Finance Officer
Full time, Kampala
Reports to Finance Controller
About Alight
Alight is a proximity-driven humanitarian organization that restores power and agency to people experiencing displacement. For nearly 50 years, we’ve walked alongside our customers – displaced communities – in some of the most challenging and complex places in the world. Regardless of role or responsibility in this organization, we center the choices, dignity, and lived experience of people we serve – even when it complicates the work. We live our values at each step of our shared journey. At our best, our commitment to displaced people is sustained, relational, and grounded in trust.
Enterprise Summary
Alight is a long-standing humanitarian response partner and has been operational in Uganda since 1994. Our operation in Uganda serves the displaced and host communities in three Operational Regions (South-West, Mid-West, West Nile). In July 2026, the Uganda and Rwanda Enterprises consolidated into one Enterprise with the focus on aligning the programming and continuing to provide consistent, high-quality support to refugee customers.
Department Summary
Alight finance department is the backbone of an organization’s economic health. It manages the inflow and outflow of funds, ensures regulatory compliance, and provides strategic guidance for long-term growth. Responsibilities including but not the least financial, reporting, planning and analysis, Risk Management, accounting and bookkeeping, cash flow management, and tax compliance
Role Purpose
The Finance Officer is responsible for executing the day-to-day financial operations of the organization and ensuring accurate financial reporting, effective internal controls, statutory compliance, payroll administration, and donor compliance. The role supports efficient programme implementation by maintaining sound financial systems, monitoring budgets, and providing timely financial information to management.
The Finance Officer works closely with the Finance Controller to implement financial policies, strengthen financial controls, and ensure compliance with organizational, donor, and statutory requirements.
The Finance Officer performs the following duties/responsibilities:
- Financial Management and Reporting 60%
- Executing day-to-day accounting operation tasks, ensuring complete and accurate recording of financial transactions.
- Preparing monthly bank reconciliations, cash reconciliations, and balance sheet schedules.
- Ensure adequate cash balances and support day-to-day cash flow management.
- Timely processing of payments and proper supporting documentation.
- Maintain accurate accounting records in accordance with organizational policies and applicable accounting standards.
- Prepare journal entries and timely month-end financial close activities are accurately carried out.
- Ensure implementation and continuous improvement of financial procedures and controls.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for management review.
- Produce budget monitoring reports and expenditure analyses for departments and projects.
- Perform budget variance analysis and recommend corrective actions.
- Prepare financial reports that are complete, accurate, and submitted within agreed timelines.
- Support the preparation and consolidation of annual organizational and project budgets.
- Work with program managers to review budget performance and utilization.
- Assist with financial forecasting and periodic budget revisions.
- Provide financial information to support proposal budgeting where required.
2. Financial Systems & Process Improvement 15%
- Ensure accurate and timely data entry within the accounting system.
- Support improvements to financial systems and reporting processes.
- Maintain financial records and documentation in accordance with organizational requirements to audit ready at all times.
- Promote efficient financial workflows and good record management practices.
3. Payroll & Statutory Compliance 10%
- Oversee monthly payroll processing to ensure timely and accurate salary payments.
- prepare payroll reconciliations and payroll journal entries.
- Coordinate with Human Resources to ensure payroll reflects approved staff changes.
- Ensure timely remittance of statutory deductions, including PAYE, NSSF, LST, WHT and any other applicable statutory obligations.
- Support in resolving payroll-related queries while maintaining confidentiality.
3. Donor Compliance 10%
- Monitor project expenditures to ensure compliance with donor agreements and approved budgets.
- Prepare donor financial reports for review by Finance controller before submission.
- Ensure financial documentation complies with donor regulations and organizational policies.
- Support donor audits and financial reviews by preparing required documentation.
- Advise program staff on donor financial compliance requirements.
4. Internal Controls & Audit 2%
- Ensure compliance with internal financial policies and procedures.
- Ensure effective financial controls to safeguard organizational assets are maintained.
- Support the coordination of internal and external audits.
- Support implementation of agreed audit recommendations.
- Support in Identifying financial risks and recommendation of practical mitigation measures.
6. Cross-functional Support 3%
- Work closely with programming, procurement, HR, and operations teams to ensure compliance with financial procedures.
- Provide financial guidance to budget holders on financial policies and budget management.
- Support the Finance controller with financial information required for organizational reporting and decision-making.
- Undertake other finance-related responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Professional accounting qualification (CPA(UG), ACCA, CA, or equivalent) is an added advantage.
- Minimum of eight (5) years’ progressive experience in finance, preferably within an NGO, INGO, or donor-funded environment.
- Experience in donor-funded project financial management and reporting.
- Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Excel
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Strong financial management and accounting skills.
- Good understanding of Uganda statutory and tax requirements.
- Knowledge of donor financial regulations and grant compliance.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Excellent planning, organizational, and time management skills.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Strong leadership and coaching skills.
- High level of integrity, accountability, and confidentiality.
Values Alignment
You are curious and truly listen. You appreciate the complexities of human beings. You ask questions, seek information, and dig deeper into understanding a problem holistically before working to solve it. You enter a space with humility and an eagerness to learn.
You believe shared ownership creates better outcomes. You trust displaced customers to guide the way forward. You’re open to new and different possibilities, are motivated in what an abundant future could hold, and you generate ideas sparked from insight – and foster spaces that are safe for others to generate their ideas too. You bring others in, build ecosystems, and share power with those who care about this more than you do. You adapt your work to make space for others.
You embrace transformation. You recognize and honor that our work centers people – a constantly changing and complex customer within a constantly changing and complex world. And so too, we must constantly change. You believe in the abundance of human beings and you understand that to unleash that abundance, we must bravely enter a bold new chapter capable of transforming the future.
You value beauty. You believe a meaningful life includes joy, dignity, and connection. You place weight on the experience people have – of a place, a space, a person, a service. You strive to create things that are human-worthy and you believe quality should be determined by those experiencing it.
Benefits
- Borderless Team of 2,500 staff worldwide that sees possibility, celebrates moments of abundance, shares new ideas, and strives to do a better thing every day.
- Learning & Development – Access hundreds of free online learning courses to take at your own pace and tailor to your professional goals.
- Flexible Leave Time – Between vacation days, personal leave days, and holidays, you have ample opportunities to take time off when you need it.
Alight is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Alight complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
How to apply
Apply here: https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=ojMvAfwU&s=ReliefWeb
More Information
- Job City Uganda
