Director, Finance and Administration at International Foundation for Electoral Systems

The position description is a guide to the primary duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions.  Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet IFES’ changing needs, at IFES’ sole discretion.

Reports to:    Country Director
Position Grade:    10
Industry:     International Development, Democracy & Governance, Elections
Job Category:    Program Administration and Support
Closing date:     Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.
Travel:    Travel within Nigeria is required.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is currently recruiting a Director of Finance and Administration for its work in Nigeria, under a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded (FCDO) program in Nigeria, entitled Strengthening Transparent Elections and Electoral Resilience (STEER). The STEER program has three main areas of support. The proposed program will focus on three areas of support: 1) Strategic Communications: develop and implement robust communication strategies with INEC to promote transparency and foster public trust; 2) Elections Operations and Logistics: assist INEC to streamline electoral operations and logistics, ensuring more organized, and efficient execution of critical activities; 3) Electoral Technology and Artificial Intelligence: Strengthen INEC’s operational and management capacity through the integration of advanced technology and AI solutions.

PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE:

The Director of Finance and Administration will oversee operations in support of the IFES Nigeria STEER program. The responsibilities for this role include, but are not limited to logistics, procurement, sub-contracts or sub-awards, and ensuring sound financial/accounting management practices. This individual also oversees internal control measures, conducts internal financial audits, and coordinates external financial audits. The Director prepares budgets for annual work plans and financial reports for headquarters. This individual also develops the financial management capacity of all relevant staff and subrecipients. The position reports to the Country Director.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide leadership to finance and operations aspects of the project, including general administrative processes, financial management, sub award management, accounting, and logistics.
• Establish and maintain sound and transparent accounting and fiscal control procedures for financial, sub-award and operations aspects of project.
• Ensure compliance of financial and operations systems with IFES policies and procedures, FCDO rules and regulation, award requirements, and Government of Nigeria laws.
• Develop, analyze and monitor program budgets and monitor and track obligations and expenditures against budgets.
• Manage project procurement processes.
• Advise Country Director regularly on financial and operations-related matters.
• Provide technical assistance, as needed, to local partners on financial compliance and  reporting.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors in the review of project financial management.
• Supervise other project-based administrative, finance, and procurement, staff.
• Other duties, as assigned.

SKILLS and SPECIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with international donor rules and regulations is required.
• Knowledge in generally accepted accounting, budgeting, and fiscal control principles.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in developing and managing large budgets.
• Relevant skills in automated accounting software systems such as QuickBooks and database spreadsheets.
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with NGO partners, community-based organizations, and international donor agencies.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, depth, and breadth of financial management expertise.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience establishing and maintaining good relationships with a wide variety of professionals and organizations.
• Ability to remain highly organized while handling multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
• Ability to complete tasks with limited supervision.
• Business awareness and numerical ability.
• Must possess solid communication and presentation skills.
• Willingness to adhere to all principles of confidentiality.
• Must value operating in a collaborative and cooperativeenvironment.
• Ability to show initiative, good judgment, and resourcefulness.
• Conduct himself/herself with integrity and functionethically.
• Ability to manage staff and work with senior management.

EDUCATION and QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related field. However, a bachelor's degree and five (5) additional years of progressive relevant international business management, finance, financial planning & analysis, accounting and/or contracting experience can be substituted for the master's degree; 3 years in a leadership or senior management role.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting, risk management, and management and supervision.
• An ACA/ACCA/CPA or other recognized professional accounting qualification preferred.
• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, auditing, finance, or business management, including at least three (3) years of post-qualification experience as an auditor with a recognized public or private firm or as a finance manager with a reputable private business, civil society organization or donor agency.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage large budgets.
• Experience working on international donor-funded programs is required. Experience working on an FCDO-funded program preferred. 
• Progressively responsible experience supervising project operations, including human resources, procurement, and sub-contracts orsub-awards.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and English oral and written communication skills; demonstrated supervisory skills; and ability to work well on a team.
• Proficiency in Word, Power point, Outlook and Excel.
• Relevant computer software skills and familiarity with accounting software.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Professional level of oral and written fluency in English required.

TRAVEL: Travel within Nigeria required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT: Standard office work environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job