Chief Accountant

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT@ OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

POSITION: CHIEF ACCOUNTANT

Location: Lilongwe

OVERVIEW

The Office of the Ombudsman is a public body established under the Republic of Malawi Constitution. Section 123 of the Constitution accords the Office of the Ombudsman the mandate to investigate any and all cases where it is alleged that a person or a group of persons have suffered an injustice and there appears to be no any remedy reasonably available by way of proceedings in a court or by way of appeal from court or where there is no other practicable remedy.

The Office of the Ombudsman is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the following vacant positions:

Job Title: Chief Accountant

Grade: OMB4

Reporting to: Executive Secretary (Grade OMB 2)

Duty Station: Headquarters- Lilongwe

Key duties and responsibilities

Overseeing operations of Finance division to ensure it is effectiveness and efficiency in making payments to suppliers of goods, services and statutory payments while ensuring that expenditure returns are produced on time;

Initiating review and maintenance of sound management systems, including ensuring adherence to established rules, policies, and regulations on finance matters;

Assisting in monitoring and controlling expenditure to ensure that appropriate action is taken by management to curtail any foreseeable negative impact on the Office’s operations;

Implementing a system of stores, accounting and financial controls that comply with Stores and Disposal of Assets Act and Public Finance management policies and standards and financial regulations;

Processing payments according to the established approval procedure, ensuring that payment requisitions are properly supported and authorized, and that statutory and all other payment as required are made on a timely basis;

Ensuring that relevant and right taxes are deducted and remitted to the revenue authorities within the set timeframes;

Ensuring that effective internal financial controls are implemented in liaison with all stakeholders;

Ensuring that all payments to goods and services providers are duly sanctioned by an IPDC and have supporting documents;

Monitoring Office of the Ombudsman’s daily bank balances;

In collaboration with the Executive Secretary ensuring that suppliers are paid timely;

Preparing annual budgets and work plans for the division;

Maintaining books of accounts effectively to fulfil the requirements for management decision making, reporting and external audit;

Processing payments according to the established approval procedure, ensuring that payment requisitions are properly supported and authorised, and ensures that statutory and all other payments as required on a timely basis;

Providing information and assistance to internal or external Auditors in times of audit activities;

Review monthly expenditure, quarterly and annual financial statements, and division reports; and

Supervising and appraising Principal Accountants, Projects Finance Coordinators and other staff under his/her charge.

Qualifications and Experience

Accredited Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance with at least six (6) years’ post qualification work experience, of which at least four (4) years’ should be at supervisory level in accounting or finance.

A member of Institute of Charted Accountants of Malawi.

Accredited Masters’ Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Management or Business Administration will be added advantage.

Knowledge and experience in public accounting will be an added advantage.

Required Competencies and attributes

Analytical and problem solving skills;

Communication and interpersonal skills;

Ability to manage time and prioritization;

Ability to work as a Team and ability to lead a team;

Accounting skills;

Excellent Information, Communication, and Technology skills across a wide range of packages like Microsoft Packages and Finance Management packages; and

Ability to motivate and lead staff.

Method of application:

Interested candidates should submit applications attaching a Curriculum Vitae, including three traceable referees and copies of certificates, to reach the undersigned not later than 21st September 2026.

The Ombudsman

Office of the Ombudsman

St. Martin’s House

City Centre

Private Bag 348

LILONGWE 3

The applications should be emailed to vacancy@ombudsmanmalawi.org

PLEASE INDICATE ON THE ENVELOPE THE POSITION BEING APPLIED FOR.

ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR THE POSITIONS MUST RE-APPLY.

“THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”