Margaret Tissy Nembele
Lilongwe
Summary
With extensive experience at AMREF Health Africa, I excel in grant accounting and fostering team collaboration. Proven track record in enhancing financial processes and compliance, achieving significant improvements in financial health and reporting accuracy. Skilled in ERP systems and adept at driving project success through meticulous financial oversight.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Program Accountant
AMREF Health Africa
Lilongwe
03.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Amref Health Africa is the leading African health international NGO and works to create lasting health change with the following goals: improve the lives of disadvantaged people in Africa through better health, bridge gaps between communities, health systems, and governments, and be a leading force for advocacy for health system reforms in Africa.
- Ensure the sound financial health of Amref Health Africa Southern Africa in line with Global Financial Health KPIs: burn rates, liquidity, solvency/sustainability, and growth.
- Ensure timely donor reporting, management reporting, to enable quality decision-making.
- Ensure timely settlement of all organizational and statutory obligations.
- Ensure good management of accounts and compliance in line with Amref's policies and procedures.
- Ensure excellent management of sub-awards.
- Ensure continuous improvement in the credibility of the Southern Africa Finance team.
- Excellent execution of the Service Level Agreement.
- Amref Health Africa is the leading African health international NGO and works to create lasting health change with the following goals: improve the lives of disadvantaged people in Africa through better health, bridge gaps between communities, health systems, and governments, and be a leading force for advocacy for health system reforms in Africa.
- Liaise with auditors to complete annual audits and maintain compliance with the national and international requirements.
- Oversee the full accounting cycle, and prepare applicable financial statements.
- Support efficient accounting operations with high-quality administrative support.
- Participate in developing annual operating budgets for various programs within the organization.
- Research variances between actual and budgeted amounts as needed to ensure the accuracy of data reported by programs.
- Maintain accurate accounts for cash, fixed assets, and other transactions.
- Process journal entries into the general ledger system related to assigned program accounts.
- Diminish financial discrepancies, and accurately reconcile accounts using detailed data analysis results.
- Collaborate with other departments in order to ensure accurate reporting of financial transactions related to assigned programs.
- Analyze balance sheets for mistakes and inaccuracies.
- Generate periodic financial reports detailing performance against established benchmarks for assigned programs.
- Monitor program budgets on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
Program Accountant
AMREF Health Africa
03.2016 - 03.2021
- Maintaining Financial records in compliance with accepted policies and procedures
- Implementation of accounting control procedures
- Provide operational support to Project Managers on expenditure management
- Prepare monthly progress report to the management on project funding status and cash management
- Preparation of Annual Operational Budgets and work plans for the projects in liaison with project managers
- Review of monthly income and expenditure statements with Project Managers to monitor the budget performances
- Assist with the development of Proposal Budgets in liaison with the Project Managers
- Review of coding on expenditure (claims, imprests, surrenders, field office returns and purchase requisitions) and internal recoveries in accordance with approved work plans and budgets
- Timely preparation of the financial donor reports for projects
- Timely preparation of management reports
- Facilitation in internal audits as scheduled and in external audits by providing auditors with accounting documents and schedules and responding to audit queries
- Collect/ receive bank statements from the respective bank
- Identify direct debits (bank charges, standing orders) and credits and entering amounts in the accounting system
- Cash management – to ensure that AMREF has adequate funds to meet its obligations as they fall due
- Review of bank reconciliations and clearing all outstanding reconciling items
- Prepare reconciliation for the Country Offices inter-company ledger accounts and clearing all reconciling items periodically
- Processing of monthly payroll- compute taxes owed, ensure submission of taxes and ensuring compliance with other statutory requirements
- Review of the Debtors and creditors accounts- allocation of the same and follow up with the various debtors
- Regular review meetings with Programme and Project Managers to resolve and discuss various financial and accounting issues and queries
- Capacity building and performance management of Finance Officer and Interns
Assistant Accountant
AMREF Health Africa
08.2015 - 02.2016
- Providing support to the project and other Projects in Malawi on budgeting planning according to Amref Health Africa Policies and Procedures
- Prepare all Donors financial reports and call down request as specified in respective grant agreement
