About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa’s farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

One Acre Fund operates throughout Central and Southern Province in Zambia. In recent years, we pivoted to a climate-smart agriculture-based program in response to the unique challenges. Our approach is more focused on carbon sequestration and the generation of carbon credits to create a sustainable, scalable impact. Our office in Zambia is located in Kabwe.

About the Role

The Financial Advisory Services Specialist in Zambia supports the financial health and sustainability of One Acre Fund’s Carbon and Core programs. You’ll collaborate closely with local and Global Finance teams to lead budgeting, financial analysis, and reporting that directly influence program performance and organizational strategy. You’ll work within a two-person Zambia FAS team, consisting of a FAS Associate and this Specialist role.

Responsibilities

Budgeting, Monthly Budget v Actual (BVA) + Grant Reporting

• You will work with department heads to set annual budgets and manage monthly BVA process
• You will present new strategies and assessments to stakeholders in compelling arguments
• You will provide important assessments of all budgets and cost projections and conduct cost-benefit analyses for individual departments and the organization as a whole through examining current spending, financial forecasts, and overall goals to make recommendations and guide decisions.
• You will conduct monthly marginal analysis for all Zambia business units to provide analytical support on key causes
• You will work with department heads to strategize ways to maximize cost efficiency at all levels without compromising quality and will roll out clear cost-saving programs with timelines and assessment goals.
• You will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the interdependency of cost drivers
• You will present monthly, quarterly, and annual management account reports to the Country Director and the leadership team.
• You will prepare quarterly grant reports for active grants with strict adherence to donor reporting requirements and timelines.

Complex Grants Management

• You will oversee the management of complex grants, ensuring adherence to donor requirements and reporting.
• You will lead the preparation of comprehensive donor budget reports and forecasts, monitor grant spending versus budget, and ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• You will develop and manage a comprehensive fund flow model to ensure adequate liquidity for operational needs, including grant-restricted activities. Proactively coordinate with the payments team to initiate fund transfers between entities as required.
• You will act as a liaison between the finance team, the field team and the fundraising team, providing regular updates on grant progress, compliance, and financial performance.
• You will continuously evaluate and enhance our grant tracking systems, databases, and reporting processes to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Monthly Payroll Quality Check (QC)

• You will conduct a monthly payroll review of field and office (HQ) staff and explain variances compared to the previous month and compared to budget
• You will provide a high-level explanation of the variances to the Country Director (CD) before approving the payment request

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Degree in Accounting/Finance; part-qualified ACCA or ZICA member
• Advanced Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI fluency
• Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail for “nitty-gritty” errors,
• 4+ years in accounting, finance, or audit with strong financial modelling skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration

• You will work with department heads to set annual budgets and manage monthly BVA process
• You will present new strategies and assessments to stakeholders in compelling arguments
• You will provide important assessments of all budgets and cost projections and conduct cost-benefit analyses for individual departments and the organization as a whole through examining current spending, financial forecasts, and overall goals to make recommendations and guide decisions.
• You will conduct monthly marginal analysis for all Zambia business units to provide analytical support on key causes
• You will work with department heads to strategize ways to maximize cost efficiency at all levels without compromising quality and will roll out clear cost-saving programs with timelines and assessment goals.
• You will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the interdependency of cost drivers
• You will present monthly, quarterly, and annual management account reports to the Country Director and the leadership team.
• You will prepare quarterly grant reports for active grants with strict adherence to donor reporting requirements and timelines.
• You will oversee the management of complex grants, ensuring adherence to donor requirements and reporting.
• You will lead the preparation of comprehensive donor budget reports and forecasts, monitor grant spending versus budget, and ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• You will develop and manage a comprehensive fund flow model to ensure adequate liquidity for operational needs, including grant-restricted activities. Proactively coordinate with the payments team to initiate fund transfers between entities as required.
• You will act as a liaison between the finance team, the field team and the fundraising team, providing regular updates on grant progress, compliance, and financial performance.
• You will continuously evaluate and enhance our grant tracking systems, databases, and reporting processes to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• You will conduct a monthly payroll review of field and office (HQ) staff and explain variances compared to the previous month and compared to budget
• You will provide a high-level explanation of the variances to the Country Director (CD) before approving the payment request

• Advanced Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI fluency
• Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail for “nitty-gritty” errors,
• Strong financial modelling skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration

• Degree in Accounting/Finance; part-qualified ACCA or ZICA member
• Advanced Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI fluency
• Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail for “nitty-gritty” errors,
• 4+ years in accounting, finance, or audit with strong financial modelling skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration