Director of Finance

The Tobacco Commission
VACANCIES

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates of Malawian origin to fill the positions of Director of Tobacco Regulatory Services, Director of Finance and Director of Corporate Services, tenable at the Tobacco Commission’s Head Office in Kanengo, Lilongwe.

The organisation
The Tobacco Commission is a statutory corporation established by an Act of Parliament, the Tobacco Industry Act No. 5 of 2024. The major function of the Commission is to regulate and promote the development of the tobacco industry in Malawi. In order to fulfil its mandate effectively and efficiently, the Commission invites suitably qualified, experienced and dynamic individuals to apply for the positions advertised below.

Director of Finance (Grade TC 2)

General description of the job
The Director of Finance (DOF) will be responsible for managing and accounting for financial resources, including current and non-current assets. He or she will also be responsible for providing professional advice to promote prudent and efficient financial management and accounting practices and systems for the mobilisation, allocation and proper utilisation of financial assets and resources in accordance with the strategic goals and objectives of the Commission.

Key duties and responsibilities
– Developing the Commission’s financial strategy to ensure the Commission achieves sustainability in its operations.
– Guiding and overseeing the overall finance function in line with the Commission’s set goals and adherence to organisational and individual performance management system (PMS) requirements within all the operating areas of the finance division.
– Liaising with and supporting the work of external auditors and all other authorised oversight and evaluation processes with respect to financial performance and financial governance of the Commission.
– Formulating, scheduling and implementing work plans for the finance department.
– Timely production of monthly, quarterly and year-end financial statements with schedules.
– Preparing accounts books for external audit.
– Checking cash balances on a weekly basis.
– Preparing financial statements for the Finance, Audit and Appointments Committee and the Board.
– Preparing the annual budget in collaboration with other departments of the Commission, taking into account their input.
– Managing the Commission’s approved budget, paying special attention to budgetary expenditure control measures.
– Advising management regularly on the status of the Commission’s finances.
– Investing cash surpluses where and when possible.
– Overseeing the coordination of the development and implementation of the Commission’s strategic plan and budget, with particular attention to the efficient operational and financial performance of the Commission.
– Optimising the allocation and utilisation of limited resources in the most productive areas, so as to create maximum value for the Commission’s shareholders.
– Preparing and paying salaries and wages, and payments to Board members.
– Making reconciliations of intermediate buyer licence fees and weight licensed.
– Maintaining the fixed assets register and reconciling the ledgers’ and register’s figures.
– Making reconciliations of the Commission’s revenues: cess, licences, registration fees, impounded tobacco proceeds, penalties and interest.
– Making timely payments to the Commission’s suppliers.
– Providing dynamic and effective leadership of the department.
– Setting goals and verifiable indicators of performance, and appraising staff in the department.
– Monitoring and evaluating the performance of departments and reporting systems to ensure compliance with legal instruments governing public institutions, such as the Public Finance Management Act, Public Procurement Act and Public Audit Act.
– Preparing departmental performance reports to feed into the Chief Executive Officer’s report to the Board.

Qualifications and experience
– A bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Finance, Commerce or Business Administration or its equivalent, and a relevant master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or Business Administration or its equivalent, obtained from a recognised, reputable institution accredited by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). The candidate should be a Chartered Accountant (ACCA, CIMA or CA(M)) or a member of any relevant accounting professional institution.
– Minimum of eight (8) years of work experience in finance and accounting, with at least six (6) years at a managerial level in a reputable organisation.
– Must be a registered member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi.

Person specifications
– Strong leadership, integrity and professionalism.
– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
– Strategic thinking and the ability to translate policies into effective implementation.
– Computer literacy, including strong skills in Microsoft Office applications.
– Knowledge of performance measurement systems and government systems and procedures.
– High analytical skills and excellent report writing and presentation skills.
– Conversant with relevant accounting standards and procedures and public finance management regulatory frameworks.
– Decision making and excellent planning.
– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Appointment and remuneration
Successful candidates shall be offered a negotiable, performance-related fixed-term employment contract, with an attractive salary and benefits commensurate with qualifications and the seniority of the positions.

How to apply
Applications, including a curriculum vitae with at least three traceable referees and photocopies of relevant certificates and National Identity, should be sent to the following address or hand delivered not later than Friday, 20th November 2026:

The Comptroller
Department of Statutory Corporations
P.O. Box 30061
Capital City
Lilongwe 3

The application must be clearly marked “Application for the position of Director of Finance for the Tobacco Commission”.

Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged and will be invited for interviews at short notice.