Deputy Finance Manager - (Nigeria Nationals Only) at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

You will oversee all activities that ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and documentation of the Finance Department’s accounting operations and financial reporting (monthly, quarterly, yearly, and as needed) in support of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will help set the standard for the Country Program’s (CP’s) financial stewardship through professional maintenance, utilization, and analysis of all cash resources controlled by the CP.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee accounting processes, policies, and service delivery and maintain accounting controls to ensure accurate, complete, and timely recording and management of financial transactions and internal controls in compliance with CRS’ financial management policies and procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements.
• Ensure financial accounting package is updated with relevant information for capturing accurate financial data (such as daily exchange/conversion rates, cost allocation tools, posting of transactions, etc.).
• Review and analyze financial reports, including cost allocation of shared costs, to verify financial transactions. Prepare balance sheet account reconciliations to ensure all transactions are accurately stated and appropriately classified. Work with relevant staff to address irregularities and resolve accounting issues and ensure correction of accounting entries and payroll.
• Serve as the key point person on all issues related to financial transaction records. Provide proactive advice, support, and capacity building to managers, staff, and subrecipients to ensure compliance with standards and proper records of financial transactions, as well as to support strengthening of internal control.
• Ensure financial reports are generated accurately and disseminated timely as per established reporting schedules and assist staff and subrecipients with financial reports analysis.
• Oversee maintenance of a good filing system of required supporting documentation to ensure easy access and retrieval, and a reliable and easy to follow audit trail.
• Ensure efficient management of cash flows and availability of sufficient and optimal cash in the CP’s operating account through monitoring cash balances (both cash-in-bank and cash-on-hand), preparing bank reconciliations, analyzing and forecasting cash needs.
• Ensure the deliverables for month and year end processes are met on time (review of salary clearing account, asset clearing account, cash clearing account, reclassification of gain/loss in the three pool projects etc.).
• Ensure the monthly bank reconciliation are prepared on time in line with the agency policy on cash management.
• Coordinate the reconciliation of GL/PPM variance monthly.
• Support the GF project in pool and other costs analysis on the PUDR.
• Quarterly reconciliation of Lease entries in the Lease Query and GL.
• Support the Head of Finance in accurate and timely closure of grants.
• Support the Finance team to engage with internal and external audit teams and ensure all findings related to financial management are closed withing the prescribed deadlines.
• Be the point person in all staff and agency Tax and Statutory Deduction matters. Understand and keep abreast of changes in the local legal environment and ensure that CRS adheres to local laws that pertain to taxation and other areas of financial management.
• Support the Head of Finance in conducting the annual internal control assessment and develop plans to address weakness within a reasonable time using the Internal Control Questionnaire.
• Accomplish other tasks as requested by the Head of Finance or the CRS/Nigeria management.

Required Languages - English Language is required.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment and decisions
• Accuracy and completeness with a strong eye for detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively

Preferred Qualifications

• Substantial budgeting, budget/expense analysis, and accounting experience.
• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Knowledge of local law in the area of taxation and local regulatory reporting procedures.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of financial reporting software preferred.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities: Pool Finance staff

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Head of Finance, DCR Operations, Operations Unit and Program team members.

External: Partner agencies, Banks, and other commercial services

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA or equivalent).
• Minimum of Five years’ experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an International NGO. 

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)  

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.  

• Integrity  
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation 
• Builds Relationships  
• Develops Talent 
• Strategic Mindset 
• Accountability & Stewardship