The posting
1. About Us
Shelter For Life International (SFL) is an international faith-based relief and development organization with over 30 years' experience in providing sustainable development and humanitarian assistance to post-conflict countries around the world. We are currently operational in Afghanistan, West Africa, and Ukraine, with headquarters located in Minnetonka, MN, USA. Our team provides support and assistance in the following areas:
- Population Movement and Settlement
- Public Infrastructure Reconstruction
- Economic and Social Development
Our mission is to demonstrate God's love by enabling people affected by conflict and disaster to restore their lives and rebuild their communities. To learn more about us, please visit www.shelter.org.
2. Position Summary
Shelter For Life International (SFL) is anticipating a project in West Africa with a focus on managing migrant movement within the region. Included in the Project's objectives will be structured movement and resettlement of migrants within and outside Guinea-Bissau, while providing basic food, shelter, and other humanitarian assistance.
Shelter For Life is seeking a Finance / Accounting Coordinator to manage the financial operations of the project and to ensure that every dollar spent is recorded accurately, spent appropriately, and supported by documentation that will withstand audit. The Coordinator will maintain the project accounts, manage cash and treasury requirements across project locations, monitor the budget against the implementation plan, and prepare the financial information required by the donor and by headquarters. The position works closely with the Logistics and Procurement Manager on payment verification and with the Monitoring and Evaluation team on the reconciliation of cash assistance to beneficiary records. The position will be based in Bissau city, Guinea-Bissau.
3. Areas of Responsibility
Financial Management and Accounting
- Maintain complete and timely project accounting records in the SFL accounting system, including cash, bank and payable transactions.
- Perform monthly closing, including bank and cash reconciliations, and submit the monthly financial package to headquarters within the required deadline.
- Ensure correct coding of all transactions to donor, project, objective and cost category.
- Maintain orderly and complete financial filing, in hard copy and electronically, so that any transaction can be traced to its supporting documentation.
Cash and Treasury Management
- Prepare cash forecasts and manage fund requests to headquarters so that project locations hold sufficient but not excessive liquidity.
- Manage bank relationships and account operations for the project.
- Administer staff cash advances and ensure timely liquidation with complete supporting documentation.
- Conduct and document regular cash counts, and maintain the security of cash held on premises.
- Support the financial arrangements for cash assistance to beneficiaries, including reconciliation of amounts disbursed against distribution records held by the project data system.
Budget Management and Donor Compliance
- Monitor expenditure against the approved budget and prepare budget versus actual analysis for project management.
- Track burn rate against the implementation workplan and alert the Project Manager to over- or under-spending in good time.
- Apply donor cost principles when reviewing expenditure, and refer questions of allowability to the Project Manager and headquarters before commitment.
- Maintain the cost allocation methodology for shared costs and apply it consistently.
- Support the preparation of budget realignments, modifications and no-cost extensions.
Payments and Payroll
- Review payment requests for completeness, accuracy and compliance before release, including verification of procurement documentation.
- Process supplier and service payments in line with approval thresholds and the delegation of authority.
- Prepare and process payroll, and ensure correct calculation and timely remittance of statutory deductions and employer contributions.
- Maintain compliance with local tax and social security obligations for the project.
Internal Control, Audit and Reporting
- Apply and monitor internal controls, including segregation of duties between requesting, approving, paying and recording.
- Prepare financial reports for the donor, for headquarters and for project management as required.
- Prepare for and support internal and external audits, and implement audit recommendations.
- Report any suspected fraud, misuse of funds or control breakdown through the established channel without delay.
- Train project staff on financial procedures, documentation standards, and advance liquidation requirements.
4. Education and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field. A professional qualification such as ACCA, CPA or equivalent is preferred.
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience, of which at least three years with a non-governmental organisation.
- Demonstrated experience managing grant finances under institutional donor rules is required. Experience with United States Government funding is strongly preferred.
- Experience with the financial management of cash-based assistance is preferred.
- Knowledge and practical use of accounting software, preferably QuickBooks.
- Experience preparing for and supporting external audits is required.
5. Personal Skills and Abilities
- Strong command of computerised accounting systems and advanced Excel.
- Working knowledge of Guinea Bissau tax, payroll and statutory contribution requirements.
- Accurate, methodical work and the ability to meet closing and reporting deadlines consistently.
- Clear financial reporting and the ability to explain financial information to non-finance colleagues.
- Demonstrated personal integrity and the confidence to decline or question a transaction that does not meet requirements.
- Portuguese and Guinea-Bissau Creole required. Working proficiency in English required for donor and headquarters reporting. French is an asset.
SFL is interested in applicants whose professional ethics, values, and determination to achieve impact are evident and aligned with organizational priorities.
6. Additional Notes
- This position is contingent upon donor funding and final award of the project.
- The position requires travel to project locations and distribution sites for cash reconciliation, spot checks and verification of supporting documentation.
- The post-holder will be subject to enhanced background checks given the financial responsibility attached to the role.
- The position is separate from the distribution function. The Coordinator reconciles and verifies cash assistance but does not disburse it to beneficiaries.
7. How to Apply
Please apply through SFL’s online application portal at the Application link. Applications sent by email or by any other means will not be considered.
Upload your resume and a cover letter, both in English. Your resume should present your work experience in chronological order, with enough detail for the review team to assess your qualifications and experience. Your cover letter should describe how your professional experience relates to the areas set out in the Position Summary above. Please include the name, telephone number, and email address of at least two references who do not work for your current employer.
Applications must be submitted by November 19, 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
8. Notes to Applicants
We appreciate your interest in joining the Shelter For Life team. Applications will be reviewed carefully, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Shelter For Life International is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages female candidates and individuals from all backgrounds to apply.
SFL is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people in the communities we serve, including children and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and applicable background checks.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed and amended by SFL as the needs of the organization require. The post-holder may be asked to carry out other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.
