Job Description

Vacancy #:	7577
Unit:	ESARO - South Africa Finance
Organisation:	International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:	South Africa Country Office, Pretoria, South Africa
Reporting to:	Country Representative, South Africa
Work percentage:	100%
Grade:	P1
Expected start date:	01 May 2026
Type of contract:	Fixed-term (up to 24 months)
Closing date:	17 April 2026

BACKGROUND

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION FOR S. AFRICA NATIONALS OR THOSE WITH THE RIGHT TO WORK IN S.AFRICA

BACKGROUND:

The IUCN South Africa Country Office seeks to appoint a Finance Officer to support the implementation of the South Africa and Lesotho GEF-8 projects, as well as other GEF-funded projects in the pipeline in Southern Africa. This is a nationally recruited position, contracted, managed, and reporting to the IUCN South Africa Country Office.

Under the supervision of the Project Manager GEF8 SLM, the Finance Officer will serve as a full-time team member throughout the project lifespan. The Finance Officer will be responsible for the effective financial management and accountability of all GEF project funds within Southern Africa, including planning, monitoring, reporting, and ensuring compliance with GEF financial standards, IUCN policies, and national regulations.

JOB DESCRIPTION

SEPCIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Reporting and Compliance;
Ensure integration of cross-cutting priorities, including gender equality, youth engagement, social inclusion, and climate resilience.
Ensure the technical quality and relevance of project interventions to national and regional priorities.
Ensure all financial operations comply with GEF, IUCN, and national regulations.
Prepare, monitor, and analyze project budgets, forecasts, and expenditures.
Support development of project budgets and proposals, ensuring donor compliance.

Financial Transactions and controls;
Oversee day-to-day financial transactions, including payments, reimbursements, and vendor invoices.
Maintain proper documentation to ensure transparency and accountability.
Implement and monitor internal financial controls to minimize risk

Financial Reporting;
Prepare and submit timely and accurate financial reports (quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc) to the Project Coordinator, Executing Agency, Implementing Agency, and donors.
Manage project expenditure in financial systems, ensuring proper coding and alignment with budgets.
Provide monthly analyzed budget information to Project Managers and update staff time allocations in TMS.

Cash Flow and Fund Management;
Monitor project cash flow to ensure sufficient funds for ongoing activities.
Support preparation of fund requests and timely disbursements to implementing partners.
Manage cash flow and ensure timely fund disbursements to partners.

Capacity Building and Collaboration;
Provide financial guidance and support to project staff, partners, and sub-grantees.
Assist in organizing financial training sessions or workshops.
Build capacity of sub-grantees/partners in GEF financial compliance and fiduciary standards.
Provide financial guidance to project teams and support other GEF-funded projects.

Audit and Oversight;
Facilitate internal and external audits, provide supporting documentation, implement recommendations, and maintain financial controls.
Implement audit recommendations promptly.
Establish and maintain financial risk management controls.

Grants Management;
Participate in due diligence for partner selection.
Conduct periodic financial reviews and reconciliation with sub-grantees.
Support sub-grantees in maintaining proper books and ensure compliance with donor requirements.
Oversee sub-grantee financial compliance, reconciliations, and provide guidance.

Budget and Proposal Development;
Act as focal point for budget development for GEF/GCF projects in Southern Africa
Support proposal development processes by preparing budgets in line with donor regulations and IUCN guidelines.
Facilitate capacity building in budget formulation and management for staff and partners.

Other Duties;
Perform other finance-related tasks as assigned to support project goals.
Provide financial management support to other GEF-funded projects in the portfolio.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS:
Accurate and timely preparation of financial reports, expenditure statements, and financial workplans.
Effective budget management and monitoring of expenditures with appropriate approvals.
Compliance with GEF financial guidelines, national regulations, and IUCN policies.
Close collaboration with project management, partners, and auditors to facilitate project delivery.

REQUIREMENTS

• POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education;
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field.
Professional certification (ACCA, CPA, or equivalent) preferred.

Work Experience;
At least 5 years relevant experience in financial management, preferably in donor-funded or international development projects.
Experience with project financial systems and compliance with donor guidelines, ideally GEF, UN agencies, or similar.
Experience in budget preparation, financial reporting, audits, and reconciliations.
Knowledge of national financial regulations and accounting standards.
Proficiency in financial management software and MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to work under pressure.

Language Proficiency;
Excellent command of English (including good writing and communication skills)

Core Competencies;
Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provides a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.

Functional competencies;
Project Management and Coordination: Plans, implements, and monitors multi-country projects using results-based management principles.
Technical Expertise: Provides technical leadership in e.g. SLM, wetlands, water resources, climate adaptation, and Nature-based Solutions.
Partnership Development: Builds and maintains strategic partnerships with governments, regional bodies, and stakeholders.
Financial and Administrative Management: Ensures sound budgeting, expenditure control, and compliance with donor procedures.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Knowledge Management: Leads performance tracking, learning, and knowledge sharing across the region.
Leadership and Team Management: Guides and motivating project teams to deliver high-quality results efficiently.
Communication and Representation: Communicates effectively, ensuring project visibility and engagement with partners.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/

About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

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