The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) is a high-impact, pan-African platform advancing sustainable cooling solutions to support climate resilience, food systems, public health, and economic development.

Operating at the intersection of innovation, capacity building, and investment, ACES combines:

• A pan-African Institute for training and certification
• An INGO platform delivering donor-funded programmes
• A growing commercial and investment arm supporting scalable solutions

ACES is now entering a critical phase of growth—transitioning from donor dependence towards a financially sustainable and investment-ready institution.

Responsibilities or duties

1. Financial Management & Control

• Lead overall financial operations, including accounting, reporting, and transaction management
• Develop and manage budgets, financial forecasts, and cash flow planning
• Monitor financial performance and ensure adequate liquidity
• Prepare high-quality monthly and annual financial reports for management and Board oversight
• Establish and maintain robust internal controls, policies, and procedures
• Ensure compliance with statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements
• Lead audit processes, including statutory and donor audits
• Oversee payroll and financial administration

2. Grants & Donor Management

• Oversee the full lifecycle of grant management, ensuring compliance with donor requirements
• Coordinate with programme teams on planning, budgeting, and fund utilisation
• Lead preparation of donor financial reports and budgets
• Maintain strong relationships with donors and partners
• Oversee sub-grantee financial management, including due diligence and monitoring
• Strengthen systems for grant tracking and accountability

3. Revenue, Investment & Strategic Finance

• Develop and implement revenue models for training, certification, and services
• Support diversification of income streams
• Contribute to fundraising strategies and funding proposals
• Develop financial models, forecasts, and investment materials (pitch decks, data rooms)
• Support engagement with investors and development finance institutions
• Contribute to structuring financing approaches, including blended finance
• Align financial strategy with ACES’ long-term growth objectives

4. Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Build and lead a high-performing finance and grants team
• Strengthen financial management capacity across the organisation
• Promote accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement

5. Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

• Present financial insights to senior management and the Board
• Support governance processes, including audit and risk oversight
• Ensure clear financial communication with stakeholders

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field
• Professional qualification (CFA, CPA, ACCA, or CIMA) required
• ESG or Sustainable Investing certification is an added advantage

Experience & Competencies

• Proven experience in senior finance roles, including grants management
• Experience in impact investment, climate finance, or development finance
• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills
• Experience developing financial strategies and funding frameworks
• Familiarity with donor funding and blended finance structures
• Experience engaging with donors, investors, or DFIs
• Strong leadership and team management experience

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills
• High integrity and professionalism
• Ability to thrive in a fast-growing environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills

Why Join ACES

This is a unique opportunity to help shape a pan-African institution at the forefront of climate, infrastructure, and sustainable development.

The successful candidate will contribute to building:

• A financially sustainable organisation
• Innovative funding and investment models
• A platform for scaling impact across Africa

• Lead overall financial operations, including accounting, reporting, and transaction management
• Develop and manage budgets, financial forecasts, and cash flow planning
• Monitor financial performance and ensure adequate liquidity
• Prepare high-quality monthly and annual financial reports for management and Board oversight
• Establish and maintain robust internal controls, policies, and procedures
• Ensure compliance with statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements
• Lead audit processes, including statutory and donor audits
• Oversee payroll and financial administration
• Oversee the full lifecycle of grant management, ensuring compliance with donor requirements
• Coordinate with programme teams on planning, budgeting, and fund utilisation
• Lead preparation of donor financial reports and budgets
• Maintain strong relationships with donors and partners
• Oversee sub-grantee financial management, including due diligence and monitoring
• Strengthen systems for grant tracking and accountability
• Develop and implement revenue models for training, certification, and services
• Support diversification of income streams
• Contribute to fundraising strategies and funding proposals
• Develop financial models, forecasts, and investment materials (pitch decks, data rooms)
• Support engagement with investors and development finance institutions
• Contribute to structuring financing approaches, including blended finance
• Align financial strategy with ACES’ long-term growth objectives
• Build and lead a high-performing finance and grants team
• Strengthen financial management capacity across the organisation
• Promote accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement
• Present financial insights to senior management and the Board
• Support governance processes, including audit and risk oversight
• Ensure clear financial communication with stakeholders

• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills
• Strong leadership and team management experience
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field
• Professional qualification (CFA, CPA, ACCA, or CIMA) required
• ESG or Sustainable Investing certification is an added advantage
• Proven experience in senior finance roles, including grants management
• Experience in impact investment, climate finance, or development finance
• Experience developing financial strategies and funding frameworks
• Familiarity with donor funding and blended finance structures
• Experience engaging with donors, investors, or DFIs