Job Vacancies at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Location: Yola, Adamawa
Contract type: National 
Employment Period: 6 months (Possibility of extension)
Area of Operations: Nigeria
Reporting to: Finance Team Lead, Adamawa
Supervised by: Finance Coordinator
Availability: 01.12.2021

Background

• Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and the Danish Demining Group (DDG), has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015. DRC Nigeria is the largest DRC country mission in the West Africa region and one of the largest DRC country missions globally.
• Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in the areas of armed violence reduction, humanitarian mine action, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 30+ Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in northeast Nigeria.

Purpose

• Under the supervision of the Finance Team Leader and Finance Coordinator the finance officer of Yola, assisted by a finance assistant, will be in charge of the daily finance and accounting management of Yola base.
• The Finance Officer will work on overall financial monitoring and support capacity building for Yola office and partners and to practice rigorous financial control mechanism and archiving System.
• He/she will make sure that financial procedures, policies, and requirements are implemented in compliance with DRC and Donors and to contribute to the achievement of DRC goals and vision.
• Functions as Finance Archivist  in Finance within the Country of Nigeria
• Provide overall support to the Finance DRC Nigeria as audit focal person.
• Hold a cash book and update at a daily basis the ERP-Dynamics system adequately
• Ensure compliance with the finance chapters of DRC’s Operations Handbook related to Dynamics.

Key Responsibilities
Management of the Office Cash Flow Include the Forecasts:

• Prepare the bank transfer instructions for suppliers’ payment on time for Yola office.
• Manage the cash and safe boxes for the cash payment in the office and on the field if required.
• In relation with the DRC programme and support departments of Adamawa, prepare the monthly cash flow forecast and send it to the finance specialist/Finance Coordinator for compilation.
• Ensure good relations with financial partners (banks, PFA, etc.).

Hold a cash book and update at a daily basis the ERP-Dynamics system adequately:

• Ensures accurately recording of all transactions made by cash or bank, monitors timely receipt and expenditure returns from Program Team and ensures correct data entry and reconciliation in the Cash book and Dynamics.
• Manages daily operation in the area of accounting system which is in line with DRC and Donor’s requirements and ensures the records or entries are up to date in the cash books and Dynamics.
• Complies with Finance and Procurement guidelines when dealing with any transactions.
• Check the justification of operational advances before making payment and ensure of the settlement in a reasonable time.
• Check and control the elements of accounting packages, including the consistency between cash books and Dynamics entries, physical counting, and balances.
• Proceed to the monthly closure of accounting: physical counting, editing of accounting documents (cover sheets), verification of supporting documents.
• Stamp monthly the invoices with the donor stamp and/or the stamp “paid”.
• Ensures proper financial documentation in Yola office

Management of Financial Assets and Liabilities of the Base:

• Records all assets and liabilities in the cash books and Dynamics at Daily basis and follow properly their settlement in Dynamics and the cash book as well.
• Ensure a monthly reconciliation of all assets/liabilities received from the Headquarter and recorded in Nigeria Legal Entity and especially those of Yola Office.

Tax Deduction and Remittance on Time:

• Ensure that the withholding taxes is well calculated, recorded in the Dynamics System and paid at monthly basis.
• Follow up on the staff statutory and taxes payment at monthly basis and ensure that all receipts are collected and archived.
• Collect the taxes clearance certificate or credit notes when the payment is done.
• With support of Finance specialist and/or Finance Coordinator, takes the role of info-sharing to staff and PFAs in relation to HR matters (PAYE, PENSION, NSITF, NHF Payment).

Archiving and Audit Management in Yola:

• Ensure that all the supporting documents are attached per transaction in Dynamics.
• Ensure that all supporting (Hard copies) are scanned with covers sheet attached and saved on Nigeria Dropbox, hard drives, etc.
• At monthly basis, ensure that all supporting documents for transactions recorded in Yola and from other locations (Maiduguri, Mubi, Damaturu, Abuja, etc.) are centralized in Yola in the archive Room and all financial records are also verified and are good for audits purposed. In that regard, at monthly basis share a verification report with the finance specialist and finance coordinator for actions if needed.
• At monthly basis, ensure that all folders containing finance records from each location are tagged and well arrange in the archive room.
• The finance and compliance officer in Yola will be responsible of the security of the archive room and he/she shall be taking care of it.
• Participate in audits preparation/execution (compilation of audit requirements)
• Provides feedback and enhances internal controls to satisfy audit requirements; takes part of providing data and records during the audit process; reports immediately on irregular spending to Finance specialist or Finance Coordinator as deemed appropriate.

