Financial Controller
About Onja
Onja is a social enterprise training underprivileged youth into world-class software developers.
We find the brightest students in Madagascar who can’t afford to continue their education and train them in English language and software development. After just two-and-a-half years they are ready to work as remote front-end software developers in international tech teams.
Once in a job, our developers earn a good salary that helps them support their families and pay forward the opportunity to a new wave of students. They unlock exciting careers that fulfil their potential, and accelerate the development of their nation (see ‘How Onja Works’ below).
Our first cohort, ‘Wave 1’, consists of nineteen talented and committed graduates who are now working remotely for our partner companies in Europe and the US. With this immensely successful first cohort, and a proven social model, our goal is now to scale our impact: we aim to take on 360 new students over the next four years.
Our fast-growing team is very united, committed to the mission, and hardworking, but we also maintain a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere that you’ll find everywhere in Madagascar.
Onja is in Toamasina, a lively city with beautiful beaches, nice restaurants, and plenty to do and see. Toamasina is Madagascar’s second-largest city (population 300,000) yet is surrounded by plenty of natural beauty and even has a national park nearby.
About the role
Are you passionate about creating a positive change in your community? Would you like to be part of the pioneering team of a fast-growing social enterprise and experience an English-speaking, multicultural work environment? Are you proactive and like getting things done?
At Onja, we believe in the potential people have regardless of their background. We upskill underprivileged youth to work as software developers and allow Malagasy youth to accelerate Madagascar’s development.
We believe in hiring based on skills, attitude and cultural fit rather than specific qualifications.
Responsibilities
Your mission as our Financial Controller is to lead and be in charge of Onja’s finances. You will work with our Finance Team and together you will be in charge of everything finance-related. This will include:
- Overseeing and managing all accounting operations, including:
- Payroll
- Client invoicing / AR
- AP - supplier payments / employee reimbursements / cash expenses
- Review of information within accounting software (Xero)
- GL, balance sheet and cash management
- Financial planning and analysis, including budgeting and forecasting
- Preparing monthly management reports and quarterly financial statements and overseeing the month-end process.
- Annual statutory reporting (New Zealand and Madagascar)
- Evaluating and improving accounting systems, processes and internal controls
- Ensuring all financial controls are operating effectively, or ensuring management actions are undertaken to address any control deficiencies
- Tax compliance (New Zealand and Madagascar)
- Managing all financial risks within set risk appetite levels
- Responsible for and coordinating all financial-related activities for stakeholders including management; 3rd party donors; external auditors, regulators and tax authorities
Onja is a social enterprise with a sustainable model:
- Search for brilliant minds who would otherwise be limited to low-paid, unfulfilling careers.
- Students receive two years of English and software development instruction. Meet a developer here: https://onja.org/blog
- Graduates earn (and continue learning) at our outsourcing enterprise.
- All profits are used to train the next wave of students and the cycle begins again.
We want our hiring process to be fair and inclusive, so please do let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make. For example, if you are neurodivergent, we can accommodate and discuss modifications to our hiring process with you.