Teshome Debella
About Teshome Debella
Teshome Debella serves as the Regional Finance Manager for North Ethiopia at Save the Children UK, with extensive experience in finance and administration across various organizations in Ethiopia and Afghanistan. He has held multiple managerial roles, developed finance policies, and worked with international funding agencies since the early 1990s.
Work at Save the Children
Teshome Debella has held multiple roles at Save the Children since 1993, currently serving as the Regional Finance Manager for North Ethiopia. He has also worked as the Donors Compliance Manager, overseeing grants and contracts since 2009. His responsibilities include managing financial systems and ensuring compliance with donor regulations. Teshome successfully registered Save the Children Denmark in Ethiopia, where he established a finance and administration system, including the installation of accounting software. He has developed comprehensive finance and administration policies for the organization.
Current Roles and Responsibilities
In addition to his work at Save the Children, Teshome Debella is currently the Finance Director at Catholic Relief Services, a position he has held since 2018. He also works as a Grant and Finance Manager at ActionAid International since 2007 and serves as a Regional Finance Officer at IMC in Afghanistan. His extensive experience includes managing financial systems, conducting capacity assessments for fund recipients, and overseeing the RFA/RFP selection process for partners.
Education and Expertise
Teshome Debella holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Addis Ababa University, which he completed from 1986 to 1990. He has also achieved a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from St. Mary's University, starting his studies in 2015. Additionally, he earned a certificate in NGO Management through the EU-Net Danish MoFA fellowship in 2002. He has received training in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and holds a management consultancy license.
Background and Experience
Teshome Debella has over three decades of experience in finance and administration within the non-profit sector. He has worked with various international funding agencies, including USAID, EU, and DFID, among others. His roles have involved strategic decision-making as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and managing financial systems as a local Sun System administrator. Teshome's extensive background includes developing policies and managing financial processes for several organizations.
Achievements in Financial Management
Throughout his career, Teshome Debella has successfully implemented financial systems and policies that enhance operational efficiency. He has been instrumental in establishing finance and administration frameworks for Save the Children Denmark in Ethiopia. His experience includes managing compliance with international donor regulations and conducting assessments to strengthen the capacity of fund recipients. Teshome's contributions have supported the financial integrity and accountability of the organizations he has worked with.