Program Finance Manager at Helen Keller International (HKI)

Helen Keller International (HKI), established in 1915, is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States.

HKI implements integrated package of cost-effective interventions that are proven to improve maternal and child nutrition. HKI supports policies and programs on food fortification, vitamin A supplementation, infant and young child feeding, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, community-based management of acute malnutrition and prevention and treatment of neglected tropical diseases. At the core of HKI’s programs is advocacy and social behavior change communication to various stakeholders. HKI also undertakes cutting-edge research to influence policy decisions and inform program quality.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Finance Manager

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full Time

Specific Responsibilities

• Engage in a collaborative effort with program managers and finance managers for assigned portfolio to ensure high-quality financial planning, management, reporting and auditing of all programs, including thorough budget preparation and oversight.
• Serve as the central team’s liaison to country offices as it relates to the financial management of the assigned portfolio. Present financials to donor and/or consortium members, as requested.
•  Assist country offices with the preparation of proposal budgets, annual project and sub-award budgets, and budget modifications (if needed). Ensure all budgets cover the personnel and operating costs, reflect the narrative and are reviewed for accuracy and compliance with donor regulations.
• Prepare budget narratives for proposal budgets and annual project budgets.
• Prepare invoices, accruals, forecasts and other financial deliverables.
• Thoroughly track and report project expenses, burn rates, and cash received from the donor on a monthly basis. Notify the accounting team about any incorrect expenses/charges and follow up on any necessary reclassifications.
• Ensure budgets and other financial information are correctly represented in financial and project management systems. Maintain electronic files for each assigned project/country.
• Assist country offices in responding to audit requests from donors, developing financial management tools, and managing close-out processes.
• Maintain strong financial controls to guarantee compliance with Helen Keller and donor regulations.
• Conduct field visits to assess financial management of the projects and to build staff capacity, as needed.
• Guide preparation of all grant agreements, contracts, and modifications for the programs: review procurement requests, and sub-agreements for review by Grants & Contract unit.
• Model collaboration with your matrixed team: effectively consult and inform colleagues to maximize efficiency and knowledge sharing and integrate guidance and direction from subject matter experts in your office and elsewhere in the global organization to maximize performance.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field, or a relevant field; plus
• 6-8 years of directly relevant experience, including at least 5 years managing donor-funded projects; or equivalent combination or education and experience.

Required Qualifications and Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience and ability to: prepare proposal budgets and narratives and monitor project budgets for restricted awards:analyse data; provide thorough documentation to support effective negotiations with donors; troubleshoot matters arising and flag issues to senior staff; take proactive approaches to improving financial and budget management processes; build capacity of internal and external colleagues, including ability to communicate effectively across cultures; and conduct high-quality one-on-one and group trainings for field office staff and in-country partners
• Excellent oral and written English language skills, including the ability to clearly communicate complex financial, compliance and operational issues into layperson language. Oral proficiency in French is required.
• Highly computer literate including knowledge of Microsoft software products, and strong Excel skills.  Experience with PowerBI or other analytical tools a plus.
• Demonstrated interest in public health programs as well as an understanding of the synergy between the programmatic, operational, and financial components of public health initiatives.
• Collaborative, flexible and solution-oriented. An ability to maintain balance when under stress.
• Ability to work on multiple high priority projects at the same time; prioritize workload, assume responsibility for work, and follow through to completion.
•  Ability to perform duties that require close attention to detail and synthesize large amounts of information simultaneously. 
•  Ability and willingness to: flex work hours to accommodate multiple time zones; travel domestically and/or internationally up to 20% of the time.
• Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class, or gender, with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.
• Personal commitment to Helen Keller’s mission and goals and the values embodied by Helen Keller Intl’s co-founder, Helen Keller: courage;,compassion, rigor, and optimism.

Application Closing Date
2nd July, 2024.