- Ensuring all financial donor reports are submitted timely
- Processing, approval and coding of expenditures i.e
- Claims, imprest surrenders, field office returns, purchase requisitions and approved according to donor budget
- Ensuring timely and accurate budget & plan preparation to all partners/sub-grantees which include
- Reviewing all budgets and compiling budget reports
- Submitting to Finance Manager and Programme Manager for review/comment
- Ensuring budget and expenditure verification exercise is conducted to all partners/sub grantees which include
- Training /Coaching on financial management and financial advice
- Reviewing and Monitoring Income & Expenditures
- Ensuring timely and accurately, Key-in of all finance Vouchers, in the sun system
- Prepare all Donors financial reports and call down request as specified in respective grant agreement
Finance Officer- Part time
Chance for Change
08.2014 - 07.2015
- Drawing a financial management system and implementing review
- Developing monthly management accounts to the National Director
- Producing quarterly donor reports
- Preparing and facilitating external audit exercise
- Ensuring compliance to the financial rules and regulations
- Producing monthly bank reconciliations
Accountant
Africare
03.2013 - 06.2014
- Management of Malawi staff payroll in compliance with MRA regulations including maintenance of staff pension scheme
- Checking documents submitted to finance for payment as to validity, accuracy and completeness
- Preparing bank reconciliation statements
- Filing paid documents to facilitate storage and retrieval of financial information
- Coordinating with logistics officer in program and administrative procurements
- Monitor staff accounts receivables and initiate recovery of outstanding balances on assigned projects
- Preparation of budgets both in donor and Africare formats
- Prepare timely quality projects financial reports and projections according to donor requirements
- Providing professional guidance and supervision to subordinate accounting staff in sub-offices
- Assisting the Finance and Administration Manager in budget amendments
- Any other tasks as assigned by the supervisor
Finance Consultant
Play Football Malawi
11.2012 - 02.2013
- Provides advice and support in financial & transaction accounting
- Develops monthly management reports to the National Director
- Ensuring compliance to the required laws, rules and regulations
Resource (GRANTS) Accountant
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
03.2010 - 09.2012
- Conducting financial assessment of partner financial system and a capacity
- Producing project advance ‘performance tracking’ analysis for all projects under jurisdiction
- Performing surprise cash counts of CRS petty cash and Imprest floats
- Leading in month end financial closure processes on a rotational basis
- Assisting in the reconciliation of general ledger
- Providing financial insight and guidance to the Project Management Team members and contributing to the enhancement of CRS
- Partner overall project management and goal congruence
- Assisting partner putting in place an adequate financial management system
- Provide partner with financial and administration training...
- Budgeting, bookkeeping, petty cash and inventory management, procurement etc
- Preparing and communicating monthly Budget Comparison Reports for projects under jurisdiction on monthly basis
- Review partner books and systems
- Assisting in designing and implementations of systems to enable partners submit monthly expense reports timely
- Reconciling partner and Country Program’s book balances on outstanding project advances using SUN and Vision 6 Systems
- Reviewing partner documents ensuring timely liquidation and preparation of project management letter
- Preparing project advance aging analysis on a monthly basis
- Participating in year end closure process by preparing schedule in line with HQ requirements
- Facilitating the audit process
Assistant Accountant & Acting Accountant
Actionaid International Malawi Limited
11.2004 - 11.2009
- Skills in reconciling bank accounts and other general ledger accounts on a timely basis whilst meeting deadlines
- Managing organisation’s bank account balances
- Maintaining a Fixed Asset Register
- Assisting in settling organisations liabilities ie preparing payments vouchers, reviewing account codes on payment vouchers and submitting vouchers on time for approval
- Skills in managing employee payroll details, processing a monthly payroll and managing the salaries control accounts
- Managing staff debtors by reconciling the staff accounts on a timely basis
- Managing External Audits – preparation and facilitation
- Managing a stock system
- Managing a filing system
- Skills in liquidating forex from donors to local currency by obtaining and comparing quotations and transacting with potential banks
- Working with partners (Community Based Organisations)
- Performing pre-award assessments on partners
- Processing grants to partners
- Justifying partner’s expenditure on projects
- Sharing financial management skills with partners and work colleagues
Finance and Administration Officer
Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM)
04.2003 - 10.2004
- Initiating the Finance office and systems (Accounting, Internal Control and Purchasing)
