Finance Coordinator at Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-profit organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and enable children to prepare for - and respond to - crises and adversity. We believe in the power and potential of every child, but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Coordinator

Location: Niger, Nigeria

Role Purpose

• The purpose of this role is to ensure financial accountability, provide timely and accurate financial information on the World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state. 
• Position holder acts as finance focal person for finance-related grants issues (budgeting, cash flow management, reporting, auditing etc.) on the project.

Dimensions of the Role
Communicates within Plan International Nigeria and with partners and related government institutions. The post holder will contribute towards grant and financial management of the World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state, interfacing with both operational and programme team members. The post holder will also contribute towards the organisational development of Plan International Nigeria’s implementing partners.

• Monitors and controls World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state annual budget and its spending.
• Prepares financial reports on World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state.
• Area of responsibility – World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state.

Accountabilities
Support Budget preparation and Budgetary Control for the effective implementation of financial plans. To do this, the role will:

• Prepare World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state annual budget as part of the preparation of the Country’s annual budget.
• Prepare monthly World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state BvA (Budget variance Analysis) report and discuss variances and corrective action with projects team.
• Prepare monthly World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state IGF (Indicative Grants Funding) report.
• Prepare quarterly projects KP06 budget for World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state.

Prepare Financial and other Reports to aid the preparation of the overall country’s financial report for dissemination and decision-making. To do this, the role will:

• Assist in the preparation of country’s financial management reports (Monthly, quarterly and yearly).
• Prepare the monthly Partners unliquidated advances report.
• Assist the CFM in the preparation of the half-year and year-end financial schedules.
• Make a monthly support visit to the project partners and submit report.
• Carry out identified capacity building trainings for partners.
• Follow up with prepaid expenses, accruals etc., on the projects to be submitted to CO.

Support the Field Office Treasury Management and Cash Forecasting to ensure the availability of funds for country operations. To do this, the role will:

• Support the Projects Manager to ensure that monthly cash forecasts are timely submitted to CO.
• Support the Projects Manager to ensure that quarterly cash forecasts are timely submitted to UKNO.

Manage the operations of the SAP system in the field office to meet Plan’s spending and financial reporting requirements. To do this, the role will:

• Ensure regular follow up with relevant department responsible for FAD set-up in SAP for new Projects.
• Undertake accuracy checks to ensure all transactions entered in SAP are correct.
• Regularly review NRGRANT status to ensure grant related expenditures are charged on applicable grant.
• Ensure correct use of WBS (work breakdown structure) for all requisitions and journals.
• Advice CO on all UKNO related intercompany recharges.
• Ensure all required month-end procedures are carried out before SAP is closed.
• Review timesheets of all staff charged to World Bank ANRIN project to ensure they are properly filled according to staff salary charged on the projects.
• Scan all vouchers charged to World Bank ANRIN project as support documentation to monthly financial reports.
• Maintain separate real time filing for the World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state related SAP payment vouchers and reports.

Implement Internal Financial Controls & Payment processes for the attainment of value for money at all times. To do this, the role will:

• Ensure payments made are as per Plan’s approved policies, procedures, and that of the donor rules and regulations.  
• Review the finance sections of purchase requisitions, advance requests, liquidations, and purchase orders for financial conformity with respect to the World Bank ANRIN project in Niger state.
• Support the review of projects cheques issued before sign off by Plan Authorised Managers.
• Prepare assisted project financial audit action list after each audit and ensure compliance.
• Ensure all expected costs are timely and accurately recovered from the project.

Support the accurate and timely payment of statutory deductions. To do this, the role will:

• Support to ensure withholding tax credit notes are promptly collected for distribution to vendors/consultants related to the project.

Others:

• Ensure yourself and direct report’s IAP, six months’ appraisal and annual appraisal are timely completed and documented.
• Support provide training and share good experience/practice among the team to strengthen team capacity and team building.
• Keep Supervisor informed of any initiative or difficulties relating to the job’s responsibilities.
• Fulfil Plan’s Child Safeguarding Policy at all times to protect children from all forms of abuse.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned by your Supervisor from time to time to support the achievement of organizational goals.

Dealing with Problems:

• Ensures adherence to the Country’s financial and accounting requirements as per requirements of the Operations Manual (OM) and other organizational policies and procedures to support sound financial management within the organisation.
• Be creative in building and working effectively within a diverse working environment.
• Works with minimum supervision.
• Analyse financial issues for decision-making and refer to a higher manager for approval.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and expectations from internal and external stakeholders and remain calm and resilient in the face of pressure.
• Manage multiple and work with distant colleagues to form a virtual efficient grants and finance team.
• Use Plan procedures to settle conflicts among colleagues.
• Refer, whenever necessary, any case to the Finance & Grants Manager –Development.

Human Resource Development:

• Supports and builds capacity of programs staff to ensure a high level of quality finance and grants management.
• Supports the orientation, on-going development/training and builds capacity of partner staff when required in line with Organizational requirements.

Learning and knowledge management:

• Shares relevant grant and financial information within the Programme team supporting the proper documentation of all grant and financial aspects of the projects.

Resource Mobilization:

• Support resource mobilization efforts through contribution to budget preparation for proposal writing and related engagements.

Communications and Working Relationships:

• High contact with Plan partner organizations to ensure Plan receives value for money and the financial requirements are adhered to.
• Has high and medium contact with all country and field offices finance staff respectively to support smooth implementation of the finance and grants functions.
• Provide timely responses concerning queries linked with the project.   
• Work with other departments to ensure effective and efficient programme delivery.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
Essential:

• University degree in Accounting or equivalent;
• At least 4 years’ experience in a similar role;
• Fair knowledge in grants and project management.
• Knowledge and use of accounting software (Preferably SAP)
• Preferred qualifications: knowledge of and experience with the key donors in the industry is strongly preferred.
• Experience providing capacity development assistance to sub-grantees strongly preferred.
• Experience working with sub-grantees required.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Communicates clearly and effectively.
• Ability to facilitate participative processes for all stakeholders for implementing grant projects.
• Strong team building skills, Organized and methodical.
• Independence, objectivity and integrity.
• Good supervisory & coordination skills and ability to deliver to tight deadlines.
• Fair knowledge of project planning, management, supervision, monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Excellent and demonstrable experience in grant and financial management.
• Knowledge and understanding of Nigeria’s policy environment
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including good listening skills, influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Capacity to build and maintain relationships and to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment respecting diversity.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.

Physical Environment:

• This position entails about 30% travelling within the field office implementing area.

Level of contact with children:

• Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction. The job responsibilities of this position require the post holder to have very infrequent contact with children. Despite this, it is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

Application Closing Date
30th March, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online