Finance Officer at Shekinah Girl's Empowerment and Protection Initiative

Overall purpose of the role and geographical scope:

SGEPI is looking for a Finance Officer. We are looking for someone with substantial financial systems management experience to oversee and provide financial services support to the organization. SGEPI programmes are implemented in challenging contexts, with conflict and crisis driven displacements, challenging access environments and constantly changing security conditions. The Finance Officer will join SGEPI at an interesting time, setting up high quality Accounting and Financial systems across the country programmes, including both humanitarian and nexus programming. As part of the operation team and working closely with the Executive Director, Head of Operations, and other department/sector leads, this role is vital to ensure there are accountable systems in place to drive our country level vision and guide the organizing of SGEPI accounting and financial information system, data analysis and process improvement support. This is a pivotal role, providing support and guidance to financial regulations, fiscal quality and control of the organizations country programmes, ensuring accurate financial information and compliance with internal financial procedures and reporting standards, under the supervision of the Executive Director and in close collaboration with the Head of Programme.

Responsibilities:

• The Finance Officer works under the direct supervision of the Finance Manager based in Abuja and collaborates with all program and operations teams across Nigeria. S/he has the following specific responsibilities.
• Prepare, process, review, and ensure accuracy and conformity of accounting documents and accounting entries and handle the filling process;
• Receive and process invoices in accounting software;
• Oversee invoice tracking and process all payments/bills advances and reimbursements of the programme;
• Manage preparation of the office petty cash and other regular payments;
• Participate in the due diligence of partners and assess their financial capability;
• Review and control partners’ financial report and supporting documents and process their payment requests
• Monitor project cash flow and request funds from donors regularly in collaboration with Head of programme and Finance Manager;
• Prepare donor quarterly, periodic and final financial reports before CO finance review;
• Participate in the monthly and annual closing for country programme accounts, including calculation of use of funds and overhead;
• Lead project and state office financial audits in collaboration with Finance Manager, support Country Office audits;
• Review and approve Purchase Approval Forms from legal team and programme managers;
• Perform internal cost analyses, monthly and annual budget review;
• Work with Programme Managers and Grants Officer to monitor of budget-to-actual variances;
• Support Programme Managers and Grants Officer in drafting budgets for project proposals
• Prepare budget realignments in collaboration with programme manager; prepare activity budgets for specific activities;
• Support Grants Officer in developing compliance checklists and grant packages for new grants;
• Respond to questions from HR about taxes and social charges for staff members, liaise with HR regarding payroll for staff members;
• Prepare salary allocation for the staff, based on the projects;
• Work with Grants Officer to ensure compliance with internal and donor financial, accounting and financial reporting requirements; ensure compliance with Nigerian regulations;
• Work with Grants Officer to respond to questions from donors about financial obligations and reporting;
• Participate in the implementation of Internal Control System and elaboration of financial control tools and provide guidance to team members on questions relating to finance, procurement and internal controls;
• Act as liaison with the Executive Director for banking, accounting and payroll purposes at the country office;
• Assist in other financial and administrative tasks as needed and assigned by the supervisor

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate SGEPI’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Experience and Technical Competencies

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or similar field;
• At least three years of professional experience in finance and accounting;
• Experience in a civil society association, and/or in an international NGO an asset
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (particularly Word, Excel), Knowledge of Accounting software an asset;
• Demonstrated skills in budget preparation and follow-up;
• Demonstrated experience in preparing financial reports to institutional donors (exposure to US funding recommended);
• Knowledge of analytical accounting desirable;
• Experience in remote financial management and remote mentoring desirable;
• Strong organizational, planning and time-management skills;
• Familiarity with international development systems and policies (Donor experience strongly preferred).
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and cultural sensitivity.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.   
• Honest, meticulous, transparent, responsible;
• Well organized;
• Having an ethical and critical way of thinking;
• Ability to take initiative;
• Ability to work under pressure and to adapt to changing priorities and needs;
• Attention to detail and accuracy;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, teamwork;
• Commitment to human rights and the rule of law

What we offer

• Contract: 1 Year Contract with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.
• Salary: in accordance with the Shekinah Girls’ Empowerment and Protection Initiative’s Terms of Employment Management.

Availability: June 2023.