Latest Jobs at International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE:

• The Director of Finance and Administration will oversee operations in support of the IFES Nigeria SEAT program.
• The responsibilities for this role include, but are not limited to logistics, procurement, sub-contracts or sub-awards, and ensuring sound financial/accounting management practices.
• This individual also oversees internal control measures, conducts internal financial audits, and coordinates external financial audits.
• The Director prepares budgets for annual work plans and financial reports for headquarters. This individual also develops the financial management capacity of all relevant staff and subrecipients.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide leadership to finance and operations aspects of the project, including general administrative processes, financial management, sub award management, accounting, and logistics;
• Establish and maintain sound and transparent accounting and fiscal control procedures for financial, sub award and operations aspects of project;
• Ensure compliance of financial and operations systems with IFES policies and procedures, USAID rules and regulation, award requirements, and Government of Nigeria;
• Develop, analyze and monitor program budgets and monitor and track obligations and expenditures against budgets;
• Manage project procurement processes;
• Advise Country Director and Deputy Country Director regularly on financial and operations-related matters;
• Provide technical assistance, as needed, to local partners on financial compliance and reporting;
• Liaise with internal and external auditors in the review of project financial management;
• Supervise other project-based administrative, finance, and procurement, staff; and
• Other duties, as assigned.

SKILLS and SPECIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with USAID and other donor rules and regulations is required.
• Knowledge in generally accepted accounting, budgeting, and fiscal control principles;
• Demonstrated experience and skills in developing and managing large budgets;
• Relevant skills in automated accounting software systems such as QuickBooks and database spreadsheets;
• Experience building capacity in financial management of community-based organizations and implementing partners;
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with NGO partners, community-based organizations, and international donor agencies;
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, depth, and breadth of financial management expertise;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience establishing and maintaining good relationships with a wide variety of professionals and organizations;
• Ability to remain highly organized while handling multiple tasks under tight deadlines;
• Ability to complete tasks with limited supervision;
• Business awareness and numerical ability;
• Must possess solid communication and presentation skills;
• Willingness to adhere to all principles of confidentiality;
• Must value operating in a collaborative and cooperative environment;
• Ability to show initiative, good judgment, and resourcefulness;
• Conduct himself/herself with integrity and function ethically; and
• Ability to manage staff and work with senior management.

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related field. However, a bachelor's degree and five (5) additional years of relevant international business management, finance, accounting and/or contracting experience can be substituted for the master's degree.
• An ACA/ACCA/CPA or other recognized professional accounting qualification preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, auditing, finance, or business management, including at least three (3) years of post-qualification experience as an auditor with a recognized public or private firm or as a finance manager with a reputable private business, civil society organization or donor agency.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage large budgets, and in-depth knowledge of USG Cost Accounting Standards.
• Experience working on USG-funded programs is required. Applicants must have knowledge of USAID award regulations 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 700.
• Progressively responsible experience supervising project operations, including human resources, procurement, and sub-contracts or sub-awards.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and English oral and written communication skills; demonstrated supervisory skills; and ability to work well on a team.
• Proficiency in Word, Power point, Outlook and Excel.
• Relevant computer software skills and familiarity with accounting

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PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE:

The DCD/HOP will serve as the Head of Programs, act as alter ego to the COP and serves as the principal point of contact in Nigeria for procedural and substantive matters in the absence of the COP. The DCOP will be responsible for the day-to-day technical activities and implementation of the activity.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide technical assistance to election institutions in all aspects of the electoral process as identified and included in the program description.
• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with key interlocutors, including but not limited to the electoral commission, civil society, donors, as well as democracy and governance implementers.
• Oversee project operations, including work planning and implementation logistics, ensuring coordination among operations and program staff.
• Liaise with other election assistance implementers, and the donor and diplomatic community to coordinate activities and maximize the impact of collective technical assistance efforts.
• Produce high-level analyses and outputs, such as articles, briefings, programmatic reports on key electoral and policy issues in Nigeria.
• Ensure high-quality programmatic reporting, including quarterly and annual programmatic reports to the donor.
• Strategize and contribute to IFES Nigeria technical and programmatic assessments.
• Lead annual workplan development. Evaluate strategies and activities on an ongoing basis to ensure maximum impact, proactively identifying appropriate next steps.
• When called upon by Country Director, represent IFES at meetings and events, including conferences with stakeholders.
• In conjunction with IFES Nigeria staff, support the organization of workshops, trainings and meetings related to the electoral process in line with the overall framework of the SEAT project.
• Oversee human resources. Together with the Country Director, provide general supervision and mentoring of local field staff, including ensuring completion of annual performance appraisals, supporting staff development and other management issues.
• In coordination with IFES/HQ and Country Director, assist in the identification, recruitment, and hiring of in-country office staff, as well as local and international technical consultants.
• Collaborate closely with IFES staff and consultants to ensure IFES work is carried out in a timely, coordinated, and professional manner; and
• Other relevant tasks as requested by Country.

POSITION SCOPE: 

• Manage and perform highly technical work requiring ingenuity and capacity to evaluate and respond to new and changing issues.?
• Support the Country Director in the technical implementation of IFES programming as it related to electoral technical assistance.
• Oversee varied activities and processes to support effective project implementation, reporting and compliance.

DECISION MAKING/PROBLEM SOLVING:

• Identify risk factors with potential to disrupt achievement of program/project goals. Analyze issues, problems or opportunities and propose appropriate courses of action, based on knowledge of professional principles and best practices.
• Participate in the development and implementation of strategies to track and mitigate risk and its potential impact.

RELATIONSHIPS: 

• Maintain collaborative working relationship with senior-level stakeholders within and outside IFES to ensure timely and successful achievement of project goals and objectives.
• Represent IFES with external contacts at professional and government levels in the absence of the Country Director.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: 

• Oversee program staff in country office as well as international and national electoral consultants and field experts in order to complete the project’s work plan and project monitoring and evaluation. 

SKILLS and SPECIFICATIONS:

• Extensive knowledge of all technical aspects of the electoral process.
• Demonstrated experience and exceptional training and facilitation skills; BRIDGE accreditation preferred.
• Exceptional communication skills with strong ability to deliberate complex political issues and build consensus.
• Extensive knowledge of the political environment and players in Nigeria.
• Ability to remain highly organized while handling multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
• Ability to initiate, conceptualize and complete complex tasks with limited supervision.
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
• Willingness to adhere to all principles of confidentiality and impartiality.
• Previous experience working in international organizations and in a politically sensitive and challenging environment.
• Ability to show initiative, good judgment, and

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in relevant fields such as social sciences, law, development studies,
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the successful implementation of international development activities in the democracy and elections sector.