- Managing day to day transactions as per donor’s requirement
- Producing periodic reports to donors
- Preparing budget proposals and cash flows
- Preparing and maintaining payroll
- Processing payments
- Producing management accounts
- Managing petty cash
- Managing financial documents by filing and keeping them in a safe custody eg the cheques and expenditure supporting documents
- Administering purchases for the organisation
- Reconciling bank accounts
Education
Master of Business Administration - Finance
UNICAF University
01.2021
Bachelor in Applied Accounting - Auditing and Information Systems
Malawi College of Accountancy
01.2018
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants - Level II Fundamental Stage
Malawi College of Accountancy
01.2009
Diploma In Accounting - ACCA
Malawi College of Accountancy
01.2000
Malawi School Certificate of Education -
Kaphuka Secondary School
01.1998
Skills
- Accounts payable management
- Payroll processing
- GAAP
- Tax compliance
- Variance analysis
- Bank reconciliation
- Grant accounting
- Revenue recognition
- Audit preparation
- Expense tracking
- Financial statement preparation
- Accounts receivable management
- Cash flow forecasting
- Project accounting
- Internal controls
- ERP system proficiency
References
- Mr Peter Ngalawa, Director of Finance and Grants, AMREF Health Africa in Malawi, +265 99 989 5796, Peter.Ngalawa@amref.org
- Mr Matthew Mapfurira, Regional Finance Manager, AMREF Southern Africa Region, +263 77 170 9979, mmapfurira@hotmail.com
- Mr Orphan Chirwa, Regional Human Resource Manager, AMREF Southern Africa Region, +265 999 671 933, Orphan.Chirwa@amref.org
- Mrs Innocencia Chirombo, Finance Manager, Africare Malawi, PO Box 2346, Lilongwe, Malawi, +265 999 828280, ichirombo@cham.org.mw
- Mr Laban Nyirenda, Head of Finance, Christian Aid Malawi, P/Bag B369, Lilongwe 3, Malawi, +265 888 851 466, labannyirenda@gmail.com
Key Qualifications
- 15+ years of accounting, financial management and reporting experience
- MBA – Finance UNICAF University
- Bachelor of Applied Accounting, Auditing and Information Systems
- ACCA Level II Fundamental Stage Qualified
- Diploma (Accounting), ACCA with excellent and up-to-date knowledge of GAAP, IFRS and other regulatory frameworks.
- Current knowledge of multilateral donor rules & regulations: USG, FCDO, GAC, Scottish Government, Foreign Affairs Netherlands, IDRC, CIDA, UN, Bread for the World, GSK, Dutch Postcode Lottery etc.
- Business Development skills (Project Proposal Development)
- Advanced knowledge of MS Office; Excel (Pivot tables and Charts), Power point
- Skilled at designing and operationalizing internal controls, systems, tools and procedures.
- Exceptional analytical, oral and written communication skills; and capacity building experience.
- Ability to use financial management and accounting software e.g. Microsoft Navision (ERP), Microsoft Excel, SUN Accounting System, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power point, Internet Navigation, Vision 6 Executive, Microsoft Outlook, Sage Line 50 - basics
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure
- Excellent negotiation & relationship management skills and hands-on experience in stakeholder liaison.
- Ability to initiate, manage and quickly adapt and perform efficiently in a dynamic and culturally diverse environment.
- Participation in management meetings (Board Meetings, Senior Leadership Meetings etc)
- 4 years’ experience in Internal Procurement Committee operations
- Grants Management skills
Personal Information
- Citizenship: Malawi
- Date of Birth: 06/14/80
Accomplishments
Due to being the highest performer in 2022, i was rewarded by an exchange visit to Amref South Sudan where i shared my skills and learned other skills
Timeline
Senior Program Accountant
AMREF Health Africa
03.2021 - Current
Program Accountant
AMREF Health Africa
03.2016 - 03.2021
Assistant Accountant
AMREF Health Africa
08.2015 - 02.2016
Finance Officer- Part time
Chance for Change
08.2014 - 07.2015
Accountant
Africare
03.2013 - 06.2014
Finance Consultant
Play Football Malawi
11.2012 - 02.2013
Resource (GRANTS) Accountant
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
03.2010 - 09.2012
Assistant Accountant & Acting Accountant
Actionaid International Malawi Limited
11.2004 - 11.2009
Finance and Administration Officer
Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM)
04.2003 - 10.2004
Master of Business Administration - Finance
UNICAF University
Bachelor in Applied Accounting - Auditing and Information Systems
Malawi College of Accountancy
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants - Level II Fundamental Stage
Malawi College of Accountancy
Diploma In Accounting - ACCA
Malawi College of Accountancy
Malawi School Certificate of Education -
Kaphuka Secondary School
Similar Profiles
Viviane Inema Rutagwera SakangaViviane Inema Rutagwera Sakanga
Country Manager at Amref Health AfricaCountry Manager at Amref Health Africa
BEATRICE CHIWEZA - MBA,FCCA, CA(MW)BEATRICE CHIWEZA - MBA,FCCA, CA(MW)
HEAD oF FINANCE aND OPERATIONS- SOUTHERN AFRICA at AMREF HEALTH AFRICAHEAD oF FINANCE aND OPERATIONS- SOUTHERN AFRICA at AMREF HEALTH AFRICA
Beatrice Nyamwenge OkechBeatrice Nyamwenge Okech
Advocacy, Communications, and Campaigns Manager at Power to Youth, AMREF Health AfricaAdvocacy, Communications, and Campaigns Manager at Power to Youth, AMREF Health Africa