Finance and Operations Manager

How to apply

Please complete the application form here and submit along with a 2 page CV by 02 December 2026 (23:59 Central African Time).

All applicants are required to complete this form and upload it to the GoZambia Jobs portal. Only fully completed forms will be reviewed and considered.

Role description

The role of Finance and Operations Manager at Jigsaw Zambia is to help shape the environment in which Jigsaw staff are able to contribute to the delivery of high-quality research, evaluation and strategy, contributing towards Jigsaw’s mission to build evidence for effective education, within each of Jigsaw’s technical focus areas (Foundational Learning and Pedagogy, Digital technologies and AI, Climate-resilient learning environments, Skills and pathways to employment, Education in crisis and conflict, Cost effectiveness and education financing, Education policy, systems and governance).

This new role is created to support Jigsaw Zambia’s development and is perfect for someone who is passionate about helping an organisation to grow well, using your skills to increase the effectiveness of the whole Jigsaw team.

The role is full-time, with half of the time focused on Jigsaw Zambia finance and operations tasks and half the time supporting the UK operations team. The role means being an active member of a committed global team, living our shared values, and working hard to represent the individuals and communities that are the focus of our work.

The role will be based in the Jigsaw Zambia office in Lusaka, with occasional national and international travel.

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of a Jigsaw Zambia Finance and Operations Manager are to:

• Manage Jigsaw Zambia’s day-to-day financial operations, ensuring prompt supplier and staff payments, accurate expense tracking, financial compliance and tax payments, and sound cash flow management to help the office operate profitably.
• Provide comprehensive administrative and financial support to Jigsaw Zambia Project Managers, streamlining data collection logistics, travel, procurement, invoicing, and project performance tracking to ensure successful delivery.
• Maintain and continuously improve internal systems and processes, owning operational documentation and ensuring that data storage is secure, compliant, and effectively structured to remove bottlenecks.
• Coordinate local recruitment and HR administration for the Zambia team, including managing the recruitment pipeline, facilitating new staff inductions, and maintaining accurate personnel records and leave allowances.
• Manage the Jigsaw Zambia office space and landlord relationships, coordinating health and safety assessments and resolving day-to-day technical or practical issues to enable the team to excel in their work.
• Contribute to a supportive, fun, and nurturing work culture, helping to organise team events and ensuring the office remains a welcoming environment for staff, visiting colleagues, guests, and clients.
• Support the UK finance department on relevant tasks—such as Xero categorisation and global reporting—and actively contribute to the development and alignment of Jigsaw’s global operations.
• Produce regular finance tracking reports for the Delivery Lead, covering budget versus actuals, spend rates and variance commentary across research studies and the Zambia office.
• Prepare and maintain team forecasts, including staff time allocation and resourcing, cash flow, and project-level reforecasts when budgets or timelines change.
• Support donor financial reporting, including quarterly financial reports, reconciling advances against actual spend, and preparing budget revisions and amendments for funder review.
• Overseeing the procurement and contracting of project subcontractors.

Skills, competencies and experience

Essential skills, competencies and experience

Qualifications & Professional Standing

• Academic and Professional Credentials: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Zambian Regulatory Compliance: Full or advanced stage of a recognised professional accounting qualification (e.g., ZICA, ACCA, CIMA) and active registration with the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA), as required by local law.

Experience

• Financial and Statutory Management: 3–5+ years of demonstrable experience in a finance and operations management role. Deep, practical knowledge of Zambian statutory requirements, including ZRA tax filings, NAPSA, NHIMA, and payroll compliance.
• Operational and HR Administration: Proven track record of managing day-to-day office operations, negotiating with suppliers/landlords, and managing HR administration (e.g., recruitment pipelines, employee onboarding, and adherence to Zambian labour laws).
• Process Optimisation: Experience auditing current operational workflows, identifying bottlenecks, and successfully designing and implementing improved internal processes and policies.

Skills & Competencies

• Financial reporting: Experience producing management reports and financial forecasts, with clear commentary for non-finance colleagues.
• Digital and Financial Tools: High-level proficiency in cloud-based accounting platforms (specifically Xero) and advanced Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets skills for financial modelling and reporting.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with remote global teams and provide high-level reporting to the UK office.
• Project and Data Collection Logistics: Experience supporting project managers with the financial and operational administration of complex field research, including international travel logistics, enumerator payments, and project-level budget tracking.
• Integrity and Autonomy: Exceptional attention to detail, strong organisational skills to manage competing priorities, and high ethical standards when handling confidential HR and financial data.
• International Compliance and Governance: Working knowledge of international donor compliance requirements and global data protection standards (such as UK GDPR) alongside local data privacy regulations.
• Culture and Mindset: A proactive, solutions-oriented professional who models a culture of continuous improvement and actively contributes to a welcoming, nurturing, and dynamic team environment.
• Able to work in a manner that reflects and strengthens Jigsaw’s values.
• Zambian language proficiency

Desirable skills, competencies and experience

• Global Financial Operations: Experience managing multi-currency accounting, foreign exchange dynamics, and cross-border financial operations in direct coordination with an international head office (particularly UK-based).
• Sector-Specific Experience: Previous operational and financial experience within an international development organisation, global consultancy, or research institute.
• Advanced Tool Familiarity: Hands-on experience with our specific administrative tech stack, including Expensify (for expense management) and cloud-based HR/project management software.