ERP Finance Specialist at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Purpose

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to developing country strategies translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities. This position requires a strong experience in finance and expertise in ERP systems, especially the one used by DRC (DRC Dynamics). This position also requires strong pedagogic skills to strengthen our Country Office capacities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall Responsibility

• Functions as an ERP specialist in Finance within the Country of Nigeria
• Provide overall support to the Finance Manager
• Ensure compliance with the finance chapters of DRC’s Operations Handbook related to Dynamics.

Technical Support for the use of the ERP System (DRC Dynamics) (20% of the time)

•  To support (technically but also directly) the development and implementation of financial management capacity building among the staff members of the Finance teams in the Country and Area Offices of DRC Nigeria.
• To apply reports and data analytics from DRC Dynamics to improve overall performance. He/She will be requested to download the Business reports if necessary.
• To provide leadership and assistance to the Country Offices in identifying ERP implementation issues.
• Assist the finance Manager and HoSS in developing the strategy and implementation plans for ERP financial management, continually refining/updating to meet evolving needs and priorities.
• To be responsible for follow-up on major bugs in the system Dynamics for the country, especially the journals posted by the finance team before final approvals, monitoring of advances collected through the system and ensuring that they are liquidated adequately, etc.
• To work under the supervision of the Finance Manager in reporting, communication, and meeting structure with the finance team to ensure that the communication and change management activities of the ERP Programme are presented to all finance staff and program teams when relevant.
• To identify and report challenges or areas that require decisions on ERP implementation with the Finance Manager and HoSS.
• To liaise with the Finance Manager for license subscription payment for Nigeria users. The payment transactions must be rebooked from the intercompany account to the projects by applying the share costs rates.
• To work efficiently and in good collaboration with the other finance staff and programme staff, especially in terms of information sharing and capacity building in collaboration with the Finance Manager and HoSS.

Financial Management (70% of the time)

• To reinforce existing procedures and systems for financial management and control in compliance with guidelines of DRC’s Operations Handbook, internal guidelines, and donor requirements.
• To support the timely delivery of high-quality financial reports to donors and internal reports to colleagues in support of the Finance Manager.
• To participate in ensuring an effective budget in the dynamics of the Country Office. He/She will assist the Finance Manager in the budget setting in Dynamics.
• To ensure the presence and compliance of the required supporting documentation for financial audits in cooperation with the finance and other support and program colleagues in Nigeria Mission.
• To support local audits preparation and execution (Under the supervision of the Nigeria Finance Manager). He/she will also support the Finance Manager to conduct the Dynamics system audits. The tasks will be performed on a quarterly basis.
• To contribute, if requested, to the development of proposals with regard to budgeting in cooperation with different departments.
• Collaborate with the Finance Manager on the monthly accounts and the BI transactions detailed Lists reconciliation to minimize the financial risk.
• Monitor the Nigeria Mission intercompany account closely and proceed with all booking to projects attaching all supporting documentation from HQ Accountant and business controller.
• Assist the Finance Manager in the verification of the resources scheduling performed in the system by the Programme team and supports persons assigned to that task.
• Assist the Finance Manager in adjusting transactions wrongly booked and ensure that the changes are well documented for audit purposes.
• Coordinate the archiving of all related dynamics supporting documents on the shared drive and supervise proper archiving of hard copies.
• Upload the offline G/L or PEX journals for non-Purchase Orders (POs) transactions of the Finance team after reviewing the transaction in the journals against those in the cash books. Ensure that the accounts codes are accurately used to avoid mix-ups during the reconciliation. He/She will especially pay more attention to the Month End Reconciliation (MER) accounts to ensure that they are monthly reconciled, which includes the reconciliation of the taxes PAYE, WHT, and statutory NHF, NSITF.
• Assist the Finance Manager and grant team in creating the Pseudo Invoices (PIV) for the milestones and update the payment request tracker for all grants installments paid in HQ or on the fields.

Capacity-Building (10% of the time)

• To train the staff about the DRC procedures and the use of the ERP System.
• To advise on and promote understanding and application of DRC policies, procedures, and principles.

The responsibilities listed in the Job Description are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Required Qualifications

 Essential:

• Diploma degree/University degree in Economics, Finance/Accounting or Business Administration.
• Minimum 4 years of international practical experience in financial management
• Proven experience in managing large budgets.
• Competence in providing technical guidance and training.
• Ability to prepare basic training modules on Dynamics, accounting, and finance management.
• Excellent Computer Skills (MS Office, Internet) and advanced proficiency in Excel are required.
• Proficiency (written and spoken) in the English language.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills with a well-developed ability to motivate and persuade at high levels.
• Proven significant financial management experience.

Required Skills & Qualities

Core Competencies of DRC:

• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Excellent writing, proof-reading, and communication skills
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills
• Strong ability to adapt, take initiative and work in a multicultural environment
• Interest for humanitarian sector and donor’s environment
• Listening, analytical and synthesis skills
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace.