POSITION TITLE: Finance, Administration, and Operations Manager
LOCATION: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
UNIT: Clean Energy and Circular Economy (CE2)
ANTICIPATED LOE: Full-time
REPORTS TO: U.S-based Associate Director
GENERAL:
Winrock International, a leader in U.S. and international development, tackles complex social, agricultural, and environmental challenges. In Ethiopia, an estimated 6,000 off-grid communities rely on costly diesel-powered piped water systems. With funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Winrock’s goal is to create a commercial market for solarization of diesel pumps that will enable communities to purchase a solar pump using a lease-to-own agreement. During the period 2022 - 2025, Winrock implemented Phase I of the Solarizing Community Water Supply project, which demonstrated the lease-to-own model in ten communities in Amhara and Oromia regional states. Winrock is now implementing Phase II of this work, with a goal of assisting an additional 30 communities to solarize their existing diesel water supply pumps.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Finance, Administration, and Operations Manager ensures effective management of the project’s financial, operational, and administrative functions. This includes managing the project budget, payroll, taxes, sub-grants, staff travel, procurement, office logistics, and documentation in alignment with the donor requirements, Winrock policies and procedures, and applicable local regulations.
The Finance, Administration, and Operations Manager is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, initiative, and attention to detail. The position is responsible for proactively identifying and resolving financial and administrative issues, maintaining accurate and complete documentation, anticipating deadlines and operational needs, ensuring work is completed accurately and on time with minimal oversight from the Home Office team, and ensuring work is in compliance with Winrock policies and procedures.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Management (25%)
· Ensure the project’s financial systems and procedures comply with Winrock’s policies and local law, and work closely with Winrock’s central and regional finance staff to resolve issues, address concerns and respond to requests for financial information.
· Manage weekly financial submissions and monthly financial package submissions to Winrock's Regional office in Nairobi.
· Work with U.S.-based project staff to prepare monthly wire/fund requests for funds transfer from the U.S.
· Track project expenditures monthly against the project budget.
· Convene the local team monthly to update the project spending forecast based on planned activities.
· Review all financial transactions, invoices, payment requests, and supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness, appropriate approvals, and compliance before submission.
· Maintain complete, accurate, organized, and audit-ready financial, procurement, administrative, and contractual records in accordance with Winrock filing and documentation requirements.
Human Resources and Payroll (20%)
· Ensure Ethiopia-based employee timesheets are submitted and approved on time by each employee’s supervisor.
· Process payroll for Ethiopia-based project staff monthly, ensuring on-time payment.
· Track accrual of sick leave, personal leave, and the 13th month benefit monthly in coordination with Winrock’s central and regional finance staff.
· Manage any personnel changes, including off-boarding departing employees and assisting with hiring a replacement for the departing employee.
· Ensure personnel files are updated and uploaded to the SharePoint site, including new hire documentation and employment contracts.
· Ensure employee timesheets are correctly filed after being approved each month.
Coordination of Staff Travel (25%)
· Support in planning, logistics and travel arrangements for project staff implementing technical activities in Addis and in participating zones, woredas, and communities.
· Purchase air tickets and book workshop venues and lodging on behalf of project staff traveling to project sites outside Addis.
· Oversee the process of making and reconciling travel advances to staff, including reviewing monthly travel budgets for accuracy and completeness; issuing travel advances; reviewing expense reports after travel is completed; reconciling travel advances in a timely manner; and ensuring all documents are correctly filed, with clear filenames.
Results-based Grant Management (25%)
· Hire and supervise a Grants Administrator to assist with results-based grant management.
· Collaborate with the technical team to issue results-based grants to solar developers, including reviewing the grant agreements for accuracy and facilitating signature.
· Conduct weekly monitoring of grant milestones, agreement expiration dates, and payment deadlines and flag potential delays or compliance concerns to technical staff and US-based project staff.
· Remind grantees to submit milestone invoices and process the invoices for payment in a timely manner.
· Review milestone invoices and supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness, formatting, and compliance before initiating the approval and payment process.
· Modify results-based grant agreements as needed.
Office Administration (5%)
· Lead procurement for all services and products for Winrock’s Addis office, including furniture, service contracts, and the office lease.
· Secure quotes from vendors, consultants and subcontractors, and lead the evaluation and selection process.
· Pay all local invoices for equipment, office rental, and procurements on time and in compliance with Winrock policies and procedures.
· Monitor office inventory including furniture and IT equipment and ensure office supplies are stocked as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:
Education:
· Academic degree in finance, business administration, financial accounting or related field. Master’s degree or higher strongly preferred.
Experience:
· Minimum of 8 years of experience with finance and administration on donor-funded projects, with progressive responsibility.
· Demonstrated experience independently managing the finance and administrative functions of a donor-funded project or country office with limited day-to-day supervision.
· Accounting or auditing certifications highly preferred.
· Experience with managing payroll and benefits according to Ethiopian laws and regulations.
Skills/Knowledge:
· Proficient Microsoft Office computer skills.
· Knowledge and experience in QuickBooks accounting software.
· Excellent written and oral communication skill in English required.
· Exceptional attention to detail and demonstrated ability to consistently produce accurate, complete, high-quality work.
· Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify issues, investigate causes, evaluate options, and recommend practical solutions.
OTHER:
This position is open to qualified Ethiopian Nationals, only. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply. Fluency in English and strong written English is required.
Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal treatment for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law.
At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.
