Financial Analyst at USAID

Solicitation Number: AID-620-S-00-17-00009-00
Period of Performance: Five (5) years renewable
Security Level Required: SBU
Area of Consideration: Nigerians Only

Basic Function of the Position

• Serves as a Financial Analysts in the Office of Financial Management (OFM) supporting the Education Team and advises on:
• The complex aspects of developing, implementing and evaluating USAID/Nigeria projects, a substantial numbers of which are large and complicated, especially awards to local indigenous Nigeria partners under the New Partners Initiative Program;
• The various aspects of the internal operations of USAID/Nigeria. Advises on the steps to be taken to implement a close-out audit findings and recommendations and provide liaison for audit activities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyses and makes recommendations on the general financial feasibility of projects, adequacy of project dollar and local currency budgets, financial planning and project life costing, pipeline reporting and analysis, as well as other project financial reporting requirements.
• Maintains contact on relevant projects and issues with key institutional contractors and grantees, private sector actors, other bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as other national and state government officials.
• For income producing projects, provides revenue return analysis and establishes financial rates of return.
• Conduct statutorily required Section 1311 reviews and coordinates the development and reporting of accrual expenditures for program accounts.
• Drafts financial analysis portions of project papers, agreements, implementation letters, and other project documents.
• Reviews and comments on financial information submitted by awardees in fulfillment of conditions precedent to disbursement of project funds or in compliance with periodic reporting requirements.
• Monitors financial progress during the life of the project to identify any deficiencies, to determine if earlier deficiencies have been corrected, and to resolve any financial difficulties revealed by project evaluation teams.
• Prepare quarterly program pipeline reports and advise on pipeline management.
• Provides financial advice on the development, implementation, and evaluation of USAID/Nigeria projects and various aspects of internal operations relating to USAID/Nigeria technical programs.
• Assists in the mission’s program for review of management controls as directed by OMB Circular A-123 in compliance with the Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA); including conducting periodic international control reviews and following up on identified control weaknesses.
• Conducts financial reviews (pre-award surveys) of perspective and existing USAID contractors and grantees to determine the adequacy of their accounting systems and internal controls, financial status, and ultimately the financial and managerial capacity to successfully implement USAID/Nigeria awards.
• The Financial Analyst explains financial aspects of projects to contractors and grantees, advises them, and assists them in taking measures to meet the financial requirements necessary to successfully implement USAID awards.
• Formal and informal training's and mentoring programs are conducted for USAID contractors and grantees on an as-needed basis.
• Makes field trips with project technical staff to examine projects accounts for accuracy and integrity.
• Serves as a member of project evaluation teams (technical evaluations, portfolio reviews, data quality assessments, etc.) to determine if expenditure of project funds is coherent with the technical results achieved.
• Recommends changes to correct deficiencies or to improve implementation.
• Improve he financial management capabilities of program team members and Contracting Officer Technical Representatives (COTR) through formal/informal training on required financial management concepts and issues.
• Develops cost factors and long range expenditure projections for inclusion in the Mission’s Annual Budget submission.
• Prepares projected obligations and project implementation plans for submission to AID/Washington.
• Assists in clearing audit recommendations and developing the Mission’s Audit Inventory for the Regional Inspector General.

Minimum Qualifications Required for this Position

• Education: A University Degree in Accounting, Auditing, Finance, or Business Administration is required.
• A Masters Degree in a relevant field and CPA/Chartered Accountant designations are all considered highly desirable qualifications.
• Prior Work Experience: Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, auditing, or financial business management.
• At least three years of audit experience at a reputable firm is highly desirable.
• Language Proficiency: Level 4 English ability is required. Good writing skills are critical to success in this position.

Job Knowledge:

• A thorough knowledge and understanding of professional accounting principles, theories, practices and terminology (private sector, governmental, and non-profit) is required.
• The incumbent will be expected to gain a thorough knowledge of laws, regulations, and procedures associated with USAID financial management project design, management project design, management and evaluation.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to identify items which require correction or modification.
• Must be able to make sound independent judgment, communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with accounting and non-accounting individuals.
• She or he must establish and maintain cordial working relationships with technical office colleagues, implementing partners, and other mission staff.
• They must be highly proficient (an advanced to expert user) in using spreadsheet and word processing software.
• Knowledge of various commercially available accounting software programs is highly desirable.

Physical Demands:

• The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Benefit / Allowances
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:
Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance

Market Value:

• N11,581,095.00 equivalent to FSN-11. In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of United States Mission, Nigeria (Effective September 04, 2016). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

Evaluation and Selection Factors

• Applications will be required to have the minimum qualifications expressed above.
• Qualified applicants possessing skills above the minimum requirements will be assessed based on the following factors:
  • Education (10 points)
  • Work Experience (20 points)
  • Knowledge (30 points)
  • Language Proficiency (10 points)
  • Skills and abilities (30 points)
• Per this scoring rubric, Work Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are the most important factors. Applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a short list of applicants developed.
• USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicants in person or by phone OR not to interview any candidate. After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates which do not meet the required selection criteria will not be scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.
• As part of the selection process, finalist candidates may be interviewed either in person or by telephone at USAID’s discretion. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. If an applicant does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant’s cover letter, and USAID will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant. Only finalists will be contacted by USAID with respect to their applications.