Finance Specialist Job in Addis Ababa 2026

Looking for NGO Finance Jobs in Ethiopia? Join the Danish Refugee Council.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) , one of the world’s leading humanitarian INGOs, is seeking a highly qualified Finance Specialist to join our team in Addis Ababa. If you are an experienced finance professional with a passion for humanitarian work and expertise in donor compliance, this is the perfect opportunity to advance your career while making a difference in the lives of refugees and displaced populations.

We are looking for a national candidate who can take ownership of complex, multi-donor budgets and lead financial reporting for some of the world’s largest institutional donors.

Why Work for DRC? A Career with Purpose.

In this role, you are not just processing numbers; you are ensuring financial stewardship for life-saving programs. Your work directly supports DRC’s operations across Ethiopia, ensuring that funding from donors like USAID/BHA, ECHO, SIDA, and UNICEF is managed effectively, transparently, and in compliance with international standards.

Overall Purpose of the Finance Specialist Role

The National Finance Specialist serves as the technical anchor for donor budgeting and reporting, financial analysis, forecasting, and Budget Follow-Up (BFU) leadership across the Ethiopia country programme. You will operate with a high degree of independence, ensuring consistent quality control and strengthening the integrity of our ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics).

Key Duties and Responsibilities: What You Will Do

Donor Budgeting & Proposal Development

Lead the development of high-value donor proposal budgets and budget revisions for major institutional donors including ECHO, EU, SIDA, FCDO, BHA/USAID, DANIDA, GFFO, SDC, and UNICEF.
Ensure all budgets align with specific donor rules and regulations, cost eligibility, and internal cost-recovery strategies.
Draft and validate budget narratives, ensuring consistency with log frames, procurement plans, and HR plans.
Collaborate with Program, HR, and Supply Chain teams to deliver realistic and compliant budget packages on time.

Donor Financial Reporting & Compliance

Own the end-to-end donor financial reporting cycle, ensuring timely, accurate, and error-free reports.
Perform complex data extraction, reconciliations, currency conversions, and variance analysis.
Produce high-quality financial reports with clear management notes, risk flags, and corrective action plans.
Ensure full compliance with Ethiopian statutory obligations, including tax, levies, and statutory returns.

Financial Analysis, Forecasting & BFU Governance

Lead monthly Budget Follow-Up (BFU) meetings with project managers and budget holders.
Drive variance analysis and provide concise executive summaries to the Senior Management Team (SMT).
Deliver forward-looking financial insights, including rolling forecasts, burn rates, and scenario analysis.
Support Master Budget (MB) gap analysis and resource allocation decisions with data-driven recommendations.

ERP Systems, Data Quality & Internal Controls

Strengthen the correct use of Microsoft Dynamics 365 (dimensions, postings, reconciliations).
Design and enforce quality control checklists to ensure allowability, allocability, and reasonableness of costs.
Improve shared cost allocations, timesheet alignment, and overall project audit readiness.
Conduct monthly financial briefings to the Head of Support Services (HoSS) on risks and compliance.

Capacity Building, Mentoring & Process Improvement

Provide remote mentoring and targeted coaching to finance staff on Excel, ERP, and financial analysis.
Facilitate practical training clinics (e.g., “Variance Analysis in 30 Minutes”).
Build and maintain standard templates using Advanced Excel (Power Query, Power Pivot) and Power BI to automate reporting and reduce manual errors.

Audit & Partner Support

Prepare PBC (Provided by Client) lists and reconcile samples for project audits.
Support partner capacity assessments, due-diligence, and sub-grant financial monitoring.
Review and approve financial reports from national partners.

About You: Qualifications & Experience

Education

Master’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
Professional qualification (ACCA, CPA, CMA, or equivalent) is highly desirable.

Experience & Technical Competencies

Minimum 3 years of international practical experience in financial management within an INGO or humanitarian setting.
3+ years of leading donor budgeting and financial reporting for complex, multi-donor portfolios.
Proven Multi-Donor Expertise: Hands-on experience with ECHO, EU, SIDA, FCDO, BHA/USAID, DANIDA, GFFO, SDC, UNHCR, and UNICEF. You must understand the compliance nuances of each.
ERP Proficiency: Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 is strongly preferred. Experience with SAP, NetSuite, or SUN is acceptable.
Advanced Excel Skills: Expert-level proficiency in Pivot Tables, Power Query, Power Pivot, INDEX/XMATCH, and SUMIFS. You must be able to analyze large, complicated financial data sets and present clear insights.
Proven experience working with national partners and local government authorities in Ethiopia or similar contexts.
Strong ability to multitask, work independently, and deliver results in a demanding environment with conflicting priorities.

Language Skills

English: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce concise executive notes.

DRC’s Core Competencies

Striving for Excellence
Collaborating
Taking the Lead
Communicating
Demonstrating Integrity

We Offer

Contract Length: 12 Months (with possibility of extension)
Contract Type: National Contract
Band: G2 – Non-Management
Duty Station: Addis Ababa Country Office
Start Date: 1st April 2026
Salary & Benefits: In accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff. This includes a competitive salary, hardship allowance (if applicable), and insurance.

Equal Opportunity & Gender Equality

DRC is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment. We strongly encourage qualified female candidates to apply. DRC is committed to achieving gender parity and bridging the gap in the humanitarian sector.

How to Apply for the Finance Specialist Position

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply online through the official DRC job portal. Applications sent via email will not be considered.

Prepare your CV (no longer than four pages) and a cover letter in English.
Click the link below to submit your application:
Apply Here: https://drc.ngo/job?id=175296

Application Deadline: March 08, 2026