VVOB is an international NGO with programmes and projects in 10 countries worldwide.

Hello! We’re excited to see you found your way to this job opening. That must mean you share our ambition to ensure learners around the world enjoy their fundamental human right to quality education, without exception. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

But first things first. Allow us to introduce ourselves, drawing on the great mystery behind our name. Since our establishment in 1982, ‘VVOB’ has evolved from a complex (Dutch) acronym to a stand-alone concept meaning education for development:

• VVOB stands for ‘commitment’ – to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
• VVOB stands for ‘integrity’ and ‘mutual respect’ – in working with our partner organisations across 10 countries / 3 continents.
• VVOB stands for ‘quality’ and ‘innovation’ – of everything we do in our effort to improve education worldwide.

Are you interested and eager to find out if you are a fit for this position? Then check the specifications outlined in this vacancy.

We are looking for an Accountant who will operate from our Lusaka office in Zambia. Do you want to take on this challenge? Continue reading!

VVOB in Zambia

In Zambia, VVOB is working in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE) since 1986. We are building capacity on Early Childhood Education (ECE), Primary School Level, and recently Out of school adolescents through the Digital School Programme.

Our key focus points in ECE are ‘Learning through Play’ and ‘Emergent Literacy.’ We are currently reaching two provinces with our work in ECE.

The evidence-based TaRL approach helps learners in Grades 3, 4 and 5 to develop basic reading and numeracy skills. TaRL (or Catch Up – as it is known in Zambia) now reaches more than five thousand primary schools and close to 800,000 learners spread over nine provinces.

Our ambition is to support MoE in scaling the ‘Learning through Play,’ ‘Emergent Literacy’ and ‘Teaching at the Right Level’ work. We are also working with the government to support out of school adolescents and school leadership.

Responsibilities of the Accountant

• Ensure compliance with VVOB’s financial policies, donor regulations, and local laws; assist in the preparation for audits and implement any necessary recommendations.
• Actively participate in the development and improvement of financial systems and processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of project budgets, providing regular updates and variance analysis to the Finance Manager.
• Conduct regular reconciliations of bank statements, project accounts, and donor funds to ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data.

You will:

• Ensure proper and timely update of the accounting system (Navision) and timely collection of good quality accounting documentation according to the latest financial guidelines.
• Accounting and administrative support to the project, including donor reporting and bookkeeping.
• Review all procurement processes for specific programme activities of assigned projects to ensure accuracy in the use of budget lines and account codes, donor compliance and reporting requirements.
• Pro-actively provide information and support to the programme team and relevant partners to improve the accounting system and to develop the capacity of them in the field of accounting and accounting requirements.
• Coordinate and supervise the compliance and correct implementation of financial guidelines and procedures.
• Regularly prepare and review financial reports to ensure expenses are in line with projections and identify any areas of overspending and unusual underspending.
• Assist in the development and preparation of proposal budgets, ensuring accuracy and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Support ongoing forecasting efforts to project future financial performance based on historical data and current trends in line with the programme work plan.
• Work closely with project coordinators to ensure adherence to budgets and provide financial insights to support programme implementation.
• Facilitate continuous improvement, knowledge building sharing on financial operations.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures related to budget management.

If you’re our Accountant your workweek at the office may include the following highlights:

• In the monthly team meeting of the finance and operations team, you share with your manager and team members the status on your deliverables such as a donor report or no cost extension forecast.
• You prepare the relevant documentation for budget monitoring meetings with project coordinators and together review the bookings, expenditure and forecast and take up the follow up actions
• Lunch! A perfect time to nurture informal relationships with the other team members in Zambia and hear how everyone is doing.
• The Zambia projects team discusses the project workplan. You are part of the team, providing guidance on the financial forecast.
• You discuss the progress you made with the Finance Manager, and finetune the financial plans afterwards.
• There is an upcoming donor report. You work with the Grants Coordinator and programmes colleagues to review the bookings and prepare the finance report.
• By the end of the week, you make sure that all the validated invoices are booked and ready for payment. You discuss some open vendors with a finance staff colleague.

Who are you?

This is a national position, open to Zambian nationals.

Your expertise and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or Full ACCA/CIMA/ZICA profession qualification
• 5+ years’ experience in Financial Operations, specifically in accounting, budgeting and procurement.
• Excellent computer skills in MS Office and ERP and Other financial system.
• Fluent in English + based on Country needs

Matching competences

VVOB core competences:

• Cooperation
• Continuous Improvement
• Result Orientation

Function specific competencies:

• Reliability
• Development oriented
• 360° empathy
• Communication Skills
• Problem analysis and judgement
• Accuracy

What we’re offering:

• A fixed term contract ending in August 2025, with a possibility of renewal subject to funding and performance.
• 25% gratuity at year’s end.
• In-patient and out-patient medical package for you and your legal dependents (as proven by marriage certificate and birth certificate(s))
• A percentage for Education allowance for your legal children
• Transport allowance and housing allowance in line with the Zambian employment legislation
• professional development opportunities.
• A dynamic working environment in an international context.
• An opportunity to contribute to exciting, evidence-based projects aimed at ensuring the education sector in Zambia is strengthened from supporting learners to acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills to developing vocational skills for adolescents.