Location: Nansana, Uganda
Employment Type: Full-Time; one year contract renewable
Reports to: AquaTrust Enterprise Manager
Closing date: 4th November 2026
1. ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION
The Ugandan Water Project (UWP), through its exclusive implementing organization, Red Rhino
Development (RRD), advances safe and sustainably managed water, sanitation, and hygiene services
across Uganda. Together, UWP and RRD design, implement, and advocate for innovative water solutions
that expand access to safe water while strengthening the systems needed to ensure those services
endure.
Founded in 2008, the Ugandan Water Project is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that
provides the strategic vision and funding for its work in Uganda. All programs are implemented
exclusively by Red Rhino Development, a Ugandan company limited by guarantee established in 2015. In
addition to implementing UWP-supported initiatives, RRD partners with other organizations to deliver
water infrastructure and related programs throughout Uganda.
AquaTrust is UWP and RRD’s flagship water service enterprise. Co-designed by the two organizations and
operated by RRD, AquaTrust provides professional operation and maintenance services for rural water
infrastructure while pioneering a financially sustainable model for reliable water service delivery.
Currently incubated by UWP, AquaTrust is transitioning into a standalone enterprise positioned to become
a leading provider of professionally managed rural water services in Uganda.
2. AQUATRUST PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Millions of Ugandans rely on water infrastructure that too often fails because it lacks professional
operation and maintenance. AquaTrust was created to change that. Rather than treating water points as
one-time installations, AquaTrust delivers reliable, continuous water service through preventative
maintenance, rapid repairs, professional utility operations, and customer-focused service delivery. Today,
AquaTrust maintains community hand pumps and solar-powered piped water systems, achieving more
than 99.7% uptime while working in close partnership with district governments and local communities.
AquaTrust’s financial model blends catalyst grants, outcomes-based funding, impact investment, and
customer-generated revenue into a single, self-reinforcing system: grants fund infrastructure installation,
impact investment scales household connections, and community fees cover enterprise operating costs.
As AquaTrust scales into new districts and grows its customer base, the strength of its financial systems,
controls, and reporting will directly determine how quickly, and how sustainably, it can grow.
3. WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS
The AquaTrust Finance Officer will lead the enterprise’s financial operations as it transitions from an
incubated program into a standalone, investment-ready utility. This role is responsible for the accuracy,
integrity, and strategic use of AquaTrust’s financial systems, from day-to-day accounting and payroll to
donor compliance, audit readiness, and long-term financial planning. As AquaTrust’s customer base,
revenue, and portfolio of managed systems grow, this role will ensure that financial management scales
alongside operations, providing the controls, reporting, and forecasting needed to responsibly manage
growth and build confidence with funders, investors, and government partners.
Reporting to the AquaTrust Enterprise Manager, the Finance Officer will lead AquaTrust’s finance function
and supervise accounting staff, working closely with Construction, Utility Operations, and Sales &
Marketing leads to ground financial decisions in accurate, timely data.
4. WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
This role is critical to AquaTrust’s credibility as a financially sustainable enterprise. Every household
served, every district entered, and every dollar of philanthropic or investment capital deployed depends on
financial systems that are accurate, transparent, and disciplined. Strong financial management protects
the trust that customers place in AquaTrust when they pay their fees, the trust that funders and investors
place in AquaTrust when they provide capital, and the trust that government partners place in AquaTrust
as a legitimate, accountable service provider. Success in this role means an enterprise with the financial
foundation to grow responsibly, report with confidence, and prove that professionally managed rural
water service can also be financially sustainable.
5. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Character: Leads with integrity, humility, accountability, and sound judgment. Takes ownership, follows
through on commitments, and earns the trust of colleagues, customers, partners, and the government.
Financial Judgment: Balances compliance, controls, and reporting accuracy with the practical demands
of a growing, market-facing enterprise. Treats financial integrity as non-negotiable — every number must
be one that funders, investors, and leadership can trust without question.
Accountability & Trust: Meticulous, disciplined, and unwavering on accuracy. Understands that trust —
from customers, funders, and investors alike — is built one accurate report at a time, and is energized by
building the financial backbone of an organization scaling from incubation into independence.
Leadership: A builder of systems and people. Develops and mentors staff, establishes clear
accountability, and creates a culture of accuracy, discipline, and continuous improvement.
6. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Financial Management & Reporting
● Prepare and present timely, accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including
variance analysis, forecasts, and performance insights for AquaTrust leadership.
● Lead preparation of statutory financial statements in compliance with IFRS, GAAP, and applicable
Ugandan financial regulations.
● Monitor cash flow, accounts receivable and payable, and establish strong financial controls,
policies, and procedures to safeguard AquaTrust’s assets and ensure financial sustainability.
● Coordinate with external and internal auditors and maintain documentation and audit trails across
all activity, including donor-funded and investment-financed projects, to ensure audit readiness.
● Partner with the AquaTrust Enterprise Manager, functional leads, and finance staff across UWP
and RRD to develop and monitor financial plans, ensuring consistent policies and aligned
reporting across the organization.
