Finance and Contracts Assistant at European Union

Job No.: 87568
Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Description

• The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Nigeria is considering the recruitment of Finance and Contracts Assistant – Finance, Contract and Audit section
• The successful candidate will be responsible for specific projects/programmes with primary focus on financial management, audit and monitoring.

Functions and Duties
Under the supervision of the Head of Section, the responsibilities are the following:

• The section 'Finance, Contract and Audit section' of the European Union Delegation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS is seeking to fill the vacancy of a Finance and Contracts Assistant
• The section is responsible for the financial management of projects and programmes funded by the European Union
• Under the supervision of the Team Leader, the responsibilities include the following:

Overall Purpose

• To assist in the contractual and financial management of projects and programmes funded by the European Union, in particular with tender procedures, calls for proposals, contracts, payments and follow-up of audit matters
• To advise operational sections and beneficiaries/contractors in contractual, financial and audit matters.

Functions and Duties
Budget and Finance – Financial Management:

• Contribute to the application of sound financial management as well as legality and regularity of the implementation by the Delegation and the Nigerian/ECOWAS authorities of EC/EDF financial cooperation programmes and projects.
• Control and initiation of financial transactions in accordance with applicable financial regulations, manuals and policies.
• Contribute to the process of elaboration of new decisions and management of existing ones, including closures.
• Follow-up of procurement and grant procedures.
• Analysis of draft contracts, riders.
• General management and/or follow-up of the contracts.
• Ensuring analysis of invoices, proper preparation and execution of payment orders.
• Preparation of recovery orders and follow-up of recovery of the debt.
• Registration of the financial operations in the accounting databases of the European Commission and supervise proper archiving and filing of documents.
• Follow-up on the date of validity of financing decisions, bank guarantees and other legal requirements.
• Closure and de-commitments of finalised projects.
• Advice on financial aspects across the implementation of projects (including research on EC/EDF rules in order to find solutions to problematic issues).
• Contribute to the financial reporting tasks of the Delegation.
• Provide and update financial and accounting statistics using the relevant databases.
• Related correspondences (letters, mails, etc.).
• Liaise with the operational sections.
• Other tasks related to the financial implementation of programmes.

Audit, Control and Inspection – Audit and Monitoring:

• Assist in the planning and implementation of audit activities, including the audit plan.
• Review and comment on external audit reports.
• Take part in field missions to monitor the financial accounting, budgeting and cash flow of projects.

Job Requirements
Education and Training:

• A University Degree will be considered an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years working experience, (preferably within an international organisation or an entity dealing with development aid and projects) as assistant giving financial and/or administrative support
• A minimum of 1 year experience in CRIS and ABAC, the accounting systems in EUD, is considered an asset, and familiarity with financial procedures of EC is considered an asset.

Knowledge:

• Ability to interpret financial data at an intermediate level and high degree of numeracy.

Skills:

• Capacity to deliver in a structured way.
• Capacity to communicate technical or specialised information.
• Ability to work in a proactive, autonomous and organised way.

Talents:

• Critical Analysis.
• Flexibility (openness towards new demands, new technologies, new cultures, new environment, etc.).
• Initiative / Self-starter
• Inquiring mind

Language:

• Fluent in spoken and written English

Remuneration

• The gross basic salary will be raised in accordance with relevant salary scale depending on years of relevant professional experience.