National Finance Coordinator at Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

Country: Nigeria

Region: West Africa

Supervisor: Country Director

Introduction 
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), is an International Catholic Organization working across 56 countries whose mission is to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and IDPs in conflict zones, detention centres, and on remote borders.

General Objective of the  Position
The National Finance Officer is responsible for JRS Nigeria’s finances and the monitoring, reporting and financial evaluation of projects.

Main Responsibilities 

Management and cash management

•  Accounting management of JRS Nigeria
• Expenditure tracking with the use of JRS Navision software
• Cash management of JRS Nigeria
• Participate in the selection of the basic Financial Administrators
• Build the capacity of the local Financial Administrators on the use of Excel and Navision
• Ensure good communication with partner banks of JRS Nigeria
• Supervise the preparation and timely development of all monthly bank reconciliations and cash orders according to JRS procedures.
• Ensure compliance with JRS policies on advances and the use of bank payment methods.
• Coordinate the proper management of cash registers in JRS offices and bases.
• Ensure the digitization of accounting documents and their quarterly archiving on Onedrive in connection with the accountants / administrators and cashiers.
• Coordinate the physical archiving of accounting documents and their possible dispatch

Project Development and budget management

• Prepare the annual plan of JRS Nigeria optimizing the allocation of resources for specific expenses, based on grant restrictions and program needs.
• Assist Project Managers and Program Officers in the preparation of budgets and financial monitoring of projects
• Prepare monthly budget follow-ups and give technical recommendations to the teams.
• Monitor the transfer of funds to receive ongoing funding and their effective allocation to the programs concerned

Report and Communication

• Inform the Country Director of activities according to JRS’ financial procedures
• Send to the Regional Office the financial information according to the mechanisms and formats defined
• Develop consolidated JRS Nigeria financial reports, plans and monitoring plans
• Participation in JRS coordination meetings and JRS Nigeria national meetings
• Ensure continued compliance with contractual, legal and financial regulatory compliance requirements concerning donors.
• Follow up on recommendations arising from visits and verification of accounts by donors or their representatives.
• Prepare and monitor external audits of donors.
• Monitor and follow supply contracts.
• Prepare financial reports for internal management purposes and for external donors
• Submit monthly for approval, JRS budget follow-ups to the National Director before their transmission to the Regional Office.
• Check that the bank balances correspond to the NAVISON balances as well as the cash balances by the 5th of the following month at the latest

Representation

• In coordination with the Director of  Program Operations, represents JRS in Education clusters or sectoral meetings with UN Representatives, other Agencies and Humanitarian Partners and Local Government

Evaluation

• Evaluate and identify problems or new opportunities and propose solutions
• Evaluate the expected results of the projects

Capacity Building:

• Provide continuous training and technical support to project finance staff, to improve skills in the areas of accounting, reporting and internal control.
• Ensure the orientation and placement of new administrators or accountants
• Visit the projects / bases / sites 
• Evaluate and help implement improved internal controls
• Monitoring of internal audit reports
• Help with problem solving
• Support project accountants

Experience and Qualifications

• University degree (at least Msc) in the fields of: economics, management, accounting, audit-control or any equivalent diploma.
• Be a member of a highly recognized professional accountancy body in Nigeria like (ICAN, ANAN) etc.
• Four - Five years work experience in the humanitarian field and as finance manager
• Mastery of English (read, written and spoken mandatory). 
• Experience in proposal preparation and budgeting of financial projects and reports
• Mastery of Word, Excel, Outlook, MS Project

Qualities

• Adhere to JRS’ values and respect the code of conduct
• Ability to take initiatives and bring innovative ideas.
• Sense of communication and good interpersonal skills
• Sense of discretion and responsibility
• Ability to adapt to working conditions and tasks that may change with the reality of the field.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure environment