Finance Manager

The National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) is a statutory organization established by the Water Resources Act of 2013 with a specific function to regulate and manage water resources. Furthermore, the NWRA seeks to ensure the sustainable use of water resources and address the water resources planning, development, and management challenges.

In its effort to sustainably manage water resources, the NWRA seeks to recruit additional members of staff tenable at the Authority. In this regard, NWRA invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the following vacant position:

Job Title: Finance Manager
Department: Finance and Administration
Grade: NW3
Reporting to : Director of Finance and Administration
Responsible for : Accountant; Assistant Accountant

Job overview

To lead financial. accountina and revenue manacement services for the NWRA, ensuring that financial resources are collected, safeguarded and used effectively, efficiently and accountably to support the regulation, management and conservation of water resources. The role oversees accurate billing, timely revenue collection, expenditure control and reliable financial reporting in accordance with applicable legislation and approved policies.

Duties and responsibilities

Financial Management, Governance and Reporting

• Lead the Finance Division, establish work plans and reporting deadlines, and ensure timely supplier payments and expenditure returns.
• Monitor and control expenditure, identify financial risks and recommend corrective action to protect the Authority’s operations.
• Oversee payroll, supplier and statutory payments, ensuring that requisitions are supported, authorised and processed promptly in accordance with approved procedures.
• Ensure that applicable taxes and statutory deductions are correctly calculated, deducted and remitted within prescribed timeframes.
• Maintain effective internal financial controls, including segregation of duties, approval limits, reconciliations and safeguards against fraud and revenue leakage, in liaison with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure that payments relating to procurement are supported by documentation and the required approvals, including those of the Internal Procurement and Disposal of Assets Committee (IPDAC), where applicable.
• Oversee the fixed-asset register, asset verification, accounting and disposal controls for all NWRA fixed assets.
• Monitor daily bank balances, prepare cash-flow forecasts and manage liquidity to support regulatory operations and approved commitments.
• Coordinate responses to internal and external audit queries, attend relevant meetings and track implementation of agreed corrective actions.
• Prepare final expenditure accounts, periodic management accounts and annual financial statements in accordance with applicable reporting requirements.
• Coordinate preparation of annual budgets with Department Heads and submit them through approved NWRA governance process.
• Report budget variances and overruns, advise on corrective measures and process budget adjustments only within approved authority.
• Maintain accurate books of account and supporting records for management decisions, reporting and audit advise Departments on financial administration standards and procedures.
• Provide complete financial records and assistance to internal and external auditors and ensure that audit trails are retained.
• Supervise and develop the Accountant and Assistant Accountant, allocate responsibilities and ensure an effective financial administration and management service.

Revenue Management and Regulatory Coordination

• Lead revenue planning, forecasting and collection for legally applicable water abstraction and use charges, licence and permit fees, effluent discharge charges and other authorised income; apply only approved fee schedules and lawful exemptions.
• Oversee accurate and timely billing by reconciling water-user, licence and permit registers with finance records, and validating chargeable activities, billing periods and applicable rates with regulatory teams.
• Coordinate with licensing, technical and regional teams to verify abstraction and effluent returns and relevant measurement data used for billing; investigate missing returns, unbilled accounts and discrepancies.
• Maintain complete revenue and debtor records, issue invoices and official receipts, allocate payments to the correct accounts, and reconcile billing records, collection channels, bank deposits and the general ledger.
• Manage receivables through regular debtor-ageing reviews, payment reminders and documented follow-up; refer overdue or disputed accounts to legal and regulatory teams for action within their lawful powers.
• Ensure that interest, penalties, payment arrangements, refunds, adjustments, waivers and write-offs are processed only where legally permitted and supported by the required approvals and audit trail.
• Establish controls over cash and electronic collections, banking and access to revenue systems; reconcile collections made through any authorised agents and investigate delayed remittances, losses or irregularities.
• Prepare monthly revenue reports showing amounts billed and collected, performance against budget, outstanding arrears by age, disputed balances and corrective actions; recommend improvements to collection effectiveness.
• Analyse revenue trends and provide financial input into reviews of fees and charges, subject to statutory consultation and approval requirements, while supporting sustainable water-resource management.
• Ensure that revenue from permit charges and licence fees is accounted for and applied in accordance with applicable legislation and approved budgets, supporting water-resource regulation, monitoring and conservation.
• Improve links between accounting, billing and licensing systems and provide clear payment guidance to water users, coordinating resolution of billing enquiries without assuming technical licensing or enforcement powers.

Minimum Qualifications and Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, with four (4) years of relevant work experience in a managerial position.
• A master’s degree in finance or accounting and a full professional qualification such as ACCA, CIMA, ICAM or ACA will be an added advantage.

Additional Skills and Abilities

• Sound knowledge of financial management, budgeting, internal controls and financial reporting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Strong analytical skills, including revenue forecasting, debtor ageing and variance analysis.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-coordination skills.
• Working knowledge of accounting packages such as SAGE, QuickBooks Online Advanced and tompol, and the ability to work with billing and revenue-management systems.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to accuracy in financial records.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet reporting and payment deadlines.
• Teamwork and leadership skills, including coaching and developing employees.
• Sound judgement, clear communication and effective negotiation skills.
• Understanding of the applicable water-resource regulatory framework and authorised fees, charges and revenue procedures.
• Ability to reconcile licensing and water-use data with billing, debtor and banking records, and resolve discrepancies.
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality and accountability in handling public funds and water-user information.

How to apply

The NWRA is an equal opportunity employer. Therefore, both male and female persons, who meet the prerequisite qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply. An attractive remuneration package comprising a competitive salary and benefits will be offered to the successful candidates.

Eligible candidates who meet the above requirements are invited to submit their applications, accompanied by an up-to-date and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV), certified copies of relevant academic and professional certificates, and the names and contact addresses of three (3) traceable referees.

Applications should be submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked with the title of the position being applied for and addressed to the address provided below. All applications must be received no later than 30th November 2026.

The Chief Executive Officer,
National Water Resources Authority (NWRA),
TAURUS House,
Private Bag 363,
Lilongwe 3.

Late applications shall not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged and invited for interviews.