Internal Control & Compliance Specialist at Sahei Gender Development Initiative

Location: Northeast, Maiduguri

Duration: 6 months (July-December) with possible extension

Responsibilities

• The Internal Control and Compliance Specialist will work with the Chief of Operations, project Coordinators and Finance Officer to support compliance with SGDI and donor guidelines and policies.
• This will be done through evaluating the effectiveness of the governance, risk management and control systems in place in SGDI.
• S/he will review, document and assess effectiveness of financial and operational controls over the SGDI  project administrative and project activities,
• The Internal Control and Compliance Specialist will undertake regular checks- process and management practice reviews, analyze records, reports, financial statements, and program implementation to ascertain that adequate internal controls are in place to mitigate the risk of non-compliance with local laws, donor requirements, policies and procedure
• S/he will advise on additional controls to be put in place in any area of weakness identified to ensure the protection of the project assets, funds and reputation and compliance with applicable donor guidelines and policies.
• S/he will be involved in conducting reviews into dishonest practices or other code of conducted concerns as may be delegated by the management.

Travels:

• The position will be based in Maiduguri but will require travel on a quarterly basis for supervisory oversight and ethical standard assurance and review of project related activities where we have the humanitarian response program

Key Areas of Accountability

• carry out a regularly reviews of financial, procurement/logistic, HR and program transactions and implementation, ensuring documentation supporting the transactions are in compliance with SGDI policies and procedures, grant agreements and donor regulations both at the Head Office and field office.
• Conducting spot-audits tests on donor requirement compliance in finance, Human resources, award, logistics, operations and project (activities, documentation and reporting) in line with donor requirement 
• Work closely with program unit to further a risk aware and responsive culture in designing and developing potential high-risk awards and improving compliance culture on the existing awards.
• Plan, conduct and lead audits and follow up on all internal and external audit action plans and provide periodic updates on actions taken.
• S/he will serve as a liaison for external audit and regulatory agencies on project as may be assigned by the Chief of Operations
• Assist in performing internal control reviews of in project processes, including cash and advance management, procurement, logistics, Programs- implementation, documentation and reporting, Data quality Assurance of M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) data source documents, stock (incl. food commodities), beneficiaries and food vendors management, assets management etc.
• Coordinate with the relevant departments to come up with actionable recommendations to improve any identified weaknesses.
• Track and age all reviews finding recommendations in line with agreed implementation timelines and follow-up to confirm implemented actions.
• Lead on fraud investigations as may be assigned, diligently document all relevant evidence, and ensure report is consistent with SGDI standards through SGDI Fraud team.  
• Maintain good working relationships with all SGDI stakeholders- staff, vendors, auditors, implementing partners) through effective communication and exercising professional conduct and objectivity.
• Deliver training as required to reinforce internal controls, risk mitigation, anti-corruption, fraud and anti-terrorism financing awareness and prevention.
• Carry out any other responsibility delegated within the role of the unit.

Accountability:

• Hold self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling SDGI.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for SGDI, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members, and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Qualification and Experience

Essential:

• A graduate of Finance, Accounting or a related Business field is required with professional qualification ACA, ICAN, ACCA or CPA) 
• 8- 10 years   related work experience, with minimum of 5 years in a not-for-profit organization (is a plus) or private setting
• Strong background in compliance, accounting and internal controls; experience in auditing (internal or external experience)
• Strong background knowledge in accounting and auditing softwares
• Extensive experience in relevant operational areas (e.g. in programme/project management in an INGO context) and experience of risk-based auditing.
• Be highly accurate, detail-orientated, and able to complete multiple projects, with conflicting priorities, on a timely basis.
• Excellent report English writing skills
• Ability to speak the local language- Hausa is strongly required.
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation, and relationship building.
• Strong cultural awareness and be able to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrate standards of ethics and integrity 
• Commitment to SDGI values.

Desirable:

• INGO experience or have worked in a commercial/public sector international organization.  
• Familiarity with grant requirements of major donors such as NHF, BHA/USAID, EC/ECHO, UNICEF, OFDA, FCDO and the UN.
• Good financial analysis aptitude
• Experience with Agresso financial software or other ERP software
• Counter fraud and investigation experience. 
• Ability to look at the bigger picture when assessing organizational performance and risk