State Finance Officer at Widows and Orphans Empowerment Organization (WEWE)

Direct Reports to: Finance Manager, State Program Manager, WEWE Executive Director

Key relationships

• Internally: WEWE Executive Director, WEWE Finance and Admin Director, Finance Manager, State Programme Manager, Head, Internal Audit/Compliance
• Externally: External Auditors, Donor at the national level, and some interaction with local implementing partners and other stakeholders at the local level.

Purpose and Scope of Work

• The State Finance Manager will have the overall coordination of the financial and administrative aspects of the project in Abuja by ensuring team’s compliance with WEWE, USAID financial compliance and ensuring timely disbursement and retirement of funds.
• The post will be based in the WEWE Abuja office (Project Secretariat) with occasional trips to the project sites, State offices (Niger and Kaduna).

Responsibilities

• Data Entry: To assist the finance team to input data into financial reports; Enter all income and expenditure transactions into the relevant accounting software in conjunction with program and administrative staff to ensure transactions are properly coded; Prepare bank reconciliation statements; Monitor cash balances and maintain a good system of record.
• Petty Cash: To serve as petty cash custodian and post petty cash vouchers into the relevant software, process petty cash reconciliation on a weekly basis or as required.
• Retirement: Work with Project teams to support timely retirement of program and administrative expenses and also improve in their turnaround time of retirement.
• Financial Reports: To assist in scanning and making photocopies of monthly Financial Reports; Review Programme Implementing Agents Financial Report, Retirements to ensure proper documentation; File financial documents.
• Salary Records: To assist in tracking staff leave and medical allowance using Microsoft Excel; Collate and review timesheets in preparation for payroll.
• Taxes: Assist to process Tax Clearance Certificates and follow up with relevant tax authority to collect receipts and documentations of tax remitted.
• Procurement: To assist in collating quotes from vendors and service providers; Organise Procurement Committee meetings; Prepare Justification Memo for approval of the selected vendors; Obtain payment invoice from selected vendors; Prepare supporting documents for payment.
• Travel: To assist in receiving and processing Travel Authorization Form (TAF) & Travel Expenses Statement (TES) submitted by staff; Review local expense reports for compliance with Donor and WEWE travel policies before signing off for approval.
• Strengthening WEWE financial control environment: To assist the finance team to strengthen its finance control environment. To significantly contribute to identifying all WEWE internal control environments and making suggestions and coming up with new ideas on how to design control mechanism to strengthen these controls, and work with the finance team to implement and put these measures in place.
• Any other duties: Attend to any other task as may be assigned by the Finance and Administration Director/Finance Officer.

General Responsibilities

• Ensure high levels of transparency and accountability to both donors, to the project communities in line with WEWE’s vision to be the most financially compliant NGO in Nigeria.
• Observe with all WEWE and donor’s performance management standards and indicators.

Job Requirement (Knowledge/Skills Competencies)
Qualifications:

• A Bachelor Degree in Accounting or Accountancy.

Minimum Working Experience:

• At least 2-3 years’ experience working in the field.
• Must be a Chartered Accountant (ICAN) or possess ACCA Certification.
• Experience in working with international NGOs, local civil society organizations, government, bilateral and multilateral donors in a multi-cultural, politically sensitive environment.
• Thorough understanding of program management, donor reporting requirements and managing donor relations.
• Demonstrated financial management and reporting skills.
• Demonstrated capability to design and implement financial controls systems.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a variety of internal and external relationships, including relationships with donors and partners.
• Proven ability to manage team, with strong leadership, conceptualizing ideas and able to work independently.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skill with ability to analyse and interpret internal and external financial and non-financial communications.
• High degree of accountability and integrity and ability to coach, mentor and inspire subordinates.
• Strong understanding of Nigeria’s accounting and finance laws and regulations is essential and experience in Accounting practices, auditing, pay-rolling, sub-granting, finance management.
• Literacy in effective computer-based Communication tools, Presentation, Word Processing, Spreadsheet and other standard programs.
• Familiarity with Donors’ regulations and administrative procedures in the financial management of donor assisted projects.
• Fluency in English required (oral and written).

Desirable Experience:

• Knowledge and experience in financial reporting in gender sensitive and inclusive value chains programming.
• Masters in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration is an added advantage.

 Critical Competencies:

• Strong skills in the following areas: project and people management skills; budgeting & financial
• Management; information management and reporting, networking and stakeholder engagement, negotiation and persuasion; planning and organising; problem analysis; oral and written communication; and organisational learning and capacity development.
• The post-holder is expected to be results and data orientated; a team-player; pro-active and creative; culturally and gender sensitive; a good listener; committed to self-development; and able to make sound judgements under pressure.