Compliance Officer at the Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

The Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Compliance Officer

Reference ID: R2662
Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full Time

Overview

• The Compliance Officer will conduct verification of internal controls and compliance of all financial and operational functions in the GF-Malaria Project, Nigeria.
• The position holder will verify that all staff are well versed in donor and MSH policies and procedures, and are adhering to such standards.
• S/he will identify gaps in existing internal control systems, and provide recommendations to strengthen them; will identify gaps in knowledge and skills; will provide recommendations for training.
• In coordination with the Senior Compliance Officer, s/he will develop a plan and evaluation tools, and then carry out independent appraisals and verifications of the effectiveness of MSH and donor policies, procedures and standards, and (country) law, by which MSH (country/project) financial resources are managed.
• S/he will review and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting, compliance with applicable laws and the safeguarding of assets.
• S/he will plan, perform and report back on internal assessments to ensure that financial control, financial guidelines of donor organization and other control procedures are in place and are being properly implemented and managed within MSH GF-Malaria Nigeria offices.
• S/he will also be responsible for advising and monitoring quality standards of operations and value for money.
• S/he will follow-up on recommendations from the internal and external auditors to ensure the recommendations have been implemented and adhered to.
• Under the direction of the Senior Compliance Officer (and MSH General Counsel, where necessary) s/he will conduct thoroughly documented investigations of whistleblower cases, and suspected fraud and will directly interface with the Director of Internal Audit on these or other specific cases.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all MSH Nigeria GF-Malaria Project financial and operational activities are in compliance with Nigeria law (tax laws, labor laws and government pension agency laws), donor rules and regulations, and MSH policies and standards.
• Develops an annual customized compliance monitoring plan, including evaluation tools, standards, ethical considerations, and schedule to evaluate all country/project functions, including remote staff/office locations, and to visit sites needing attention and further verifications.
• Develops compliance framework for the MSH Nigeria/GF-Malaria office; including compliance checklists for the various business processes, transaction classes, country laws governing NGO operations, and specific donor requirements.
• Periodically reviews and updates the compliance monitoring checklist and other tools to stay current with MSH procedures and policies.
• Examines the effectiveness of internal controls and compliance within MSH Nigeria/GF-Malaria policy framework and identifies gaps in procedures and controls systems and provides recommendations to the Country/Project Leadership Team for strengthening them.
• Tests internal controls, targeting high risk areas, including Procurement Workshops, Vehicle usage, Inventory control and Cash advance management, Payroll and Fleet Management.
• Documents internal control weaknesses and compliance deviations and their impact, and makes recommendations to address these weaknesses.
• Identifies gaps in knowledge and skills and provides recommendations for training.
• May be requested to provide training directly to staff.
• Prepares detailed reports of each compliance review and other task assignments, with prioritized findings and recommendations.
• Presents final reports to the MSH Nigeria/GF-Malaria Country Leadership Team after review and approval from Supervisor
• When necessary, collaborates with internal and external audit on investigations of whistleblower cases, suspected fraud, mismanagement, loss of assets, etc.
• Follows-up on recommendations from the internal and external auditors to ensure the recommendations have been implemented and adhered to. Assists the Project Management and Finance/Operations Lead in providing response to ad hoc requests from auditors.
• Stays abreast of laws, directives, and current trends in the local legal and NGO environment.
• Provides risk assessment for financial and operational landscape. Identify high risk, high probability events, and provide recommended mitigation plan. Provide ad hoc risk assessments for specific scenarios by request.
• Provide ad-hoc advice, helping staff to achieve the goal of establishing sound risk management and internal control systems; offer practical advice on how best to comply with financial policy and donor guidelines.
• Conduct 100% review of project vouchers and documents monthly and provide immediate recommendations were necessary to address weaknesses and correct errors.
• Prepares quarterly Compliance review/verification, investigations, and status of audit recommendations reports for submission to Director Internal Audit and Nigeria/GF-Malaria leadership team, if applicable.
• Meets with Project Management and Finance/Operations Lead on a regular basis, or when requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Compliance Officer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business Management. Advanced degree preferred. Professional certification in Accounting, Internal Audit, and Fraud Examination
• Extensive familiarity of Global Fund and US government grant rules and regulations and/or other donor rules and regulations (E.U, USAID, CDC, DFID) required.
• Experience in international development programs preferred.
• Excellent planning, management, and organizational skills.
• Proven leadership and interpersonal skill.
• Professional proficiency in English required
• Perspective, Dealing with ambiguity, Organizational Agility, Political Savvy and Strategic Agility
• Functional/Technical skills, Client Focus, Managing through systems, Managing and Measuring work, Negotiating, Information Sharing, Process Management, Priority Setting, Problem Solving and Timely Decision Making
• Ethics and Values, Integrity and Trust, Listening, Written Communication
• Adaptability, Communication, Problem Solving, Creativity and Innovation, Quality, Quality and Timeliness of Work, Quality of work and Team Relationships, Resource Utilization
• Travel requirements: Availability to travel domestically and internationally as needed. Up to 50% domestic travel.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.