ASSIGNMENT LENGTH: 4 year fixed-term contract  

DESCRIPTION: 

The Finance & Accounting Manager oversees the accounting and financial management functions for IPM South Africa, ensuring accurate financial reporting and compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, and statutory regulations. As part of The Population Council structure, the role works closely with the US-based finance leadership through a dotted-line reporting relationship to ensure alignment with global financial policies and reporting requirements. The position also supervises finance staff and supports effective financial oversight, audits, and financial management and aims to strengthen local finance capability within IPM SA, including building processes, tools, and team capacity to progressively reduce reliance on US-based finance support over time.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily: 

Accounting, Financial Oversight and Capacity Building

• Ensure the overall accuracy and integrity of accounting records for IPM SA and BE.
• Establish and embed robust local accounting processes and controls to support increased in-country ownership of financial management. 
• Review and approve general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, and trial balances.
• Ensure all transactions are recorded accurately and in compliance with accounting standards, organization policy, and donor requirements.
• Review exchange rate differences and prepare revaluations of applicable balance sheet accounts.
• Compile, analyze, and reconcile balance sheet schedules and financial reports.

Audit, Compliance & Statutory Reporting

• Manage annual statutory audits for IPM SA and BE, as well as grant audits.
• Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation; provide explanations and respond to auditor requests.
• Ensure compliance with governing legislation, statutory requirements, organizational policy and donor conditions.
• Maintain corporate documentation and ensure statutory filings are completed accurately and on time.
• Monitor and maintain schedules for global reporting, audits, and tax payments.
• Build internal capability to manage audits locally, including preparing teams and documentation to reduce reliance on central support.
• Ensure compliance with South African and Belgium financial and tax filing requirements

Month-End, Year-End & Close Processes

• Coordinate with the Office Manager and Controller to complete month-end and year-end close processes.
• Review monthly bank reconciliations.
• Ensure reporting allocations and closing entries are prepared accurately and on schedule.
• Strengthen local ownership of month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring timelines and quality standards can be met in-country.

Payroll & Accounts Payable

• Oversee payroll and AP processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with local regulations.
• Review and approve payroll changes, invoices, and payments in line with delegated authority and internal controls.
• Perform periodic spot checks and monitor AP aging to ensure data integrity and timely issue resolution.
• Ensure complete, audit-compliant documentation and strong control environment (including segregation of duties).
• Coordinate with central Accounting on shared activities and support transition to full in-country ownership of payroll and AP as applicable.

Donor, Grant & Budget Management

• Support the development of donor and grant budgets by providing financial input and budget support.
• Monitor IPM spending levels against donor balances and ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• Assist with complex donor reporting, allocations, and financial analyses as needed.
• Manage grant audits, as needed
• Build internal capacity for grant financial management, including budgeting, tracking, reporting, and compliance with donor requirements.

Contract and Subaward Oversight

• Review financial components of vendor contracts and subawards, including budgets, payment terms, and milestones. 
• Monitor expenditure against contract and subaward budgets, and proactively flag and address variances. 
• Ensure all payments are aligned with contract deliverables and supported by appropriate documentation. 
• Oversee compliance with procurement policies, donor requirements, and contractual obligations. 
• Maintain and monitor contract and subaward tracking tools, including key dates, deliverables, and financial status. 
• Support subrecipient financial monitoring, including review of financial reports and supporting documentation. 
• Ensure strong internal controls, including segregation of duties and appropriate approval levels for high-value transactions. 
• Support internal and external audits related to contracts and subawards, including preparation of documentation and responses to audit queries.

Additional Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor IPM South Africa finance staff.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with finance leadership and operations staff 
• Approve monthly cash requests submitted to the Population Council.
• Support knowledge transfer and skills development within the South Africa finance team to enable greater independence over time. 
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and reduce reliance on external or central finance support.
• Complete special projects and other duties as assigned.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience

•  Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (BCom Accounting/Finance or equivalent). Chartered Accountant qualification is not required but may be considered. 
• Experience working in a donor-funded, nonprofit environment is essential.  
• Approximately 8-10 years of progressive finance and accounting experience. 
• Minimum 3-5 years in a Finance Manager, Senior Accountant, or similar leadership role. 
• Experience managing financial reporting, month-end, year-end close processes, and external audits. 
• Experience with grant financial management, donor reporting, and compliance requirements. 
• Experience working within a global organization would be an advantage.  
• Experience managing or mentoring finance staff 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

•  Strong analytical and financial problem-solving skills 
• High attention to detail and accuracy 
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines 
• Effective communication and collaboration skills 
• Integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment 

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary range depends on knowledge, skills and experience. Excellent benefits package, including 90% of medical aid contribution (Discovery Health) for employee, spouse and up to 3 child dependents and 5% Provident fund contribution. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 April 2026
The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. Established in 1952, the Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York headquarters supports a global network of country offices.