Other supports required for this position:

• Provide technical support to the program/Support team of Yola base and other bases if required.
• Takes part of regular staff meeting and respects to the weekly task report in line with performance management.

Required Qualifications
Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• Degrees preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to Finance, Accounting, Administration.

Experience and Technical Competencies: (include years of experience)
Essential:

• Experience working in international Non-Governmental (INGO) with a background in Audit and compliance management is considered as an asset.
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in general accounting, finance, and Administration experience is needed
• Ability to work closely and effectively in a team to achieve work priorities and objectives.
• Ability to work with ERP-Dynamics will be an appreciated advantage.
• Enthusiasm as a team player, who is flexible, always ready to take on new challenges and drives for results in a dynamic environment
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and deliver under pressure.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and advise especially to non-finance colleague.
• A Good Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Etc.) is considerable.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• The knowledge of local Language is also an asset.

Required Skills & Qualities:

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor.

Salary & Benefits

• NM-H
• In accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.
• The income will be subject to statutory deductions as per applicable Nigeria laws. The employee is responsible for the tax returns.

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Location: Mubi, Adamawa
Contract type: National 
Employment Period: 6 months with possibility of extension
Area of Operations: Nigeria
Reporting to: Area Manager
Supervised by: MEAL Coordinator
Availability: 01.12.2021

About the Job

• The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)  Team leader leads the direct implementation of all MEAL processes and activities required to improve programme quality over the course of project implementation, ensure and demonstrate positive impact on beneficiaries’ lives.
• S/he works under the direct supervision of the Area Manager in Adamawa, with technical guidance and overall leadership from the MEAL Coordinator.
• S/he plays a key role in ensuring that the learning system helping Programme teams to make iterative improvements to design and implementation is functional and effective at all times.
• The MEAL team leader is responsible to conduct all field monitoring and other data collection exercises required to measure indicators for all projects / programmes’ Logical Frameworks present in their area of operation.
• This includes, among other responsibilities, management of the Red Rose platform, tracking area-specific project activities and measuring progress against indicators in close collaboration with the Programme teams, carrying out all field data collection including assessment, monitoring or evaluation as instructed by Area manager and MEAL Coordinator, supporting data analysis and reporting efforts at state level, disseminating monitoring and evaluation findings with MEAL and Programme teams at at state level, and ensuring follow up and documentation of actions taken.
• S/he will be compiling project- and programme-level output data received from project teams, and will be responsible for the timely reporting on monitoring missions, recommendations and actions taken; progress made on outcome indicators.
• S/he will submit daily, weekly and monthly update to the Area manager, Consortium MEAL focal person and to the MEAL Coordinator.
• Finally, s/he will also assist in strengthening DRC Nigeria accountability mechanisms at state level in close collaboration with the Complaints Response Mechanism team. 

Responsibilities
Meal Systems Development at Base Level in Consultation with the Country Meal Coordinator:

• Based on the project proposals, implementation plan, and donor reporting requirements, support the MEAL Coordinator in the development and implementation of a system for capturing and documenting data and relevant information on project activities, beneficiaries, outputs, outcomes, and impacts
• Ensure an effective roll-out of MEAL collection and reporting systems at the base level through training, site visits, manuals, and other technical support as needed
• Conduct training for base project staff on MEAL in line with identified capacity needs and provide ongoing mentoring support in consultation with the MEAL Coordinator.
• Work with the various project teams to ensure that all information and data is collected, documented, and collated in an accurate and timely manner
• Contribute to regular reviews of the MEAL system itself, making improvements as needed and recommended, in consultation with technical managers MEAL Coordinator, staff, and partners
• Support on the management of the RedRose platform under the MEAL coordinator supervision.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Lead on compilation of regular monthly and quarterly base level reports using data provided by Base project teams and ensure data verification prior to use.
• Support the Head of Base and technical MEAL coordinator to ensure that planned activities are carried out in a timely fashion, cost effective, adheres to best practice and standard operating procedure.
• Provide base level project data to help with donor monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting

