Finance Officer at ZOA International

ZOA’s programme in Nigeria

• ZOA started operations in Nigeria in December 2016, supporting IDPs and host communities. In the selection of the beneficiaries, we pay careful attention to including the most vulnerable households.
• Continuously promoting community governance, inclusion, peace, and stability in these fragmented and traumatized communities is a challenging but essential part of ZOA's programme.
• ZOA currently has a full team in Borno State and responds to the critical needs in Food Security and livelihood Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Education.

Purpose of the Position

• The Finance Officer is responsible for the Finance and Administration systems of ZOA in the Maiduguri Office, in other to support smooth organizational functioning and effective program implementation.
• Overall advice and support will be given to the Finance Manager.
• The Finance Officer reports to the Finance Manager. The position is based in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Maintain files; including filling of general ledger, payment vouchers, account payable documentation, and other miscellaneous payments.
• Assist in arranging travel logistics for all departments, consultants, and training participants; including flight tickets, hotel reservations, airport pickup, meetings, and workshops.
• Support finance in printing, photocopy, and scanning of documents; including storage and archiving in accordance with the ZOA policy.
• Maintain cordial relationships with the staff members and treat visitors, guests, and program beneficiaries with courtesy.
• Ensure regular internal controls (cash counts, spot checks, receipt checks) regarding financial processes are done to reduce the opportunities for fraud or abuse of funds, goods, and materials;
• Conduct him/her both professionally and personally in such a manner that it will bring credit to ZOA and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Any other duty that is reasonably consistent with the key tasks of the function.
• Ensure correct coding of Project Instance, budget line, and ledger code in line with approved budget and ZOA Accounting Manual and Procedure.
• Assist the Finance Manager with budget development, monthly financial closure procedures, and external audits or internal ZOA audits
• Advice and support program offices in all aspects of financial management;
• Provide financial and other information from ERP (Unit 4) and other finance records to other ZOA staff, whenever this is required;
• Ensure all financial documents are structurally archived (Hard and Electronic copy) in line with the ZOA Quality Management System.
• Produce monthly financial reports for projects, partners, country office, and authorities and facilitate the monitoring of the program expenditures against the budgets;
• Ensure that bank and cash books are always up to date and reconciled every week/month.
• Ensure that an efficient and effective financial system is implemented, in line with the ZOA policies and guidelines;
• Participate in the project kick-off meeting and provide budget clarity as may be required.

External Contacts:

• Community members, Vendors & Suppliers, and community-based organizations;
• Relevant government authorities on a district and local level;
• National and international NGOs working in ZOA’s target areas;
• Any other stakeholders in project implementation at the community level;

Internal Contacts:

• ZOA office and program staff.

Qualifications and Competencies

Knowledge / Experience:

• University Degree or equivalent (minimally HND, BSc/BA, preferably Accountancy) or relevant field;
• Proven working experience of at least 2 - 3 years in the relevant field;
• Affinity with humanitarian work and International NGO’s;
• Excellent spoken and written command of English;
• A good understanding of Hausa or Kanuri is an added advantage
• Excellent computer skills (accounting systems, Excel, Word, ERP (Unit 4), and PowerPoint).

Skills / Attitude:

• Excellent report writing skills
• Good planning and organizational skills;
• Accuracy;
• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Result-oriented in a team approach;
• Ability to work individually as well as in a team;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural setting;

Identity:

• The candidate is expected to support the identity, vision, and mission of ZOA.