Finance and Procurement Officer at Learning Through Skills Acquisition Initiative - LETSAI

POSITION CODE: LTS/UNI/BO/21/FPO

PROJECT DURATION: 3 months

PROJECT DONOR: UNICEF

PROJECT LOCATION: DIKWA/ MAIDUGURI (Borno state)

Job Description

The “Increasing Access to Comprehensive and Gender-Responsive Services for Children and Survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State” (ACCESS- G), the project is funded by UNICEF under the Small Scale Funding Agreement (SSFA) which will be for duration of three (3) months

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Provision of project support services;
• Provision of support to financial monitoring and reporting;
• Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing.
• Under the supervision of the Project Coordination, The Project Procurement and Finance Officer has overall responsibility for planning, organizing, executing and reporting on all financial and procurement transactions of the project. Specifically, she/he will:
• Manage project cash controls as well as maintain book keeping up-to-date;
• Ensure maintenance of the general and subsidiary ledgers;
• Track expenditure and maintain relevant cash reserves;
• Ensure all expenses of the project are within assigned project budget;
• Oversee the preparation of all financial statements, invoices, proposals, etc., of the project as required;
• Ensure account receivables and payables activities are performed accurately and timely;
• Ensure that financial transactions of the project are properly updated and recorded;
• Manage the preparation of balance sheets, income statements, expense reports, etc.;
• Ensure data integrity in all financial reporting;
• Update financial records of the project with recent transactions and changes;
• Perform finance analysis, reporting and management tasks of the project;
• Identify and resolve invoicing issues, accounting discrepancies and other financial related issues;
• Review financial paperwork and procedures and make appropriate changes;
• Ensures the timely delivery of quality project products at the lowest possible cost;
• Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UNICEF and LETSAI rules, procedures and regulations;
• Elaborate proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultation with Project Coordination Unit;
• Conduct a comparative analysis on supplier prices;
• Review and evaluates the performance of the suppliers;
• Carry out all necessary procurement activities and ensure proper processing of assigned customer orders;
• Verifies that the required quantity of order is within the agreed budget;
• Collaborate with Project Coordination Unit when processing the orders;
• Submits final invoices to the Project Coordination Unit;

Perform other duties as required.

Impact of results:

The key results have an impact on the execution of the ACCESS-G project, support services management in terms of quality and accuracy of work completed.  Accurate data entry, presentation of information and client-oriented approach enhances LETSAI capability in provision of project support services.

Competencies

Communicating information and ideas:

Communicating clearly and effectively. Seeking to understand the ideas of others. Facilitating and encouraging open communication. Creating an environment for open communication. Inspiring and persuading others.

Ethics and values:

Taking actions that are congruent with what he/she says. Reliably delivering on promises and honoring commitments made. Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNICEF /LETSAI in actions and decisions. Demonstrating an appreciation of differences in values and learning from cultural diversity. Moves from demonstrating sensitivity to encouraging full participation, to leveraging diversity. 

Knowledge sharing/continuous learning:

Taking responsibility for self-learning and development. Actively seeking learning and career development opportunities. Promoting organizational learning and knowledge management. Building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Organizational awareness:

Understanding, building and using formal/ informal systems and contacts in a complex organizational and global environment to obtain results. Moves from an ability to use organizational services to assist others, to applying corporate thinking and applying judgment, to building support and finally, demonstrating political acumen.

Self-management and emotional intelligence:

Managing moods, responding effectively to stress, situations of ambiguity or crisis. Managing relationships with others to achieve mutual benefits. Building an emotionally intelligent organization.

Working in teams:

Working effectively with colleagues in ways that allow the achievement of shared objectives. Building teams both within existing organizational structures and outside of them. Creating team spirit and unity of purpose across the business unit. 

Functional competencies:

• Building strategic partnerships: Establishing, maintaining, and utilizing a broad network of contacts. Building partnerships and strategic alliances. Leveraging the resources of national governments and other development partners;
• Client orientation: Understanding and meeting or exceeding client needs. Anticipating and addressing client needs and concerns. Developing innovative approaches to meeting client needs. Ensuring overall provision of quality services to clients;
• Job knowledge and technical expertise: Demonstrating and applying professional and/or technical expertise/knowledge of the post or discipline. Focusing on the knowledge and skill areas necessary to effectively perform the functions of the post. Identifying and seeking to expand knowledge and improve work processes;
• Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise: Supporting LETSAI’s advocacy by developing innovative and creative approaches to the provision of technical expertise. Moves from research to analysis to developing innovative and creative approach to conceptual leadership and championing conceptual innovation;
• Creating visibility for LETSAI/supporting LETSAI’s capacity to advocate: Ensuring that LETSAI has the visibility and corporate image it requires as the key development actor;
• Design and implementation of management systems: Ensuring that LETSAI has the internal management systems it requires as the key development actor; 
• Innovation and marketing new approaches: Enhance existing processes or products. Developing original and innovative ideas and approaches;
• Integration in a multi-disciplinary environment;    
• Promoting accountability and results-based management: Monitoring and promoting practices, procedures and systems that support accountability and results-based management, while also influencing change in the organizational culture;
• Results-based programme development and management. Effectively managing core and non-core resources to achieve LETSAI development results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business/financial management or a related discipline with a recognized accounting certification or is working towards an accounting certification.

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years of relevant work experience that demonstrates increasing levels of responsibility and includes at least two (2) years of experience in a similar setup;
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word software is required, and computerized accounting systems (e.g. the TOMPRO, FINEXPP) is desirable;
• Familiarity with contract and financial procedures of LETSAI/UNICEF is preferred, and knowledge of Government of Ghana administrative procedures is desirable;
• Possess good organizational skills and able to work independently;
• Good writing and speaking skills in English are required; and the ability to communicate in a local language would be beneficial;
• Good interpersonal skills, proficient in interacting with Government officials, with international organizations and grassroots level community members;
• Experience in working and collaborating within governments is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Excellent knowledge of English including writing and communication skills and knowledge of one local language of the project implementation areas would be an asset.

Technology Proficiency:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Power point, Excel, Outlook, etc).

Standards of Professional Conduct:  LETSAI and LETSAI workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the LETSAI Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, LETSAI operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: LETSAI is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowance.

Nigerian nationals are encouraged to apply.  International allowances are not available for this position. Salary and employee benefits are compliant to the Nigerian NGO Sector.

LETSAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Disclaimer:

Please take note that Learning through Skills Acquisition Initiative (LETSAI) does not ask for any fees in connection with its recruitment processes.