B. Donor & Project Financial Management
● Ensure accurate project accounting, billing, and reporting in compliance with donor requirements,
including performance-based contracts tied to service metrics such as system uptime.
● Monitor project-specific financial risks and provide funders and leadership with timely updates,
summaries, and closeout reports.
C. Revenue, Billing & Enterprise Sustainability
● Oversee AquaTrust’s customer billing systems, ensuring accurate, timely collection of hand pump
and piped system service fees, along with prompt receipt generation and delivery.
● Develop investment-ready financial systems, budgets, forecasts, and performance reporting that
ensure revenue is tracked, allocated, and reinvested appropriately, supporting current funding
structures and future financing opportunities.
D. Team Leadership & Capacity Building
● Supervise, mentor, and develop AquaTrust’s finance and accounting staff, ensuring clarity of roles,
accountability, and a performance-driven culture.
● Foster collaboration across finance, construction, operations, and sales teams to ensure financial
discipline is embedded in day-to-day decision-making.
E. Payroll & Statutory Compliance
● Oversee payroll management for AquaTrust staff, ensuring accuracy, timely tax filing and
remittance, and full compliance with statutory requirements.
● Align payroll systems and financial controls with internal policies and applicable Ugandan labor
and tax law.
7. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
RRD & AquaTrust – Uganda: AquaTrust Enterprise Manger, Senior Program Manager, Country Director,
Finance Team, Construction Lead, Utility Operations Lead, Sales & Marketing Lead, M&E Team.
UWP – USA: CEO, Operations Director, Program Director, Program Manager, and Finance Director.
External: External Auditors, Financial Institutions, District Water Offices, Ministry of Water & Environment,
Funders, Impact Investors, and Development Partners.
8. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
● Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Commerce, Business Administration or a
related field.
● 3+ years of progressive experience in financial management
● Demonstrated experience in a utility, infrastructure, or donor-funded sector.
● Advanced knowledge of accounting systems, preferably QuickBooks.
● In-depth understanding of IFRS, GAAP, and local financial regulations.
● Proven ability to manage donor reporting, grants compliance, and project-level financial controls.
● Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
● Willingness to travel periodically to support field-level financial processes.
9. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
● Professional qualification such as ACCA, CPA, CIMA, or equivalent is an added advantage.
● Experience with outcomes-based or performance-based funding contracts.
● Experience managing finances for a market-based or revenue-generating social enterprise.
● Familiarity with the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework.
● Experience using mWater or other digital data management and reporting platforms.
● Experience working alongside local, district, or national government institutions.
● Experience in WASH programming or community development.
● Fluency in one or more local Ugandan languages is an added advantage.
10. WHAT THIS ROLE REQUIRES
This role will be demanding – rapid growth can strain financial systems, controls, and reporting capacity.
As AquaTrust expands into new districts, grows its customer base, and layers in new revenue streams
and financing mechanisms, the Finance Officer must bring precision, discipline, and foresight. Success
requires a leader who can maintain rigorous financial controls while adapting systems to keep pace with
an enterprise that is growing quickly and evolving in real time.
11. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Success in this role will be demonstrated by financial reporting that is accurate, timely, and trusted by
leadership, funders, and investors; clean audit findings and strong financial controls; donor and grant
compliance maintained across all funding streams; billing and collections systems that reliably capture
customer revenue; investment-ready financial systems that support AquaTrust’s next round of growth
financing; and a finance team that operates with accountability, accuracy, and low turnover. Ultimately,
success means AquaTrust’s financial foundation is strong enough to support its transition into a
standalone, financially sustainable enterprise.
12. YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS
In your first 90 days, you will lay the foundation for AquaTrust’s financial next phase by developing a deep
understanding of AquaTrust’s revenue model, funding streams, and financial systems; building strong
relationships with the AquaTrust Enterprise Manager, finance staff, and key internal and external
stakeholders; evaluating current financial controls, reporting processes, and systems to identify strengths
and gaps; establishing clear expectations and accountability across the finance function; and developing
a roadmap to strengthen AquaTrust’s financial systems. Success will be visible through improved
reporting discipline, stronger financial controls, and a finance team prepared for enterprise growth.
13. OUR VALUES
Success at RRD/UWP begins with shared values. The ideal candidate demonstrates the attitudes, attributes,
and aspirations reflected in our Values below.
● Integrity: Do what is right because it’s right, even when nobody is watching.
● Expertise: Always learn. Pursue excellence in our job, industry, and context.
● Community: Build healthy, vibrant relationships serving one another.
● Generosity: Always share & add high value to others.
● Agility: Work with urgency, act swiftly, and remain flexible.
14. HOW TO APPLY
If you are excited by ownership, challenge, and meaningful impact and believe you can help build
AquaTrust’s growth story we want to hear from you. Send your application with a cover letter that
introduces us to who you are not just what you do, CV and copies of qualification and other documents to
dorothy@ugandanwaterproject.com