Finance Officer at Oxfam

Team Purpose
To provide a proactive, efficient and effective financial management service to the Oxfam Humanitarian Programme in Nigeria, to ensure financial procedures are working efficiently and effectively and that they are being adhered to, and to provide strong financial monitoring and oversight to Oxfam partners

Job Purpose

• To provide for the financial aspects of the Oxfam Humanitarian country portfolio, the implementation and monitoring of the financial aspects of the assigned programmes and projects, and the management of the financial risks and opportunities.
• Also provide financial monitoring and oversight to Oxfam Humanitarian partner organisations and for the appraisal and analysis of the necessary financial aspects of reports for back-donors

Dimensions

• Handling (finance related) queries regarding Donors and related project Interpretation of financial information, advice to Programme Manager, Finance Manager, Programme Officer and coordinators Analysing reports for programme staff and providing guidance Manages and contributes to project work Influences staff to adopt procedures 100% focus on the Oxfam Humanitarian Country programmes

Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities
1.) Payables:

• Maintain a register of supplier invoices, expense claims and other payables documentations received
• Ensure supporting documentation for payments is correct (e.g. authorised and coded by budget holder)
• Enter fully authorised invoices, expense claims and other payables in the finance system (SAP)
• Prepare payments for authorisation by account signatories (including payroll)
• Match direct debit payments to invoices or other documentation
• Reconcile supplier accounts to supplier statements and follow up with supplier on any discrepancies (e.g. missing invoices)

2.) Receivables:

• Review invoice requests and miscellaneous receipt forms to ensure that they are properly supported e.g. funding agreements are in place
• Raise invoices
• Maintain donor accounts in SAP, including regular issue of statements to programme staff and follow up to resolve problems
• Ensure that all receipts are properly documented, e.g. by an invoice or a miscellaneous receipt

3.) Bank Reconciliation:

• Reconcile project’s bank accounts in SAP, including revaluation of foreign currency values and reconciliation of Naira values in the nominal ledger.

4.) Managing Bank and Cash Balances:

• Monitor balances on bank accounts on a daily basis to:
  • Ensure that balances are sufficient to cover anticipated payments
  • Identify receipts or payments that may require further investigation
  • Ensure the Finance Support Manager is aware of surpluses available to invest
• Action transfers between currencies, e.g. pay currency brokers as instructed by Finance Support Manager.
• Manage Humanitarian petty cash and Foreign Exchange cash balances:
  • Maintain spreadsheets to summarise receipts, payments and balances
  • Ensure payments and receipts are recorded in the finance system (SAP)
  • Revalue and reconcile project amounts in the finance system (SAP)
  • Monitor and chase outstanding floats

5.) Financial Facilities Administration:

• Act as primary point of contact for day-to-day matters with Oxfam Humanitarian financial service providers
• Manage filing systems, both electronic and hard copy (payables, receivables, payments, receipts, cash payments etc).

6.) Others:

• Supervise clerical support work of part-time Finance Assistant and occasional volunteers.
• Provide support and advice to Humanitarian Staff on various matters including:
  • Completion of finance related forms (expense claims, float accounts)
  • Locating documentation supporting particular payments, receipts and re-charges made to budget holders
  • Coding of financial transactions

Requirements /Skills and Competences

• A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or any relevant equivalent is required; Master's desired
• ICAN or ACCA qualification will be an added advantage
• Thorough understanding of currency conversion, and calculation of exchange losses and gains
• 3 - 5 years of progressively responsible and directly relevant professional experience, such as finance, accounting, grants management - ideally with at least 2 years in International NGO
• Ability to understand and implement the government tax & VAT laws
• Proven knowledge of computerised systems and demonstrable experience of working with computerized accounting packages and spreadsheets
• Ability to respond to a variety of questions relating to the job
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Manages own time under guidance and direction from supervisor and meet the deadlines
• Willingness and ability to travel to North East Nigeria 20 - 30 % of the time
• Strong analytical and planning skills
• Strong understanding on Gender and Diversity
• A strong commitment to Oxfam’s purpose, a broad understanding of the work culture in the “humanitarian” sector and its impact on key areas of responsibility and a commitment to humanitarian principles and action

Oxfam Behavioral Competencies:

• Understand humanitarian contexts (program phases, underlying causes of crisis, coordination mechanisms) and application of Humanitarian Principles (vulnerability, gender and diversity awareness; Humanitarian principles, codes and standards)
• Achieve results effectively (demonstrate accountability to partners and affected people; making decisions involving others; flexibility; delivery of timely and appropriate results using available resources)
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships (communication with affected people; collaboration with the team and partners; challenge decisions and behaviors that breach humanitarian principles)
• Operate safely and securely in a humanitarian response (Identify, communicate and minimise risk for the agency, yourself and others; comply and help uphold safety and security protocols; uphold the Do No Harm principle with partners and affected people)
• Manage yourself in a pressured and changing environment (ability to recognize and manage stress in yourself and others in order to remain ethical, constructive and objective focused; awareness of internal and external pressures and should be able to manage emotions)
• Leadership in humanitarian response (Awareness of your own skills and how they can complement those of others; demonstrate initiative, ingenuity, and tenacity in achieving solutions to fulfill objectives and motivate others to do the same; communicate humanitarian values and motivate others towards them)
• The incumbent will stay abreast of professional standards, trends and issues affecting this set of responsibilities, demonstrating continuous learning of the field in line with Oxfam in Nigeria’s mission and vision
• S/he will work effectively and collaboratively to build a team-based culture of work, treating all persons with dignity and respect, and will be familiar with and committed to Oxfam in Nigeria mission and goals