Desired start date: 16/08/2021
Duration of the mission: 12 months
Location: Nigeria, Borno State, Maiduguri
ABOUT THE MISSION…
SI is present in North-East Nigeria since 2016 and is currently operating in 4 bases across Borno State (Maiduguri, Monguno, Ngala, Dikwa) with outreach capacities across all BAY States through its emergency component. Current coordination is based in Maiduguri while a representation office is set up in Abuja.
In 2020, SI opened a base in Zamfara State to start Emergency Response in North West where the security and humanitarian situation has been deteriorating in the past few years.
Security and humanitarian situation in both North East and North West as well as epidemic outbreaks continue to affect millions of live in those areas.
SI is responding to the humanitarian needs of displaced populations and host communities through Wash, Shelter & NFI, FSL and Emergency activities. Through strategic partnership, SI also promotes integrated approach with health and protection sectors.
The annual budget of the mission is around 9 million euros in 2020 and the mission has potential for development in its current area of intervention as well as in the North Western part of Nigeria where limited actors are currently present.
The mission is fully staffed within 18 and 20 international and 220 national personals with a wide range of profiles working on 5 operational bases: Maiduguri, Dikwa, Ngala and Monguno in Borno State, Gusau in Zamfara State.
Security context is challenging in both North East (Borno) and North West (Zamfara), Nigeria, justifying specific arrangements. Depending on evolution of the security situation, access to the deep field vary from limited to none.
ABOUT THE JOB
General objectives
- The finance coordinator will direct and coordinate all administrative, accounting and financial services associated with the mission.
- As coordinator, he/she is responsible for guaranteeing the financial balance of the mission and for ensuring that all Solidarités International procedures, donor procedures and all laws of the country in which Solidarités International is intervening are respected.
- He/she is the point of reference for the mission, and the link between headquarters and the mission for all matters relating to management, accounting and budget monitoring.
Specific stakes and challenges
Analysis of the socio-economic context
- Identify administrative partners
- Monitor the development of exchange rates and prices
Team management
- Work with administrators to define administrative personnel needs during the mission and recruit according to allocated resources and Solidarités International’s operational strategy
- Train and appraise the financial administrative team
- Coordinate, plan and supervise the activities of the financial administrative team
- Lead meetings for the financial administrative team
Financial, accounting and budgetary management
- Define the expenditure cycle and authorization thresholds and ensure compliance with the purchase validation cycle
- Consolidate the mission’s monthly closing accounts
- Verify the accounts before they are sent to headquarters
- Consolidate and check the Allocation boards
- Prepare, monitor and revise the mission’s financial programming
- Complete the consolidation of monthly Budget follow up and ensure that the mission remains financially stable
- Make connections between budgetary consumption and activity progress. Propose solutions if necessary
- Monitor the mission’s operating costs
- Train the mission’s senior staff in how to use the Budget Follow up
- Prepare and assist with possible audits or inspections
- Prepare and consolidate the financial sections of proposals
- Integrate the new donor contracts into the financial management of the mission’s projects, adhering to Solidarités International procedures
Administrative management of the mission
- Negotiate and draw up partnership contracts with local partners and ensure that they are followed and complied with
- Supervise paper and digital record-keeping, as well as ensuring the security of administrative documents
- Supervise the quarterly mailing of administrative archives to headquarters after validation of the Internal Control Department
- Select and contract a lawyer who will examine legal issues and limit any legal risks
Cash management
- Manage the cash flows between headquarters and the mission, and ensure that bases receive supplies
- Ensure that the cash box and coffers are well kept and that funds are secure at all bases
- Compile and monitor cash flow forecasts and forward them to headquarters
Reporting/communication
- Ensure regular financial reporting to headquarters, on a schedule defined by the administrative calendar
- Ensure that Solidarités International’s in-country registration is followed up
- Organize and run information and coordination meetings
- Produce financial reports that are in line with financial donors’ administrative procedures
- Establish and maintain relationships with the administrative authorities at the national level. Carry out constant judicial monitoring, keep up-to-date with local employment laws, check information collected with law firms and insert it into Solidarités International’s documentation
- Take part in meetings relating to administrative aspects, represent Solidarités International when asked/delegated to do so
- Act as a link between headquarters and the field for all matters relating to finance
Priorities for the 2/3 first months
- Operationalize and follow-up the new Limited Access Programming set-up for the finance department
- Ensure close follow-up of completion of on-going projects with a specific attention to budget and administrative support needs of all stakeholders
- Follow-up on all administrative issues in relations with Nigerian and Borno State regulations.
