Finance Associate (West Africa Fellows Program) at Acumen

About The Role

• The Program Senior Finance Associate will be responsible for supporting regional financial operations, ensuring accurate accounting, statutory compliance, grant expenditure tracking, and timely financial reporting.
• The role will partner closely with program teams and global finance to ensure donor requirements are met, financial controls are strong, and resources are deployed responsibly.
• This position serves as a critical bridge between regional implementation and global finance oversight, helping ensure sound financial stewardship and operational excellence in the region.

Key Responsibilities Will Include
Program Finance & Grant Support:
In close collaboration with the Program Finance Manager and the Program Lead:

• Support financial management of a donor-funded program in West Africa, ensuring expenditures align with approved budgets and donor restrictions.
• Track program burn rates, pipeline projections, and cash flow needs across pillars.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports for internal leadership and global finance.
• Support the preparation of donor financial reports by providing regional expenditure data, variance explanations, and documentation.
• Monitor grant disbursements, local contracting, and payment schedules in line with program timelines.
• Support annual operating planning and multi-year budget preparation for AWA.
• Flag financial risks, compliance gaps, or forecast variances early to regional and global finance leadership.
• Accountability Note: While global grant strategy and donor contracting oversight sit with the Program Finance Manager based in Canada, the Senior Associate is responsible for accurate regional execution, tracking, and compliance documentation.

Financial Accounting & Reporting:

• Process and review all financial transactions through purchase orders in NetSuite in line with budgets, grant codes, and cost centers.
• Manage and maintain an accurate and efficient month-end close process by BD 5 through NetSuite and Floqast- reconciliations, amortizations, and depreciation.
• Prepare and review monthly P&L, Balance Sheet, Trial Balance, and Cash Flow statements for accuracy.
• Perform all the monthly overhead allocations and ensure that the fund assignments and cost centers and expenses are accurately allocated.
• Prepare and book general accrual and correct journal entries, and intercompany journal entries as appropriate, and ensure that all the financial transactions are captured in the systems at all times.
• Prepare monthly bank and all balance sheet account reconciliation and upload it on G-Drive.
• Prepare and maintain the Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE) schedules and reconciliations of the Fixed Asset Register in the NetSuite asset module monthly.
• Maintain a database of all the invoices and payment vouchers both electronically and physically monthly.

Treasury & Cash Management:

• Manage regional cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning.
• Serve as liaison with bankers and manage treasury relationships.
• Prepare and submit intercompany recharge invoices (e.g., SLA/TP arrangements).
• Ensure timely vendor payments and expense reimbursements.

Statutory Compliance & Audit:

• Ensure full compliance with local statutory obligations (Income Tax, PAYE, NHF, NSITF, ITF, WHT, VAT).
• Prepare and maintain reconciled tax schedules monthly.
• Coordinate the Acumen West Africa annual external audit and align with NY/global audit requirements.
• Ensure adherence to internal financial policies and donor compliance standards.
• Strengthen documentation and audit-readiness practices across the region.
• Given the regulatory complexity in West Africa, this role requires strong familiarity with local tax authorities, regulatory filings, and evolving compliance requirements.

Procurement, Controls & Risk Management:

• Ensure payments are supported by adequate documentation, proper procurement processes, and approvals, in line with budgets.
• Review employee expense reports for receipts and approval in adherence with travel policy, input in accounts payable for payment, and implement appropriate action for any outstanding balances.
• Independently verify the vendor payments to ensure value for money on procurement of goods and services/contracts and assist budget owners with the review of pricing.
• Reconcile vendor invoices and/or statements to ensure timely payments. Follow-up on any outstanding issues with vendors and service providers.
• Maintain contract tracking database (commercial and consultancy contracts).
• Strengthen internal controls, segregation of duties, and documentation practices.
• Identify areas for process improvement and efficiency in regional finance operations.

Systems & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with global finance on shared grants, cost allocations, and intercompany processes.
• Support program teams with financial guidance and budget management training.
• Maintain data accuracy in NetSuite and related financial systems.
• Contribute to process improvements in reporting and financial data quality.
• Perform any other tasks as may be assigned from time to time by the immediate supervisor.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in accounting, audit, or program finance.
• Professional certification required (ACCA, CPA, ICAN, or equivalent).
• Experience working with donor-funded programs (foundations, institutional donors, government funding preferred).
• Demonstrated experience managing statutory compliance in Nigeria (and familiarity with broader West African contexts is an asset).
• Advanced Excel skills; proficiency in NetSuite or similar ERP systems preferred.
• Experience supporting audits and multi-entity financial environments.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to build relationships and work effectively in teams.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
• Self reflective and aligned with Acumen values.
• Permanently authorized to work in Nigeria.