Updated on 01 December 2025
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Summary

Senior Accounting, Audit and Operational Manager with more than 20 years working experience in international companies in Mozambique, Angola and D.R. Congo. Fluent in Portuguese and English, practical in French and proficient in several local additional languages. Strong technical competencies and sound management, planning and organizational skills. Effective group member with highest standards of integrity and ethics, excellent communication and presentation skills and proven ability to build effective teams and cooperative relationships across the institution.

Public Profile url: Maria Bidwell

Professional Data

Industry

Banking, Finance and Insurance
Experience: 22 years

Education

University, Honors

Education

Universidade

Honors, Contabilidade e Auditoria
1999-09-01 - 2005-08-01 - Concluded
Mozambique, Maputo

Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologias de Moçambique (ISCTEM)

Honors, Degree in Accounting and Auditing
1999-08-01 - 2005-09-01 - Concluded
Mozambique, Maputo

Experience

Finance and Compliance Manager

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe Mozambique

NGOs, Development and Volunteering
2021-07-01 - Present
Mozambique, Maputo

Finance & Compliance Manager

Administration and Finance Liaison Manager

Jhpiego Maputo

NGOs, Development and Volunteering
2016-11-01 - 2020-09-01
Mozambique, Maputo

• Providing leadership to Finance and Administration Departments and ensuring that all financial transactions from all projects (CDC, DOD, MCSP, USAID, TIP TOP and MOZAL), are processed accurately, in a timely manner and according to internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations; • Authorized the disbursement of funds for payments of administrative and financial processes including salaries for all staff of existing projects across the country • Uphold the compliance risk-based framework by identifying and assessing the effectiveness of controls in place via engagement with management and, where necessary, develop actions plans to address control deficiencies or gaps identified • Developing, implementing and maintaining processes and controls of accounts payable, billing, payroll and expense reporting; • Assisting in the management of grant funding, beneficiary compliance, reconciliation and reporting; • Ad hoc financial scenario planning and preparation; • Engaging in Internal Audit planning, scheduling and execution; • Being the focal point to ensure effective, open and clear communication between Finance and Administration departments and external stakeholders; • Managing and preparing supply agreements, procurement contracts and service delivery standard compliance; • Developing and adapting processes to improve administrative productivity, efficiency and operational costs.

Finance Manager

Group 9 – Construction Lda

Construction and Infrastructure
2013-01-01 - 2020-10-01
Mozambique, Maputo

Senior Accountant

Whatana Investment SA

Public Administration and Government
2012-06-01 - 2012-12-01
Mozambique, Maputo

Sênior Auditor

Customs & Tax Consultancy LLC, USA. Based in Kinshasa, DR Congo, (Reform of Customs Dept.)

Public Administration and Government
2008-06-01 - 2010-08-01
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

• Establishing a credible and effective operational Internal Audit function; • Leading national staff through modernization and change process; • Training and equipping audit staff and managers; • Evaluating financial and information systems and control regimes to ensure system robustness, reliability and data integrity. • Introducing robust and cost-effective control measures to prevent mismanagement and irregularities and to minimize loss within revenue collection and banking and procurement services; • Supervising auditing processes and ensuring compliance with institutional and regulatory frameworks; • Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.

Sênior Auditor

Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administration Ltd, United Kingdom. Based in Luanda, Angola (Reform of Customs Dept)

Public Administration and Government
2005-08-01 - 2008-02-01
Angola

Maragra Açúcar SARL, Maputo. Sugar producer and manufacturer.

Personal Assistant to Project Director

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
1999-01-01 - 2005-03-01
Mozambique, Maputo

Personal Assistant to the Head of Human Resources

Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administration Ltd, United Kingdom. Based in Maputo (Reform of Customs Dept)

Public Administration and Government
1998-03-01 - 1999-02-01
Mozambique, Maputo

Bank Clerk

Banco Internacional de Moçambique (BIM)

Banking, Finance and Insurance
1997-01-01 - 1998-01-01
Mozambique, Maputo