Head of Finance and Resource Management at The Nigerian Red Cross

Reporting lines: Reports to Secretary General

Job Purpose

• The head of finance Provides strategic direction and guidance to finance department.
• He/she is in charge of planning, directing, organizing and controls the operations of the department to ensure NRCS achieves its mandate in accordance with accepted accounting principles and NRCS policies and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities
Financial planning:

• Contributes to NRCS strategy planning and development. Leads the budgeting process and guides the management on compliance and rationalisation.
• Provides technical support to budget holders/head of units in development of their budgets.
• Support in fund raising strategies and putting supportive systems in place to ensure accountability
• Oversees cash flow management process, making sure that funds are available for operational use. Coordinates cash forecasts with HoD´s and branch teams.
• Consolidates the NRCS budgets and give an overview picture to the senior management team.
• Reviews monthly budget monitoring reports and take corrective action
• Accounting and book keeping
• Oversees payment process to ensure that all transactions are within accepted standards and in accordance with laid down processes
• Set up a functioning accounting system that ensures transactions are captured accurately and on a timely manner
• Set up a month end calendar and ensure it is strictly adhered to
• Reviews and validates all balance reconciliations
• Carrying out frequent data backups for the finance department
• Maintaining proper physical files and computer files and folders to enable easy retrieval of information by the organisation and others.

Internal Controls:

• Set up water tight systems and procedures that aim at safeguarding organisations assets against loss due to errors or fraud
• Finance policy custodian- Regularly revise the finance manual & internal procedures as needs arise
• Evaluating internal control system and procedures, highlights the short comings and implementing necessary recommendations
• Ensures adequate separation of roles in the finance department
• Puts in place approval matrix and ensures the limits are strictly adhered to.
• Supervises asset management, ensures the verification exercise is done on regular basis, asset register is updated and approved.
• Cash and bank payments are done in accordance with laid down process, ensuring monthly reconciliation is done.

Financial Reporting:

• Provides financial information to management for decision making.
• Ensures flow of financial information is done in a systematic manner-Monthly and quarterly reports
• Prepares statutory financial reports on a timely manner and share with relevant authorities
• Reviews and validates partner/donor reports
• Managing staff in the finance department so that all staff are able to perform & fulfil their responsibilities
• Develops finance structure and ensures the department has adequate expertise in achieving efficiency, effectiveness in supporting NRCS using customer oriented approach
• Participates in recruitment of new staff within the department
• Inducts and training of new staff
• Effective delegation, support and follow up to build capacities of finance staff
• Maintaining a motivated and effective team
• Periodic establishment of objectives and carrying out regular performance reviews
• Supporting finance staff in development of learning objectives and championing necessary training opportunities with the aim of increasing departments expertise
• Building and maintaining good team work spirit and cooperation between finance and programme,
• Ensuring programme staff are trained in relevant aspects of financial management
• Participation in regular project management meetings
• Ensuring a proper understanding of field operations, including risks and practical limitations.
• Audit and risk management
• Prepares for external audit and ensures auditors get full access to financial information required for the purpose of audit
• Support in addressing management comments and adopting audit recommendations-Comes up with plan of action to address management comments.
• Together with the internal auditor, identify organisational risks and develop a plan of action to mitigate the risks.

Requirements
Education:

• Master's degree in Business Administration
• Master's in Finance/Accounting.
• Bachelor's of Commerce in Accounting or Finance Management
• Certified chartered accounts/Certified Public accountant.

Experience:

• CPA, ACCA or equivalent experience;
• At least 10 years professional experience, including working in Non-Governmental Organization
• Proven experience in staff supervision.
• Experience with large ERP systems, as well as knowledge of accounting software preferred;
• Strong financial analysis and excel skills;
• Strong accounting knowledge, analytical/problem solving skills, creativity and initiative.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment and effectively promote the NRCS's mission, values, and objectives.
• Ability to identify financial, operational and compliance risks, and to develop appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to work in a cross-functional team environment.
• In depth knowledge of accounting principles, finance and funder regulations
• Excellent organizational skills and strong customer service focus and analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.