ORG CHART POSITION (reporting and functional relationships)
Line manager: Country Director
Functional manager: Desk Finance Manager
Line report(s) on bases: Administrative Manager
- Direct Management: 1 Deputy Finance Coordinator
- Indirect Management: 1 Finance Assistant, 1 cashier in coordination, Base Finance staff
YOUR PROFILE
Education and Experience
- Master Degree in finance / accounting, humanitarian/development studies, social sciences, management or other related discipline.
- Minimum 3 years overseas experience working with an international humanitarian/development NGO, with significant financial and team management experience;
- Excellent organizational and coordination skills;
- A great team player and leader;
- Excellent interpersonal and capacity building skills
- Remote management skills Minimum 1 year in a similar position;
- Experience of working in volatile security contexts;
- Experience in Remote management and previous experience with SI would be assets.
Skills and Qualities
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills
- High level or rigor and attention to details
- Good interpersonal skills, cross cultural sensitivity and great team player
- Resistance to stress and capacity to address important workload at specific times;
- Knowledge of NGOs and/or SI financial / accounting tools (SAGA, BFU, OFU etc.)
- Excellent knowledge of MS office applications
- Languages: fluent in English
SI WILL OFFER YOU
Salaried position
Salary: According to experience, starting from EUR 2640 gross per month (EUR 2400 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly)
Monthly Per Diem: USD 600
SI covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of residence and the mission.
Break policy
- 1 break of 7 working days every 3 months
- 1 day off per worked month.
These days off, as well as the breaks, are not deducted from the paid leaves that are paid every months with your salary: they are offered by SI.
Social and medical cover:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
Please note that this is an expatriate position.
Living conditions
The Country Director is ideally based in Maiduguri, where all the coordination team and the Deputy Country Director for Programs are based.
In Maiduguri the base offers a comfortable environment, in spite of limited movements outside of the compound for security reasons. The Guest House offers good living conditions, with private bedroom and bathroom and shared and comfortable common spaces. Electricity and internet are available at the office and at the GH at all times. Volley-ball and badminton court, ping pong, and some gym equipment are available in the GH. All essential good (food, hygiene etc..) can be bought locally in the small shops around the office, or in the pre-validated supermarket. There is a good social life in Maiduguri, even though it has been slowed down by the Covid-19 context. Visits to other NGOs are possible, as well as some pre-validated places City Star restaurant, ICRC Lezzy Lizard bar.
Covid19
Please note that SI strongly recommends its staff to get the vaccination against COVID 19, using WHO-approved vaccines. If possible, the vaccination should be done before departure, in order to reduce the future logistical constraints once on the field (administration of the 2nd dose within a certain time frame).
How to apply
Please send us your CV AND Cover letter in English via this link: https://emea3.recruitmentplatform.com/syndicated/private/syd_apply.cfm?id=PULFK026203F3VBQB6G8N8NX4&nPostingTargetID=62930.
Please bear in mind that we receive a high volume of applications, which means it can take us a few weeks to get in touch with you.
If you are shortlisted, please not that SI’s recruitment process usually includes: an HR interview, reference checks, written test, technical interview.
Eventually, please note that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
If you haven’t made up your mind yet, check our website.
