Above picture: Days numbered? An introduced House Mouse on Marion Island, photograph by Stefan Schoombie

BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) are collaborating on the Mouse-Free Marion Project (MFM) to rid Marion Island of the introduced House Mice that are having a devastating impact on its seabirds, invertebrates and plants, as well as its ecological functioning.  A special entity, the Mouse-Free Marion Non-Profit Company, has been established by BirdLife South Africa to implement the project.  More information about the project is available at the MFM website.

The MFM Project is now looking for an accounting or bookkeeping firm that would be prepared to provide either pro bono or reduced-rate assistance with the financial management of this project.  The initial staff complement of the MFM Project will be about six people, but this number will increase in 2023 when the eradication work is undertaken.  The project will also procure goods and services, both in South Africa and internationally.

The financial responsibilities will include:

  • Full bookkeeping and payroll function
  • Relevant statutory and tax submissions
  • Assistance with the annual audit

It may be easier if the firm was based in Johannesburg (or at least in Gauteng) and had experience in dealing with Public Benefit Organisations, foreign currency transactions and customs.

Please contact me at ceo@birdlife.org.za or Fanie du Plessis (Head of Finance & Operations) at accounts@birdlife.org.za if you are willing to assist or you know of a company that may be interested in assisting.

An involvement with this work represents an opportunity to make a significant contribution to an immensely important conservation project.

Mark D. Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, BirdLife South Africa, 21 July 2021