Finance and Management Information Section
Chris Luswata
Chris heads the Finance and Management Information Section (FMIS) in the Corporate Services Division of the Secretariat. FMIS is responsible for the financial and management accounting functions of the Secretariat. This broadly includes management of the Secretariat's financial resources and system production of financial accounts, budgets, accounts payable, accounts receivable, travel, payroll and pensions.
Chris joined the Secretariat in January 2004. He is a Chartered Management Accountant with significant financial and management experience in public sector organisations and enterprises.
Edmund Asika
Edmund is an interim Management Accountant in the Finance and Management Information Section. He is a Chartered Certified Accountant and has over ten years experience at a senior level in the non-profit sector. He has managed different finance teams at Christian Aid, Centrepoint and Hackney Community Transport.
Irene Buazon
As Reconciliations Officer in Payments Section within the Finance and Management Information Section, Irene is responsible for carrying out monthly reconciliations for balance sheet accounts for all of the Secretariat's funds, including determining monthly inter-fund balances necessary for regular settlement. She assists the Financial Accountant in the preparation for annual audit of the funds' financial statements and provides the necessary support to the team in ensuring adherence to financial controls and procedures.
Syed Rizvi
Syed is the Finance Officer in the Financial and Management Information Section’s Treasury team. He is responsible for local and overseas bank accounts reconciliations.
Syed provides support to the Financial Controller in organising and maintaining a reliable system for cash flow management. This involves monitoring daily bank balances, providing advice on investments, and liaising with local and overseas banks. He also works with the Accounts Payable and Revenues teams.
Syed has a master’s degree in Commerce and another master’s in International Management. He has twelve years experience in Treasury and Finance.
David Lartey
David is a Management Accounts Assistant working in the Finance and Management Information Section. He reports on the financial performance of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, which includes the four Regional Centres based in Lusaka, Chandigarh, Honiara and Guyana. David also assists in other management accounting duties relating to both the Secretariat and Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation funds.
Before joining the Secretariat in March 2006, David worked in the charity sector with NCH in their Finance and Management Accounts team.
Lucie Shigikile
As the Finance Officer in Payments Section in the Finance & Management Information Section, Lucie is responsible for the review of all Secretariat payment requests against current financial controls ensuring they meet the audit requirements. She also supports the Financial Controller in putting systems in place to improve procedures and processes in this area.
She is the main point of contact for payment related queries, taking responsibility for their satisfactory resolution. Lucie supervises a team of four.
Vesselina Georgieva
Vesselina is a Systems Accountant at the Commonwealth Secretariat. The role involves administration and maintenance of the finance applications used by the Secretariat.
Prior to joining the Secretariat in July 2007, Vesselina worked as a Finance Systems (Coda) Administrator at the Natural History Museum.
She has an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Financial Control and a master’s in Computing and Information Systems.
Susan Lusala
As Finance Assistant in the Payments Section within the Finance and Management Information Section, Susan's main duties include processing payment requests for both internal and external customers in accordance with the financial regulations and procedures. She is also responsible for preparing supplier statement reconciliations as well as resolving payment-related queries.
Emmanuel Oblitey
Emmanuel is a Finance Assistant in the Payments Section within the Finance and Management Information Section. His main duties include processing payment requests for both internal and external customers in accordance with the financial regulations and procedures. He is also responsible for preparing supplier statement reconciliations as well as resolving payment-related queries.
Ellen Quartey-Papafio
Ellen is the Payroll Assistant in the Finance and Management Information Section in the Corporate Services Division. As part of the payroll team she ensures salaries and allowances for all staff members are paid accurately and on time.
Ellen is also responsible for loans to staff members purchasing season tickets and claims relating to education assistance.
Jyoti Sehgal
Jyoti is a Finance Assistant in the Travel Section in the Finance and Management Information Section. She is responsible for managing and processing travel and cash advances, travel acquittals, purchase orders and unused tickets. Her other duties include liaising with our nominated travel agents and visa service provider to ensure their accounts are reconciled. She also supports the Finance Officer especially in resolving travel related queries.
Hannah Stevens
Hannah is a Finance Assistant in the Payments Section within the Finance and Management Information Section and her main duties include processing payment requests for both internal and external customers in accordance with the financial regulations and procedures. She is also responsible for preparing supplier statement reconciliations as well as resolving payment-related queries.
Akua Yeboah
Akua is a Finance Assistant in the Payments Section within the Finance and Management Information Section and her main duties include processing payment requests for both internal and external customers in accordance with the financial regulations and procedures. She is also responsible for preparing supplier statement reconciliations as well as resolving payment-related queries.
Ms Marion Cowden