Finance Coordinator at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Coordinator - Niger Delta

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Employment: Type Full-Time

Position Summary

• The Finance Coordinator will report to the Senior Finance Manager.
• He/she will oversee the financial aspect of the project by ensuring that accounts are up to date and that the grant meets the requirements of both the funders and SFCG.
• S/He will maintain accounting systems, provide financial analysis and other key management reports, and provide assistance with budget preparation.
• S/he will directly supervise the Field Finance Officer and Finance Assistant and ensure the finance support function is effectively delivered.
• S/He would be reviewing procurement-supporting documentation and conducting periodic compliance reviews.
• In addition, s/he would handle payroll and preparation of the consolidated Monthly Financial Reports, carry out account reconciliations and prepare Budget vs Actual reports for monthly review with Project Coordinators The ideal candidate will have proven experience in financial and grant management in the INGO and nonprofit sectors, financial statement preparation and analysis, accounting system implementation, design, and workflows.
• She/he will work closely with the Head of Program Implementation and the Project Manager, as well as with the Finance Team Lead in Abuja.

About the Project

• Search for Common Ground (Search), in consortium with local co-applications has proposed to implement an 18-month action with the overall goal of fostering inclusive community security approaches to address the systemic drivers of violence and criminality in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States. 
• Bringing together four leading peacebuilding and development organizations in the Niger Delta, the consortium offers a holistic, community-centered approach to addressing core drivers of criminality, violence, and conflict in the region, with a specific focus on the empowerment and inclusion of youth in the security of their respective communities in the Niger Delta.
• The consortium partners will leverage existing relationships with the action’s diverse target groups, including at-risk youth, local communities impacted by oil production and oil bunkering, state security actors, the private sector, journalists and media actors, key civil society organizations, and policymakers at the state, regional, national, and international levels, to secure broad-based buy-in and participation in the action.
• Overall, the project will seek to initiate a shift in the way that relevant actors think about and approach issues of oil bunkering, criminality, and security in the Niger Delta in favor of more bottom-up, human-centered perspectives.
• This institutional and social shift is necessary in order to sustainably reduce the prevalence of oil bunkering and other forms of criminality and violence in the region in the long term.

The design of the action centers around four activity streams, each addressing a systemic driver of division, violence, and criminality in Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States: 

• Stream 1 will foster intra-community collaboration around issues of social exclusion, lack of economic opportunity, and environmental degradation.
• Stream 2 will build trust and collaboration between communities, the government, and security actors for more participatory, community-centered security operations. 
• Stream 3 will leverage arts- and culture-based approaches to foster social cohesion between divided communities, both online and offline.
• Stream 4 will facilitate policy change to institutionalize community-centered security approaches at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities
Financial Management:

• Supervise the Field Finance Officer and Assistant to ensure effective service delivery;
• Ensure proper documentation of transactions is kept in line with financial policies;
• Ensure all financial documents are stored in hard copies and backed up by scanning into our backup system
• Supervise and maintain Niger Delta Office’s cash management, optimal bank balance, and bank reconciliation
• Monitoring currency gains /losses by recording and reconciling them on a daily basis
• Monitoring of funds to ensure availability for disbursements
• Ensure timely reconciliation of bank accounts, advances, partner accounts, accruals, payroll, and severance, and ensure that data in books match data in the system (GP) on a monthly basis
• Correspond with local banks and donors on all financial operational matters
• Ensure regulatory reports and Tax obligations are properly prepared and timely reported
• Prepare Monthly Financial Reports (MFR) for review by the SFM and upload them into the Global Finance system 
• Ensure the Balance Sheet is reviewed and a schedule of outstanding balances is prepared and sent to the DFA for review
• Prepare Budget Vs Actual Project reports and ensure monthly meetings are done with the Project team
• Prepare and organize internal and external audits
• Ensure that Search and its partners have practices and policies that support easy audits
• Facilitate timely audits and responses to auditors, both local and at headquarters
• The position holder will conduct him/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Search and not jeopardize its mission and objectives;
• Any other function assigned to him/her by the Supervisor.
• Direct supervision of the Finance team in the Niger Delta Offices
• Country Director, Senior Finance Manager, Sub-Grants Manager, Consortium Coordinator and Head of Programme Implementation.
• Finance and program staff in partner organizations and donors.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, or Accounting is required.
• Professional qualification in accounting (ACCA, CPA, or equivalent)
• Minimum five years of relevant work experience within an NGO, of which three years should be working with EU and/or US government funds. Experience working within an international NGO is a strong advantage.
• Experience managing a portfolio of awards from multiple donors
• Experience preparing for internal audits and implementing audit recommendations
• Demonstrated ability to build capacity and lead training for staff and partners.
• Proven ability to be an effective supervisor of staff of varying levels of responsibility
• Proven ability in setting up and implementing accountability mechanisms
• Proven ability in financial planning and developing budgets for new business
• Excellent command of spoken and written English
• Mastery of Excel is a must
• Self-guided, strong organizational and planning skills
• Ability to work independently and under pressure
• Excellent communication, coaching, and facilitation skills
• Ability to travel up to 30% within Nigeria.

Application Closing Date
31st July, 2023.