with internal and external auditors to facilitate audits of program and project financial records
• Support the implementation of financial management systems and tools to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, or a related field with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, or financial management, preferably in an international, donor-funded, or public sector environment. Alternatively:

• Master’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration (concentration in Finance or accounting), economics, or a related field with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience
• Professional certifications in finance or accounting are an added advantage
• Experience in analyzing large datasets and performing statistical analysis
• Certifications such as CPA, ACCA, CIMA, or CA are beneficial
• Certification in Public Financial Management, Financial Analysis, or Investment Management is an asset
• Experience in budget preparation, financial reporting, and donor compliance is highly desirable
• Practical experience with accounting systems and ERP platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Exposure to African Union, United Nations, or similar institutional frameworks is an added advantage
• Experience supporting programmatic financial planning, audits, and risk assessments in multi-stakeholder environments is preferred
• Experience managing finances in support of health procurement mechanisms, pooled procurement, or supply chain finance is highly desirable

Required Skills

• Proficiency in one of the AU Official working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language(s) is an added advantage
• Demonstrated ability in financial planning, budgeting, and monitoring in alignment with program goals and donor requirements
• Proficiency in preparing and analyzing financial reports and statements to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance
• Strong accounting and reconciliation skills, including vendor account and trust fund reconciliations
• Ability to support internal and external audit processes and ensure adherence to financial regulations and audit requirements
• Experience in conducting financial risk assessments and implementing mitigation measures
• Familiarity with financial management systems (e.g., ERP) and digital tools to improve financial reporting and transparency
• Capacity to liaise effectively with program staff, donors, and stakeholders on financial matters
• Proven skills in providing financial guidance, capacity building, and ensuring compliance with organizational and donor policies

Skills Required:

• Accounting / Finance
• Economics / Statistics
• Sales / Marketing / Business / Management