Finance Officer at Plan International Full Time

Job Title: Finance Officer

Location: Bauchi, Nigeria

Role Purpose

• The purpose of this role is to provide timely, accurate financial information and ensure that Grants expenditures are in line with specific FAD / donor requirements. The role’s support is to the ASPIRE project.

Dimensions of the Role

• Communicates within Plan International Nigeria and with partners and related government institutions.
• The post holder will contribute towards financial management of the office and programmes, interfacing with both operational and programme team members.
• The post holder will also contribute towards the organisational development of Plan Internationals implementing partners
• Budgets – Monitor the budget of the Project.
• Reporting – Support financial reporting of the Project.
• Area of Responsibility – Aspire Project in the Bauchi state.

Accountabilities
SAP Administration:

• Assist with the finance component set-up of the project in SAP.
• Support the Finance Manager – ASPIRE and the Finance Manager –Development to prepare the annual finance budgets for the ASPIRE project.
• Support the KP06 budget preparation and periodic upload in SAP.

Capacity Building and Support:

• Provide technical assistance in terms of accounting (use of SAP), financial management, financial policy formulation, and systems of internal control to all partners/grantees to ensure compliance in terms with donor rules and regulations.
• Support the assessments of partner / grantee organizations as directed by the Finance Manager – ASPIRE and the Finance Manager-development.
• Review partner budget, provide support and guidance where necessary including the monitoring and interpretation of project budgets versus actual expenditures.
• Support train staff and partners on donor policies, rules and regulations.
• Facilitate timely partner advance request and liquidation in SAP.
• Review Partners / grantee liquidation and recommend for approval.
• Conduct and document regular partner visits to ensure compliance with grant agreement.
• Ensure receipt of timely and accurate accounting and financial reports from partners.
• Monitor the partner burn rate and offer timely advice to the partner and programs team for prompt action and decision-making.
• Monitor and track finance related performance measurement indicators and liaise with Finance Manager – ASPIRE Project to implement strategies to improve performance.
• Explain donor requirements and organizational financial policy & procedures to staff and ensure compliance.
• Prepare and review on a monthly basis, donor-specific bank reconciliation statements and receipts/deposits reconciliations.
• Support the preparation of financial reports based on donor requirements.
• Ensure proper filing (electronic and hard copy) of grants financial reports.
• Ensure that partners use the standard reporting templates and formats for their reports.
• Prepare the Project expenditure tracker.
• Support the CO in recharging costs to the relevant Projects.
• Fulfill Plan’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times.

Internal Financial Controls and Payments:

• Ensure that the documentation for payment is acceptable and accurate with arithmetic calculations being correct.
• Approved payment request should be processed within one week of receipt.
• Prepare the withholding tax and VAT schedules where relevant before payment is done.

Travel Advances:

• Ensure that filing of travel advances, per diem calculations and travel reconciliation forms are reviewed;
• Ensure that all travel and purchase advances are liquidated on time.

Others:

• Perform any other project related duties as specified by the Finance Manager – ASPIRE Project and / or the Finance Manager-Development.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
Essential:

• Degree in Accounting or equivalent.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in donor funds grants administration.
• Experience working with sub-grantees required.
• Fluency in local language and English required.
• Preferred qualifications: knowledge of and experience with the key donors in the industry is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of SAP system
• Experience providing capacity development assistance to sub-grantees strongly preferred.

Desirable:
Skills & Knowledge:

• Excellent and demonstrable experience in grant and financial management.
• Knowledge and understanding of Nigeria’s policy environment
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including good listening skills, influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Creates strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of operations and with stakeholders.
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour
• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity.
• Provides good and adequate support to enable programmes to meet its agreed financial and program outcomes.
• Actively seeks for support in addressing difficulties in execution of duties.
• Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and Organizational development.
• Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations.
• Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
• Leads by example to motivate high performance of others.
• Very strong commitment to continuous learning.

Application Closing Date
25th November, 2021.

Note

• Plan International Nigeria is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender or disabilities.
• Plan International Nigeria is fully committed to child protection to prevent children from all forms of abuse.
• Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.