Require a Finance Manager in Lusaka, Zambia

1. Financial Reporting & Analysis

▸  Prepare monthly management accounts — Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement — by the 10th of each month.

▸  Prepare weekly and monthly branch-wise Profit and loss statements for presentation to Senior Management

▸  Produce a monthly Budget vs. Actual Analysis Report for the CEO, with clear variance commentary on any line exceeding 10%.

▸  Maintain the General Ledger in QuickBooks — accurate, current and audit-ready at all times.

▸  Prepare quarterly and annual financial statements in compliance with IFRS and Zambian financial regulations.

▸  Provide the CEO with clear, concise financial intelligence to support strategic and operational decisions.

2. Budgeting & Financial Planning

▸  Lead the annual budgeting process — consolidating departmental budgets into an organisational budget for CEO approval.

▸  Review and approve weekly departmental budget plans submitted by branch and department managers.

▸  Maintain a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast, updated weekly and presented to the CEO.

▸  Ensure Meraki maintains a minimum cash reserve equivalent to two weeks of operating costs at all times.

▸  Flag any projected cash shortfall to the CEO at least four weeks in advance.

3. Cash Management & Controls

▸  Oversee daily cash management across all branches — ensuring all cash is banked intact and reconciled daily.

▸  Review and approve all payment requisitions against budget allocations before disbursement.

▸  Manage the weekly payment run — cash purchases every Wednesday, account suppliers every Friday.

▸  Ensure petty cash across all five locations is properly managed, reconciled and replenished in line with policy.

▸  Review all bank charges monthly and ensure accurate recording in QuickBooks.

▸  Perform or supervise monthly bank reconciliations — completed and signed off by the 10th of the following month.

4. Procurement & Inventory Financial Oversight

▸  Review and approve all procurement requisitions against budget — ensuring no purchase proceeds without financial authorisation.

▸  Oversee the financial reconciliation between GAAP Unity (stock and procurement system) and QuickBooks monthly.

▸  Report on food cost percentages by branch against budget — flagging and investigating variances.

▸  Review stock adjustment entries in GAAP Unity before they are posted — ensuring all adjustments are authorised.

▸  Produce monthly food cost and wastage analysis reports for the CEO and COO.

5. Statutory Compliance & Taxation

▸  Ensure full and timely compliance with all ZRA obligations — VAT returns by the 18th, PAYE and NAPSA by the 10th of each month.

▸  Manage NHIMA contributions and ensure timely submission.

▸  Ensure all VAT-claimable purchases are from ZRA Smart Invoicing registered suppliers — with valid VAT invoices filed.

▸  Liaise with external tax consultants on corporate income tax and annual returns.

▸  Ensure PACRA annual returns are submitted on time.

▸  Maintain all financial records for a minimum of seven years as required by Zambian law.

6. Internal Controls & Audit

▸  Maintain and enforce the Meraki Finance Policy Manual across all departments and branches.

▸  Ensure segregation of duties is maintained — no single person controls initiation, approval and processing of financial transactions.

▸  Support the Internal Audit function — providing records, responding to queries within 24 hours and implementing audit recommendations.

▸  Manage staff advance requests — reviewing against policy, ensuring proper documentation and tracking repayments via payroll.

▸  Maintain the Fixed Asset Register in QuickBooks — including depreciation schedules and disposal records.

7. Team Leadership & Reporting

▸  Manage and develop the Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable functions.

▸  Build a high-performing, accountable Finance team that operates to the Meraki standard.

▸  Report directly to the CEO — proactively, not reactively. Bring issues before they become problems.

▸  Attend weekly management meetings and present financial performance with confidence and clarity.

Requirements

▸

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related field.

▸  Minimum 4 years of hands-on financial management experience — including reporting, budgeting, cash flow management and statutory compliance.

▸  Proficiency in QuickBooks — this is non-negotiable. The candidate must be able to demonstrate working knowledge at interview.

▸  Solid working knowledge of Zambian tax law — VAT, PAYE, NAPSA, NHIMA and ZRA Smart Invoicing.

▸  Experience managing financial controls in a multi-site or multi-department business.

▸  Strong Excel skills — financial modelling, pivot tables and dashboard reporting.

▸  Excellent written and verbal communication — able to present financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.

▸  ZICA membership or ACCA/CIMA qualification (full or part-qualified).

▸  Experience in the hospitality, food service or FMCG sector.

▸  Familiarity with GAAP Unity or similar POS and stock management systems.

▸  Experience working directly with a CEO or business owner in a fast-growing business.