Financial Management Specialist at The Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF)

SUMMARY

This position, reporting to the Health Financing Team lead and Niger HSS coordinator, will assess provide technical assistance to assess financial management capabilities and implement financial management reforms in Niger State.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Engage relevant stakeholders on several platforms to get buy-in for financial management interventions
• Integrate basic healthcare provision fund (BHCPF) mechanisms into financial management interventions in the state
• Monitor and report on BHCPF progress in the State
• Map out general financial management and BHCPF support at facility level and selected health sector MDAs to determine gaps and responsibilities
• Lead a financial management baseline assessment for primary health care facilities in the state with support from an independent contractor
• Conduct priority setting exercise with stakeholders to prioritize financial management remedial actions
• Develop financial management training plan, resources, and tools
• Design and implement other financial management interventions, including deployment of accounting software and related training
• Conduct data analysis and validation of end line financial management assessment at facilities to determine impact of intervention
• Support resource tracking studies such as the state health accounts and public expenditure tracking surveys
• Provide robust strategic and technical advice and evidence-based feedback to key stakeholders on financial management and the basic healthcare provision fund in Niger state
• Participate in project meetings and give input to financial management related matters
• Support technical review meetings at the field level to review performance and targets achieved as per the donor requirements
• Monitor project progress through field visits, offer feedback and keep regular communication with related field and central level staff
• Provide timely inputs to donor reports on implementation of relevant health financing activities
• Facilitate information dissemination and dialogue with key stakeholders
• Provide advisory and oversight in shaping and implementing financial management strategies in Niger that will attain intended results
• Responsible for collating and producing well written monthly reports for the project
• Expected to actively document best practices, lessons learned and other relevant documentation from country interventions
• Produce high quality documents for wider stakeholder dissemination or for publication purposes.
• Perform additional tasks that may be assigned by the team lead and/or CEO

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate is expected to have the following qualifications, technical competencies and behavioral competencies.

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related degree. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in financial accounting or internal auditing. A combination of audit experience and operating accounting experience would be ideal. 
• Significant proven practical experience with resource tracking studies. Ideally, candidates will have played a role in designing public expenditure reviews.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in developing, implementing and financial management interventions
• Familiarity with government accounting systems and the basic health care provision fund
• Experience in both health systems and health financing, and expertise in health insurance and public financial management would be particularly valued.
• Experience of management budgets and results’ delivery of programs
• An understanding of health system challenges in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries
• Proven cultural, social and political sensitivity of working in Nigeria or other low and middle-income countries at different levels of government.
• Proven analytical skills, writing ability, and written and oral communications skills in English.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal, group facilitation and oral presentation skills
• Demonstrated experience working in teams, as well as, working independently with minimum supervision

Technical competencies:

• Experience with IPSAS accounting software is essential.
• Strong foundation in Accounting, financial management, and analytical skills. Possesses a demonstrated track record of providing financial management support in the health sector.
• Proficiency in using statistical analysis software such as Microsoft Excel and SPSS 
• Public health Knowledge and Experience - Possesses strong analytical skills (understanding of how to collect and use data). Contributes to the analysis, evaluation, design, strengthening and reform of Health systems, policies, and programs.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders. Builds and fosters collaborative relationships with relevant partners to inform programs and policy is essential.
• Proven track record of understanding of the local context and influencing change. Understands policy-making process; distils operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.
• Ability to demonstrate a degree of specialist knowledge and results in at least one of the core areas: financial management, basic health care provision fund, health policy, and advocacy are desirable.
• Policy, Strategic and Technical Support - Provides inputs to key documents by analyzing relevant issues, soliciting input from others, and using data and facts to support conclusions and/or positions.

Behavioral Competencies:

• Make effective decisions: deconstruct complex data, policy documents and similar information on health financing issues; assess and interpret information to identify main issues and to inform non-technical colleagues.
• Deliver at pace: ensure tasks are done to the required standard and deadlines; plan work to meet individual, team and office-wide objectives
• Lead and communicate: communicate clearly both orally and in writing, using appropriate language; communicate on a range of issues to diverse internal and external audiences.
• Collaborate and partner: Be an excellent team player; Demonstrated capacity to relate effectively to clients and build viable coalitions with stakeholders including government, development partners, civil society and private sector stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders; build good relationships for partnership, implementation, and support for the working group’s programs.
• Client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.
• Contextualize: develop an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how the role fits and supports organizational objectives and wider public needs.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner.