Finance Officer at Plan International

Role Purpose

• Provide support under the responsibility of the Finance Operations Manager in ensuring that all accounting procedures for documentation of transactions of Funds Receipt and Disbursement are observed and financial processes and reports are in line with policies of Plan International Nigeria. To contribute to the provision of regular and detailed financial analysis report to inform management decisions.

Dimensions of the Role

• Implementation of financial management processes, protocols and systems.

Key End Results and Typical Responsibilities
Accounting Software operations and Reporting:

• Prepare payment, journal and receipt vouchers using the corporate accounting software - SAP.
• Ensure that transactions are complete and accurate with self-explanatory and understandable descriptions.
• Maintain good filing for all vouchers in a limited access area to ensure easy retrieval.
• Support in ensuring all documents are scanned and properly stored on Cloud
• Maintain a record of vouchers borrowed by staff and ensure that they are returned and filed appropriately.
• Support with the clearing of all open items.
• Support the monthly SAP closure processes.   
• Following up with offices and staff as regards the dashboard financial deadline requirements
• Print the monthly SAP reports for signing and appropriate filing.
• Ensure that the SAP balances of the advances account agree with the sub-ledger balances.
• Contribute to the monthly financial report.
• Support program staff in making payments to participants during activities implementation.

Internal Financial Controls & Payments:

• Ensure that the documentation for payment is acceptable and accurate with all arithmetic calculations being correct.
• Approved payment request should be processed within three days of receipt.
• Prepare the Withholding tax and VAT schedule where relevant before payment is done.
• Cancel (stamped PAID) all vouchers (payment, journal and receipt) and their supporting documents to forestall re-use.
• Ensure all cheques are prepared in a way that ensures accuracy and validation for payments
• Issue cheques as per weekly payment list; exception should be approved by CFM.
• Maintain cash books, including providing updates to Finance Operations Manager to prevent negative cash and bank balance.
• Release cheques to the right payee and ensure the appropriate receipts are issued and filed.
• Perform any other duties as specified by your supervisor(s).  

Advance Management:

• Prepare and maintain the sub-ledger for all advances (travel, purchase etc.).
• Ensure timely liquidation of staff advances should not exceed seven days after travel arrival
• Should ensure that more than one advance is given to staff at a time.
• Make available Bi-weekly to the Finance Operations Manager a list of all un-liquidated advances and support with the follow up of these advances.

Assist in the Administration of Staff Payroll:

• Prepare the withholding tax deductions report and completing and submitting monthly Statutory PAYE forms to relevant Government Organizations.
• Reconciles payment of NHF with Federal mortgage bank of Nigeria and a monthly update on all staff NHF Cards.
• Assist in the posting of all prepaid staff benefits on SAP.

Qualifications and Experience

• University Degree in Accounting or relevant professional qualifications equivalent.
• Not more than 3 years' experience in a similar role.
• A BSc or HND in Financial Accounting and related Financial / Business Administration courses.
• At least 2 years of practical work experience in managing financial and administrative systems for donor funded projects.
• A minimum of 1-year experience in grant financial management with donor-funded projects in Nigeria.

Skills Specific to the post needed to put knowledge into practice:

• Basic financial skills
• Possession of good report writing skills
• Passion for learning and development.
• Good computer literacy skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of Nigeria’s policy environment
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including good listening skills, influencing, negotiation.
• Capacity to build and maintain relationships and to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment respecting diversity.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.