Financial Accountant at Stakeholder Democracy Network

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Reporting To: Finance & Administration Manager
Direct Reports: Finance Officer, Finance Assistant

Job Purpose

• To create, implement and maintain strong financial systems, processes and controls for the Nigeria organisation to ensure accurate and transparent record keeping and transaction processing.
• This role will require the individual to take responsibility for all financial operations and lead on the company auditing requirements.
• The role will have a strong emphasis on setting and following robust processes and controls with a commitment to integrity, transparency, learning and continuous improvement.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Systems, Processes and Controls 30%
• Financial Operations 30%
• Financial Review and Performance 20%
• External and Internal Audit 20%

Duties
Systems, Processes and Controls:

• Ensure the Chart of Accounts and Project Codes structure is adhered to for recording transactions within the accounting system
• Ensure that documentation for all accounting transactions are complete, transparent and robust
• Ensure monthly controls and reconciliations are performed with petty cash and bank accounts
• Ensure company-wide compliance to grant conditions and internal financial policies and highlighting areas of concern to the Finance & Admin Manager
• Support the review and development of financial policies and make sure they are implemented to maintain integrity and transparency throughout the organisation

Financial Operations:

• Take responsibility for the posting of financial transactions into the accounting software in an accurate, timely and transparent manner
• Ensure that our paper filing records for accounting transactions, banking and taxes are fully documented, well structured, transparent and easily accessible
• Ensure fund requests for advances, payments and retirements fulfil all requirements as per grant conditions and SDN policies and that they are supported with adequate receipts and documentation
• Ensure that advances are retired promptly and completely
• Oversee the processing of payroll and all relevant pension, taxes and other associated costs
• Ensure consultants, vendors and other stakeholders are paid on time
• Maintain relationships with banking, tax and regulatory authorities to ensure we are up to date and complete for all requirements
• Maintain a fixed asset register and ensure alignment between the accounting system and inventory

Financial Review and Performance:

• Prepare the Nigeria company cash flow projections, monitor variances in actual results and highlight important issues as relevant
• Produce and review balance sheet, income statement and other financial statement reports and send monthly summary reports to SDN Management highlighting issues and trends
• Complete monthly project cash reconciliations and bring any discrepancies to a resolution in order to fully account for donor funds
• Monitor staff advances and send monthly report to SDN Management for review
• Liaise with the UK office to ensure financial operations, transactions and results adhere to company policies and practices

External and Internal Audit:

• Lead on all of the external statutory and programmatic audit processes by preparing the accounts and providing all required financial information, documentation and analysis.
• Lead the SDN internal audit process in Nigeria by liaising with the UK office and providing all documentation as required.
• Review, propose and implement solutions for taking corrective actions for all audit recommendations and findings

Qualifications

• Minimum education of a degree plus partial qualification of ICAN or other relevant finance qualification
• Spoken and written fluency in English with strong communication skills
• At least 5 years of professional experience, ideally 3+ years of broad financial accounting and operations experience
• Experience of working in a team and managing and developing staff
• Experience of delivering financial transactions through strong internal processes and controls
• Experience of maintaining a control environment through following policies, processes and internal controls
• Experience in financial reporting, audit coordination and liaising with regulatory bodies (e.g. tax)
• Experience of managing funds requests, disbursements, retirements and managing cash operations
• Experience of managing an accounting system and maintaining transparent and appropriate transaction processing
• Ideally a track record in NGO financial accounting
• Strong IT skills with Microsoft packages and a recognised accounting software package (ideally QuickBooks)
• Commitment to instilling a culture of integrity, transparency, learning and continuous improvement

Remuneration
Salary for the role is commensurate with experience and education, with excellent benefits.