Partner Finance Officer at WaterAid

Department: Finance & IT
Contract type: Full time, 2-4 years fixed term ( renewable)
Reports to: Head of Finance & Information Technology
Travel: At least 40% time travel to support partners

Job Description

• The Finance & IT Directorate provides leadership and support for financial management and IT across WaterAid Nigeria.

Job Purpose

• This role provides all round financial management support to WaterAid Nigeria partners.
• The post holder is responsible for supporting partner organizations and their staff to develop effective partner financial processes that are in line with GAAP; partner organizations compliance with WaterAid and any donor specific financial policies & procedures requirement; the appropriate use of and application of grant funds and accurate and timely submission of financial reports in line with approved budgets.
• The Partner Finance Officer will also build capacity of WaterAid partners on various aspects of financial management.

Accountabilities
Partnership Support:

• Undertake financial monitoring and support to partners. Notify the Head of Finance & IT of issues arising from the financial reporting/ monitoring of partners and propose remedial action to resolve the issues
• Provide planned support to partners and also respond to on –demand support request from partners with buy-in of the Head of Finance & IT to determine if capacity building is required.
• Review all partner financial reports, returns and supporting documentation to ensure it is in line with WaterAid & donor guidelines
• Ensure financial compliance by partners through audit check of finance reports from partners and provide written feedback on the financial reports
• Support the development of clear & appropriate financial procedures for managing partner relationships, including partner checks and partner exit procedures.
• Contribute to the development of guidelines, tools and templates to support partners to improve the quality of their financial reporting
• Identify gaps in capacity and provide capacity building on financial management to partners

 Financial Management & Reporting:

• Responsible for ensuring that partners develop and manage appropriate financial accounting records
• Responsible for the accurate entry of partner accounts to the Global Accounting System (GAS)
• Prepare project financial reports, consistent with donor and WaterAid procedural and reporting requirements (monthly, quarterly, six monthly, annually)
• Attend to queries regarding project reports/budgets in a timely manner to avoid delays to project plans attributable to late processing of partner transfers
• Calculate and allocate support cost recovery from restricted donors and ensure these are charged to projects
• Check /Verify requests for payments and purchase orders, to ascertain whether sufficient project funding is available and that requests are charged to correct budget lines
• Deal with request for transfers to partners in a timely manner whilst ensuring full compliance is achieved with financial regulations in reviewing request for fund transfers to partners.
• Prepare ‘ad hoc’ management and financial information and reports as and when required internally by respective State Programme Leads and Programme Managers
• Provide timely and accurate input into Month end and Year end processes
• Preparing Donor/Projects reconciliation
• Any other duties as assigned by the Head of Finance & IT or their designated representative.

Risk Management:

• Responsible for keeping all records from partners in an accurate and secure manner
• Provide support throughout external & other audits, including preparing relevant supporting evidence and records of partner expenditure.
• Support Partners to maintain and update a risk register for WaterAid projects

Person specification
Essential Criteria:

• B.Sc or HND in Accounting
• Minimum of three years’ post NYSC work experience in Accounting or Finance role
• Experience in managing and supporting partner organisations with financial management
• Accounting experience in an international development organisation
• Strong working knowledge of one or more accountancy software applications
• Able to effectively plan, prioritize, and organise self in order to accomplish work.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate information and ideas clearly to others.
• Good analytical thinking skills, able to analyse information and use logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in information processing, including compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying data.
• A proactive approach, willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges, and actively work towards improvements and resolutions
• Good interpersonal skills, able to support, challenge and influence effectively in order to maintain good relationships and ensure quality in delivery
• Excellent computer skills, particularly Excel & Word (MS Office in general)
• Commitment to WaterAid’s values and a working style that reflects these.

Desirable Criteria:

• ICAN or ACCA Membership, or at an advanced stage in obtaining these
• Strong knowledge of fund accounting regulations for non-profit organisations
• Knowledge of SUN System