RWANDA WOMEN'S NETWORK (RWN)

TERMS OF REFERENCE

FINANCE OFFICER (1 POSITION)

Project: Empowered Civil Society: Enhancing Capacity and Transparency for Gender Equality in Rwanda

1. Background

Rwanda Women's Network (RWN) is implementing a three-year project, funded by Sida, aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity and transparency of RWN and selected local, women-led civil society organizations (CSOs), and enhancing their collaboration with government and other stakeholders at district and national levels.

The project channels a significant share of its budget as sub-grants to nine (9) partner CSOs, making strong financial management, internal control, and compliance systems essential. RWN is recruiting a full-time Finance Officer to work alongside the part-time Finance Manager, forming a dual financial management structure that strengthens internal control and risk mitigation across the project, including oversight of sub-granted funds.

2. Purpose of the Position

The Finance Officer is responsible for day-to-day financial operations of the project, including financial tracking and documentation, verification of partner CSO financial reports, and support to budgeting, disbursement, and audit processes. The role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant financial management in line with RWN's financial policies and Sida's requirements.

3. Key Responsibilities

Financial Tracking, Documentation and Record-Keeping

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records, ledgers, and supporting documentation for all project transactions.
• Process payments, advances, and reimbursements in line with RWN's financial procedures and approval thresholds.
• Reconcile bank statements, cash accounts, and project ledgers on a regular basis.
• Maintain an organized, audit-ready filing system (physical and electronic) for all financial records.

Sub-Grant Financial Management and CSO Support

• Verify the accuracy, completeness, and eligibility of expenditures submitted by partner CSOs against approved budgets and supporting documents (voucher review).
• Support partner CSOs to apply sound financial management and reporting practices, including through onboarding, training, and ongoing hands-on support.
• Track disbursement schedules and follow up on phased release of sub-grant funds tied to verified reporting and results.
• Participate in quarterly financial monitoring visits to partner CSOs, including spot checks and verification of financial documentation.
• Flag discrepancies, ineligible expenditures, or irregularities to the Finance Manager and Project Coordinator, and support corrective action.

Budgeting and Financial Reporting

• Support the Finance Manager in preparing and monitoring the project budget, including budget-versus-actual analysis.
• Consolidate financial data from RWN and partner CSOs to support timely and accurate financial reports to RWN management and Sida.
• Assist in preparing quarterly and annual financial reports, and other donor financial reporting requirements.
• Support forecasting of cash flow needs and disbursement planning across RWN and partner CSOs.

Compliance, Audit and Risk Management

• Ensure financial transactions and processes comply with RWN's financial policies, procurement procedures, and Sida's financial guidelines.
• Support the coordination of annual external audits of RWN and partner CSO sub-grant accounts, including preparing documentation and responding to audit queries.
• Support the application of standardized procurement and financial procedures across all sub-grants.
• Contribute to identifying and mitigating financial risks, including risks of misappropriation, ghost beneficiaries, or unauthorized expenditure.

Administrative and Team Support

• Coordinate with the Logistics and Procurement Officer on financial aspects of procurement and asset management.
• Provide financial information and documentation as needed to the Project Coordinator, MEAL Officer, and other team members.
• Perform other finance-related duties as assigned by the Finance Manager.

4. Key Deliverables

• Up-to-date, reconciled financial records and ledgers for the project.
• Verified CSO expenditure reports and voucher review documentation for each disbursement cycle.
• Timely quarterly financial reports and budget-versus-actual analyses.
• Documentation supporting annual external audits of RWN and partner CSO accounts.
• Field financial monitoring visit reports, conducted on a quarterly basis.

5. Working Relationships

• Reports directly to: Finance Manager
• Works closely with: Project Coordinator, Logistics and Procurement Officer, Administrative Assistant, and MEAL Officer
• Liaises with: Partner CSO Finance/Administration Officers, and external auditors as required

6. Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. A professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, ACCA) is an added advantage.

Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in financial management, ideally within an NGO or donor-funded project environment.
• Demonstrated experience in sub-grant financial management, voucher review, or financial oversight of implementing partners is an added advantage.
• Experience working with Sida-funded or similarly structured donor projects, and familiarity with donor financial compliance requirements, is a plus.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial management systems, and internal control procedures.
• Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Excel; familiarity with QuickBooks or similar systems is an advantage.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and integrity in handling financial information.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and flag financial risks.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in Kinyarwanda and English (French an advantage).
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple deadlines, and support several partner organizations simultaneously.
• Commitment to RWN's values, financial integrity, and safeguarding principles.

7. Duration, Location and Remuneration

• Contract duration: full-time, fixed-term, renewable annually subject to satisfactory performance and continued project funding, for up to the 36-month project period (1 July 2026 – 30 June 2029).
• Duty station: RWN Head Office, Kigali, with periodic travel to partner CSOs for financial monitoring visits.
• Remuneration: commensurate with RWN's salary scale for this position and available project budget.

8. How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications should submit a cover letter, a detailed CV with three professional references, and copies of relevant certificates to rwawnet@rwanda1.rw and copy orchidee.impundu@rwandawomennetwork.org by 11 September 2026. Please indicate 'Finance Officer-SIDA' in the subject line.

Disclaimer: Rwanda Women’s Network recognizes that we have a responsibility to protect people we work with, and who work for us. RWN has a zero-tolerance toward sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and child abuse. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is everyone’s responsibility and all staff are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct, that enshrines principles of PSEA, at all times (both during work hours and outside work hours). We make very clear that sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and child abuse in any form, perpetrated by our staff, interns, volunteers, consultants and other contractors and suppliers or other related personnel, towards anyone, will not be tolerated. 

Rwanda Women's Network is an equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified women to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.