Vacancies and How to Get a Job at Concern Worldwide (Salary, Roles & Application Guide)

Concern Worldwide is recruiting a Country Financial Controller in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The position offers an opportunity for an experienced finance professional to lead financial management, oversee donor-funded budgets and strengthen financial controls within an international humanitarian organisation.

For professionals searching for Concern Worldwide jobs in Sierra Leone 2026, this fixed-term opportunity is suited to candidates with recognised accounting qualifications, strong financial management experience and fluency in French.

The application deadline is 5 November 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian and development organisation working to reduce extreme poverty and improve living conditions in vulnerable communities. Its programmes cover health, education, livelihoods and emergency response, with a strong focus on equality and safeguarding.

Concern has operated in Sierra Leone since 1996, with activities in Freetown, Western Area Rural, Tonkolili and Port Loko.

Managing the finances of an organisation working across several locations requires strong accounting systems, proper donor reporting and effective controls. The Country Financial Controller will play a central role in ensuring that funds are managed responsibly and that programme teams receive reliable financial information.

Available Position

• Country Financial Controller – Freetown, Sierra Leone

1. Country Financial Controller

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone, with regular travel to programme locations
Employment type: Fixed-term contract
Reports to: Country Director
Application deadline: 5 November 2026

What You'll Do

The Country Financial Controller will lead Concern Worldwide Sierra Leone's finance function, ensuring that financial systems, reporting and internal controls meet organisational requirements and donor conditions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing financial systems, cashbooks, ledgers, bank reconciliations and other accounting records.
• Monitoring internal controls to reduce the risk of fraud, misuse of funds and financial errors.
• Preparing and reviewing annual country budgets, donor budgets and revised financial plans.
• Producing monthly management accounts and explaining significant budget variances to senior management.
• Ensuring donor financial reports are accurate, complete and submitted on time.
• Managing compliance with local statutory requirements, including relevant tax obligations and financial reporting.
• Leading and developing the country finance team through coaching, training and performance reviews.
• Monitoring financial management by local partners and helping them correct weaknesses in their reporting systems.
• Coordinating internal, external and donor audits and implementing recommendations.
• Maintaining accurate records of assets, grants, programme expenditure and participant payments.
• Supporting financial planning and strategic decisions as a member of the Country Management Team.

The role combines technical accounting with leadership. The successful candidate must be able to guide finance staff, advise senior managers and ensure that financial information supports responsible programme decisions.

Who This Role Is Best For

This vacancy is aimed at experienced accounting and finance professionals who have worked in international development, humanitarian organisations or similar institutions.

The stated requirements include:

• A recognised accountancy qualification, such as CPA, ACA or ACCA.
• At least three years of post-qualification experience in Concern Worldwide or a similar organisation, preferably in an international staff capacity.
• Experience managing large budgets funded by multiple donors, particularly organisations such as ECHO and OCHA.
• Experience developing the technical and management capabilities of staff.
• Full fluency in French and a good working knowledge of English.

Additional advantages include knowledge of development issues, experience with macroeconomic or fiscal policy, strong Microsoft Office skills and the ability to lead diverse teams.

Applicants should also demonstrate strong planning, negotiation and communication skills, together with a commitment to accountability, equality and safeguarding.

Estimated Salary

Salary: Negotiable based on experience.

The vacancy notice does not disclose a specific salary amount. Candidates should confirm the compensation package and employment conditions during the recruitment process.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should prepare the following documents:

• An application letter explaining how they meet the selection criteria.
• An updated CV containing the names and full contact addresses of three referees, including the current or most recent employer.
• The position or title of each referee and their relationship to the applicant.
• A copy of a valid labour card.

The successful candidate will also be required to provide police clearance.

Send your application to info.sl@concern.net.

Use Country Financial Controller as the email subject so the recruitment team can identify the position you are applying for.

Deadline: 5 November 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

How to Increase Your Chances

Demonstrate donor finance expertise. Highlight your experience managing grant budgets, preparing donor reports and ensuring expenditure complies with funding agreements.

Show your leadership ability. Explain how you have supervised finance teams, developed staff skills or improved financial reporting procedures.

Highlight internal controls and audit experience. Give practical examples of resolving financial discrepancies, strengthening controls or implementing audit recommendations.

Make your French proficiency clear. Full fluency in French is an essential requirement. Your application should clearly demonstrate your language ability alongside your working knowledge of English.

Explain your experience with international organisations. If you have worked with humanitarian agencies, NGOs or similar institutions, highlight your knowledge of donor compliance, partner finance oversight and financial accountability.

Use measurable achievements. Where possible, describe improvements you have delivered in budgeting, reporting accuracy, audit readiness or financial controls. Include only figures that you can substantiate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without a recognised accounting qualification or the required post-qualification experience.
• Failing to demonstrate fluency in French.
• Submitting a generic application letter that does not address the selection criteria.
• Omitting the required labour card or the details of three referees.
• Using an incorrect email subject or leaving out essential contact information.
• Submitting the application after the stated deadline.

Concern Worldwide also requires staff to comply with its code of conduct and safeguarding policies. Applicants should be prepared for the relevant reference and background checks.

Final Advice

The Country Financial Controller vacancy offers an opportunity for an experienced finance professional to support humanitarian programmes while leading financial management in Sierra Leone.

Before applying, ensure that your qualifications, donor finance experience and language skills meet the requirements. Prepare a focused application letter and CV, include all the requested supporting documents and submit them to info.sl@concern.net before 5 November 2026.

For more jobs in Sierra Leone 2026, follow official NGO recruitment announcements and tailor each application to the organisation's specific requirements.