Finance Assistant: Embassy of Ireland, Maputo

Our mission is to promote and protect abroad the values, interests and economic well-being of Ireland and its people. We do this under the political direction of our Ministers, through our staff at home and through our Embassy network abroad.

The Embassy’s role is to deepen bilateral political relations between Ireland and Mozambique; serve the needs of Irish citizens; strengthen trade, tourism and investment between our countries and support the socio-economic development through a targeted development cooperation and trade programme.

The Embassy wishes to contract the services of a full-time Finance Assistant at Programme Executive Level. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the effective implementation and administration of Ireland’s development programme in Mozambique, while also providing essential support to the operational aspects of the Embassy.

Reporting to the Finance Manager, the Finance Assistant will provide support to the Finance Manager and Finance Officer with the overall objective to provide strong, efficient and effective financial management and control at mission level to ensure that the mission delivers its strategic objectives.

The Finance Assistant provides administrative support to contribute towards maintaining the financial management and internal financial control environment of the Embassy of Ireland including the development cooperation programme.

Main responsibilities

Financial Control

  • Provide administrative support to the day-to-day financial management and control to the financial resources allocated to the Embassy and Aid Programme;
  • Support the Finance Team in ensuring compliance with the Department’s Financial Procedures Manual;
  • Support the Finance Team in implementing the Counter-Fraud Policy of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade and work to ensure the risk of fraud is minimised.

Reporting

  • Support the Finance Team in the timely provision of financial information for reporting to headquarters in Ireland and to the Embassy management;
  • Support the Finance Team with the budget process and ongoing monitoring of expenditure against budget;

Financial Management

  • Day to day operation of the SUN Financial Management System, including processing transactions (payments, receipts, petty cash, journals);
  • Prepare payment processes for administration expenses and programme payments;
  • Set-up payment beneficiaries (Payees) on SUN Financial Management System;
  • Liaise with the programme team to ensure all confirmation of receipt of funds by partners are received on a timely basis;
  • Liaise with the Consular team to ensure monthly reconciliations of receipts for consular services are completed;
  • Provide assistance in the month-end close exercise;
  • Support the Finance Team with preparation of payroll.

Tax Compliance

  • Support the Finance Team in ensuring the Embassy is compliant with the local regulatory tax system, with particular emphasis on payroll taxes, pension liabilities and VAT;
  • Support the Finance Team in preparing the statutory payroll returns of IRPS and INSS, for submission to Revenue, in accordance with specified deadlines;
  • Support the Finance Team in preparing and submitting the VAT recoupment dossiers in accordance with specified deadlines, and monitor refund.

Other Responsibilities

  • Assist the Finance Team in preparing/gathering documentation, data and information for external audits, and to address queries and questions from HQ;
  • Other administrative and finance support as required.

Essential Qualifications, Skills, Experience and Competencies required:

  • A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business or related areas;
  • A high standard in English and Portuguese, both spoken and written, is essential;
  • Professional certification in Accounting (ACCA, CIMA or CPA) or already started studying professional certification in Accounting (ACCA, CIMA or CPA);
  • A minimum two years of relevant experience working in a finance function;
  • Proficiency in the Microsoft suite of applications, with advanced skills in excel;
  • Computer literacy, ability, and willingness to learn about accounting packages, and other business systems;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
  • Proactive and highly self-motivated, with a very high standard of personal integrity;
  • Drive to achieve results; systematic and organised approach to work;
  • Strong attention to detail;
  • Good analytical and organisational skills;
  • The ability to work as part of a team, with a proven capacity for delivering timely results;
  • A permanent legal right to reside and work in Mozambique.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills, Experience and Competencies, for which extra marks will be awarded:

  • Experience in the use of financial management accounting packages, Infor Sun System would be a strong advantage;
  • Experience in payroll QUANTUM system;
  • Good knowledge of the Mozambican Bank and Tax Regulations;
  • Familiarity with development cooperation project funding would be an advantage;
  • Experience working for an international organisation or NGO.

Terms and conditions of employment:

  1. The candidate will be required to complete the ACCA training programme (or other internationally recognised accountancy qualification) in 5 years. Support will be provided for study of ACCA training;
  2. The successful candidates will be hired on an initial 12 months contract with a probation period of 3 months and will be based at the Embassy office in Maputo. The role may require occasional travel within Mozambique;
  3. The salary for the position is gross €21,261.00 per annum, paid locally on a monthly basis, plus health insurance benefit and training opportunities. Salaries are paid direct to a bank account therefore the successful candidate must have a local bank account;
  4. The positions will have an annual leave allowance of 22 days per annum, exclusive of public holidays, adjusted pro rata.

How to apply:

The Application Form for this position is available at the top of this page.

Completed application forms should be sent via e-mail only to embassymaputojobs@dfa.ie with the subject line Finance Assistant.

Applications must be received before 16h30 hrs (Local time) on 11th August, 2025.

Application forms must be completed in English. No CVs will be accepted. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.

Please note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

Selection Process:

  1. Depending on the number of applications received, a short-listing of candidates to be called for a competency-based interview may be undertaken based on the Essential/Key Requirements above.
  2. It is planned that interviews will be held in before the end of August 2025.
  3. English and finance technical assessment will be included in the recruitment process;
  4. A second interview may be included in the recruitment process; and 
  5. A panel may be set up depending on the calibre of candidates.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

All personal information received will be kept in line with GDPR guidelines.

Security Clearance for Local Staff

Police security clearance will be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for appointment. Enquiries may also be made with the police force of any country in which the applicant under consideration for appointment resided. If unsuccessful this information will be destroyed. If the applicant subsequently comes under consideration for another position they will be required to supply this information again.

Please note that canvassing will disqualify applicants.

The Embassy of Ireland is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity.