Grant Accountant - Nigeria Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) at Palladium Group

Project Overview

• SCALE is a USAID-funded 5-year project (Oct 08, 2020 – Oct 07, 2025), implemented by Palladium in collaboration with the local resource partners. The goal of the SCALE is to strengthen the financial, management and advocacy capacity of local civil society organizations (CSOs) and Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) in Nigeria to create a more accountable, transparent, peaceful, and democratic Nigeria with more effective and efficient public service delivery.
• SCALE supports civil society organizations (CSOs) and business membership organizations (BMOs) across all of USAID/Nigeria’s programmatic sectors with a basket of managerial, business strengthening, and advocacy capacity-building interventions aimed at advancing Nigerian CSO sustainability combined with targeted grants to advance mutually agreed upon priorities. The project is designed to enhance local civil society organizations’ ability to be positive and responsible change agents in Nigeria.  
• The project has five main components: 1) Component One – Improve CSO organizational capacity, 2) Component Two – Enhance capacity for CSO advocacy, collaboration and management, 3) Component Three – Improve the policy and regulatory environment for civil society, 4) Component Four – Countering Trafficking in Persons (CTIP), and 5) Component Five – Sector strengthening and advocacy.

Purpose of Position

• The Grant Accountant will be responsible for maintaining financial, accounting, and grant support services to meet the needs of SCALE and the donor. This position will be responsible for reviewing partners financial reports, providing financial reporting, and financial analysis.
• This position is also responsible for the operations of post-award grant administration and related accounting duties. Working closely with the Grant Officers, Grants Manager and Finance Team, the Grant Accountant will focus heavily on budgeting, compliance, reporting, and variance analysis functions.
• This position is established to work in close collaboration with SCALE Grantees to accurately account for project costs, thoroughly analyze variances to budget and clearly communicate these results to management.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform grant-related post-award functions, including budget and expense analysis, processing partners advance request, financial reporting, reconciliations, re-budgeting, and grant closeout functions required by Grants unit.
• Review and prepare accurate and timely financial reports on grants for internal management purposes.
• Work with the Grants Manager and Grants Officers on cash flow forecasts for Grants.
• Produce budget and expense analysis reports.
• Work with Program Team, Grants Officer, and appropriate SCALE staff in the development of forecasts, budgets, and budget revisions for Partners.
• Communicate monthly financial results with appropriate program staff, informing them of financial position of the sub awardees.
• Coordinate with the Finance Manager to process advance requests for various sub awardees.
• Ensure compliance of grants management policies/procedures and donor rules/regulations, including USAID.
• Perform ad-hoc financial analysis in response to requests or to provide support to various programs.
• Train and provide ongoing technical assistance to field office finance staff and program partners on best practices for financial management systems to increase capacity.
• Visit partners offices to support financial management of grant-funded projects, conduct periodic compliance review of grant-funded projects, to include financial management overviews with field office staff and partner staff.
• Support partners in monthly review and reconciliation of cash accounts associated with SCALE project including receipt of monthly bank statements.
• Support required audits in the SCALE and partner offices.
• Identify and recommend cost savings initiatives for program activities and the organization.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Accounting / Finance or closely related field plus 3-5 years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, with experience in budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting; ACA is an added advantage.
• Ability to effectively communicate financial information to non-financial managers.
• Ability to analyze, evaluate, and summarize financial records for accuracy and conformity to procedures, rules and regulations.
• Familiar with best accounting fundamentals, standards, and practices.
• Strong analytical, presentation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Capable of managing numerous simultaneous projects.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience with MS Office package software applications with advanced skills using Microsoft Excel.
• Good organizational, verbal, and written communication skills as well as ability to multi-task are essential.