MWENDALUBI PETER CHILWANA
Manchester,UK
Summary
Professional with extensive experience in higher education and research administration, specializing in institutional IT systems and Oracle Finance System. Demonstrated success in financial modelling, risk management, and data analysis, achieving significant results. Proficient in Microsoft Office, Power BI, and cybersecurity, emphasizing customer service and effective multitasking. Expertise in internal controls, taxation, and business accounting practices, dedicated to enhancing financial solvency through optimized systems and precise forecasting.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Senior Research Finance Officer
University of Manchester
Manchester, Greater Manchester
01.2025 - 08.2025
- Manage substantial portfolio of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and Cancer Sciences research grants, ensuring strong post-award financial control and strategic fund management.
- Oversee full post-award lifecycle: award setup, budget allocation, expenditure monitoring, forecasting, and final reconciliation.
- Ensure compliance with CRUK terms, University financial policies, and audit requirements by interpreting complex funder rules accurately.
- Act as key financial advisor to Principal Investigators, supporting budget decisions, cost eligibility, and long-term planning.
- Review, approve, and advise on hiring requests via ECR and Jobtrain, ensuring alignment with budgets and funder restrictions.
- Process journals, budget transfers, and recharges in Oracle Financials, ensuring timely and accurate cost allocation.
- Prepare and deliver regular and ad hoc financial reports using Oracle Financials, Excel, and Power BI.
- Conduct project reviews and financial health checks to identify underspend, overspend, or end date risks and recommend actions.
- Work closely with research support, HR, procurement, and compliance teams to ensure smooth delivery and staff onboarding.
- Successfully managing workforce model for BCH,MCHE and DHS by ensuring monthly posting of journals for everyone employed under workforce model.
- Support project closures, ensuring final income is received, costs reconciled, and funder reports submitted on time.
- Identify and manage financial risks, including ineligible costs and budget variances, with appropriate mitigation.
- Maintain audit-ready documentation and support internal/external audits with accurate financial evidence.
- Contribute to process improvements and system upgrades to enhance post-award financial management.
Financial Accountant
KEDT Limited
Reading, Berkshire
05.2023 - 12.2024
- Prepared accurate monthly and quarterly management accounts, expediting reporting cycle by 20% for strategic decisions.
- Maintained and reconciled general ledger accounts, ensuring clean year-end audit with zero material issues.
- Managed statutory compliance processes, including preparation and submission of VAT and Corporation Tax returns.
- Coordinated year-end audit, reducing auditor queries by 30% through proactive reconciliation and clear trails.
- Streamlined accounts payable and receivable processes, enhancing supplier payments by 25% and shortening debtor days by 15%.
- Developed monthly cash flow forecasts, providing real-time liquidity visibility to support strategic planning.
- Oversaw payroll processing, achieving full compliance with PAYE regulations and timely employee payments.
- Strengthened internal controls by implementing formalised authorisation procedures and segregation of duties.
Senior Auditor
Audit Commission
Lusaka
10.2009 - 04.2023
- Developed annual Audit and work plans with Senior Management for easy planning and supervising auditing of given clients.
- Lead teams Auditing different Government departments by Identifying control gaps in processes, procedures and systems through in-depth research and assessment and suggested methods for improvement by conducting financial, compliance and operational audits.
- Analysed accounting systems for efficiency, economy and effectiveness by supervising and developing associates and overseeing auditing activities across operational, personnel utilisation and excessive billing areas.
- Managed internal controls and assessed risks of technology network by performing information system audits of each division of given client and supervised and facilitated financial and operational audits, working with internal and external managers to communicate recommendations or issues surrounding audit findings.
- Ensured clients complied with established internal procedures by examining reports, processes, and documentation and reviewed working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings prepared by subordinates in team.
- Performed strategic planning, supervised execution and finalisation of audit reports by reviewing audit work performed.
- Mentored and guided employees to foster proper completion of assigned duties and built strong relationships with clients through positive attitude and attentive response.
- Maintained professional knowledge by attending two (2) training and Data analytics workshops annually.
Finance and Administration Officer
Ericsson-Worldwide
Lusaka
01.2006 - 09.2009
- Organised and carried out month-end, quarterly and year-end processes such as budgeting, month end reconciliations and reports.
- Assisted with developing and ongoing control of costing and pricing systems for business goods and services for both Zambia and Malawi offices.
- Compiled general ledger entries on short schedule with 100% accuracy and timely reports such as bank, fuel and accommodation reconciliations for business.
- Generated invoices based on established accounts receivable schedules and terms using ORACLE accounting package.
- Established internal controls and set up standard procedures for business accounting systems thereby improving processes which led to efficiency.
- Prepared detailed models, reports and charts highlighting complex financial information thereby making it easy for supervisor to report on time to top management with minimal errors.
- Produced and prepared accurate tax returns complying with official requirements and serving client needs for minimising liabilities for both Zambia and Malawi.
Education
Professional Qualification - Accounting and Business
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
United KingdomHigher National Diploma - Accounting and Business
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA)
United KingdomSkills
- Knowledge of Institutional IT systems & Cybersecurity
- Oracle Finance System
- PURE
- Power BI
- Experience in Higher Education
- Experience in Research Finance Administration
- Microsoft Office
- Financial modelling
- Team management
- Customer Service
- Microsoft Excel
- Data analysis skills, Auditing & Accounting
- Multi-tasking
- Leadership
- Risk management
Certification
- CIMA/CGMA-United Kingdom
- CA-Zambia
Additional Information
Attending boot camp in cloud security with Skills city
Custom
Professional Accounting Qualifications
Personal Information
- Total Experience: 17
- Education
- Accounting
- Customer Service
- Hospitality & Tourism
- IT Operations & Helpdesk
Timeline
Senior Research Finance Officer
University of Manchester
01.2025 - 08.2025
Financial Accountant
KEDT Limited
05.2023 - 12.2024
Senior Auditor
Audit Commission
10.2009 - 04.2023
Finance and Administration Officer
Ericsson-Worldwide
01.2006 - 09.2009
Professional Qualification - Accounting and Business
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
Higher National Diploma - Accounting and Business
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA)
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