Research and Evaluation:

• Coordinate with the donor-contracted Evaluation Team for conducting of activities at base and community level.
• Support coordination of overall project review and evaluation activities as required. This includes working with the independent Evaluation Team to coordinate mid-term and final evaluations and supporting donor and external reviews as required

Accountability:

• Support creation of a system for ensuring that information obtained is also shared with communities, women, and other stakeholders through a regular feedback mechanism.
• Ensure beneficiary accountability mechanism is logged and addresses complaints in a timely manner. Ensure program managers are aware of delays in acting on any complaints or information requests
• Training beneficiaries, community stakeholders and program participants on DRC complaint response mechanism to promote downward accountability.

Staff Management:

• Supervise MEAL unit team at Adamawa (MEAL Assistants and Officers).
• Provide technical and programmatic leadership for MEAL Assistants and Officers and other stakeholders as deemed
• Set performance objectives and annual appraisal for MEAL unit staff.

Knowledge Management & Learning:

• In consultation with Area manager, country MEAL coordinator and technical managers, facilitate and compile case studies, change stories and lessons learned reports on a regular basis to share wider program and inform improvements in quality and delivery
• Analyze information about the base level program / projects and make recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure key base level lessons and challenges are documented and shared with staff and partners to help consolidate lessons learned for future proposal development and implementation of best practices.
• Proven knowledge of managing red rose platform.

Key Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Social Sciences, Humanitarian and/or Development Studies, or relevant field.

Essential:

• Training in quantitative methodologies, including database management.
• 4 years of direct experience of monitoring and evaluation related to one or more of these fields: Protection, WASH, Shelter, Food security, Livelihoods Community Liaison and Peace Building initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills and an understanding of a range of methods for monitoring, evaluation, and assessment to promote evidence-based learning.  Demonstrated ability and understanding to design, commission, and manage assessment methodologies and techniques such as focus group discussions, key informant interviews, observations to name a few.
• Good verbal and written communication skills. Ability to analyses data and summarize it for a range of different audiences.
• Good understanding of red rose platform in addressing issues relating beneficiary cash programming
• Computer literate.
• Ability to build support from staff across teams and across members, and to build the capacity of others.
• Proven ability to coordinate effective resource allocation to ensure quality programs.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities and evaluate progress.
• Experience of working within budget constraints.
• Commitment to DRC’s mission, values, and approach.
• Commitment to team working and understanding of how to contribute. Ability to build support from staff across teams and across members, and to build the capacity of others.
• Proven ability to coordinate effective resource allocation to ensure quality program.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities and evaluate progress.
• Experience of working within budget constraints.
• Commitment to DRC’s mission, values, and approach.
• Commitment to team working and understanding of how to contribute.

Desirable:

• Good verbal and written communication skills. Ability to analyses data and summarise it for a range of different audiences.
• Ability to build support from staff across teams and across members, and to build the capacity of others.
• Proven ability to coordinate effective resource allocation to ensure quality programmes.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities and evaluate progress.
• Experience of working under budget constraints.
• Commitment to DRC  mission, values and approach.
• Commitment to team working and understanding of how to contribute.

Core Competencies of DRC:

• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity

Languages:

• English
• Ability to speak the common local languages including Hausa, Kanuri, and Fulani.

Key Stakeholders: (internal and external)

• MEAL Team Leader/ MEAL Coordinator
• Area Manager
• Other program staff
• Consortium partners
• Other humanitarian partners.

Salary & Benefits

• M-G
• In accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.
• The income will be subject to statutory deductions as per applicable Nigeria laws. The employee is responsible for the tax returns.