Federal Ministry of Water Resources Recruitment for Administrative and Finance Officer - 4 Openings

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) towards the cost of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of the credit towards payment for consultancy services in the form of an individual consultant as:

Job Title: Administrative and Finance Officer

Reference No: FMWR / TRIMING / 2020 / INDV / CS / 02
Locations: Kano / Jigawa / Zamfara / Sokoto
Name of Project: Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria
Project ID No: P123112

Overview

• The TRIMING Project is seeking to recruit individual Professional Experts (Consultant) in the above-named area with experience in investment operation relating to the management of Farmers Management and Service Centers in TRIMING Project Sites of Kano River Irrigation Scheme (KRIS) Kadawa in Kano State; Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme (HVIS), Auyo in Jigawa State; Bakalori Irrigation Scheme (BIS), Talata Mafara in Zamfara State and Middle Rima Valley Irrigation Scheme (MRVIS), Goronyo in Sokoto State.
• A set of the individual experts working as a Team will under the supervision of their respective FMC Board of Trustees (BoTs) primarily support the TRIMING Project Management Unit (PMU) in the Management of Farmers Management and Service Delivery Centers in each Project Site.
• The four Farmer Management and Service Delivery Centers (FMC5) have been registered under the Nigeria’s Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 (CAMA) as companies limited by shares.

The Objective of the Assignment and Duration:

• The purpose of the FMCs is to address challenges faced by small-scale farmers in four irrigation schemes of BlS HVIS, KRIS, and MRIS. Identified constraints include, but are not limited to, access to quality inputs, mechanization services, advisory services, and credit.
• The FMCs are also envisioned to act as catalysts strengthening managerial capacities of smallholder farmer cooperatives and apex cooperatives that are the majority shareholders in the FMCs.
• The FMCs objective is to transform irrigation agriculture into a commercially viable investment, leading to improved productivity, reduction in post-harvest losses, improved quality of commodities, and a more efficient and predictable marketing system.
• The FMCs are also envisioned to improve farmers’ access to financial services.
• The duration of individual subject matter experts for this assignment will be for initial period of two (2) years, with the possibility of annual renewal for the project duration subject to work requirements and satisfactory performance.

Functions of FMCs
The function of FMC5 for this assignment in liaison with National Project Coordinator (NPC) will primarily include, but not limited to the following:

• Warehouse (and pack houses for tomato) development to encourage large off-taker interest and allow for cleaning, grading, insurance, farmers’ access to credit facilities using warehouse receipt system and long-term storage and improve quality of onward supply. It is expected that warehousing will also help to buffer the price for paddy farmers.
• Facilitation of inputs supply and agro-dealer support and development
• Facilitation of mechanization services
• Facilitation of finance for scheme value chains
• Market facilitation to support establishment of long-term offtake contracts and contribute to the creation of more competitive, inclusive, and resilient market systems
• Provision of technical services and advisory - extension services, business development, accounting, and bookkeeping services to cooperatives, etc.

Job Description
Provide support to FMC management in the following areas:

• Maintain bookkeeping and financial management systems to ensure proper recording and smooth operations in the FMC
• Ensure up-to-date books of accounts for the FMC operations
• Ensure filings of statutory financial returns/reports (deduction, remittance, and filing of local taxes including personal income tax (PAYE) and withholding tax (WHT)
• Review supporting documents to ensure accuracy, relevance, and validity of documents before recording entries
• Maintain FMC bank accounts and prepare monthly bank reconciliation statements, and reconcile the FMC petty cash monthly
• Prepare monthly/annual management account. Initiate and coordinate annual internal and external audit of FMC accounts/books
• Coordinate and ensure that resources (financial, equipment, and other material) are organized and in place to achieve planned targets for production and marketing
• Finalize operation budgets for work plan and coordinate monthly production of cash forecasts to enable effective budget management
• Maintain and coordinate the implementation of accounting and internal control procedures
• Finalize operation budgets for work plan and coordinate monthly production of cash forecasts to enable effective budget management
• Provide support to general manager for implementing a control system to track progress of FMC operational plans, monitor achievement of production and marketing targets, ensuring that variations are identified and addressed promptly through appropriate action
• Support knowledge management within the FMC, establish a central database of contacts, and identify local resources
• Provide other administrative support to staff and farmers as may be required from time to time
• Any other tasks as may be assigned by the general manager.

Qualifications

• Degree in Accounting or relevant discipline from an accredited institution.
• He or She must have three to five years’ experience in administrative and accounting fields, experience in an gribusiness organization is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping packages.
• Must be able to use basic packages and spreadsheets to generate presentations and reports; operate confidently on the internet to send e-mail and source information.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Administrative skills and ability to manage deadlines
• Good communication and interpersonal skills on all levels within and outside organization
• Ability to manage and resolve conflict among aggrieved employees
• Knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting and accounting software
• Knowledge of local tax laws and regulations, and their application where and when necessary
• Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Fluency in English and knowledge of Hausa is an added advantage.

Consultant EOI / Shortlisting Criteria

• Interested individual consultants should submit their Curriculum Vitae (CV) with all the necessary document attached such as copies of engagement letters etc. and other supporting information that the CV demonstrates that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services.

The short-listing criteria are:

• Evidence of General qualifications of the consultant (Education, Training, and work Experience
• Adequacy for the Assignment: Evidence of general experience in area of expertise listed above
• Evidence of specific experience in/of particular area of expertise in general management, workshop/ equipment management and administration/finance or similar fields as it is applicable to area of expertise
• Proven experience of project management, administration and financing, especially in Nigeria’s private sector.

Proposed Remuneration
Negotiable.

Application Closing Date
2.00pm (Nigeria local time) on 7th August, 2020.