Finance Officer

In Nigeria, Save the Children has been working since 2001. The early focus was on getting children actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. Today, Save the Children is working in seven federal states - Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi and Kaduna - focusing on providing basic healthcare and protecting children.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Finance Officer
Job Location: Borno, Nigeria
Job Type: Full-time

Role Purpose

• This position will be responsible for implementing and/or coordinating all financial support functions for the state office. 

Key Areas of Accountabilities
Key Accountabilities:

• Assist in ensuring that direct reports have clear roles and responsibilities, and a strong understanding of all of Donor’s and Save the Children’s regulations and policies, especially the core policies such as; Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, Fraud & dishonesty policies, Anti-bribery and corruption policy and whistle blowing policy.

Finance:

• Manage the electronic spreadsheet/format for receiving and disbursing funds; coordinate the preparation and timely submission of monthly financial reports and other reports to Abuja as required. Ensure accurate keeping of account books (electronic and paper) for the state office.
• Help ensure that timely and accurate information is generated and disseminated accordingly to the project team, to inform activity planning and forecasts.
• Process all banking activities in the state office, ensuring that bank account records are accurately maintained, and that bank statements are obtained on a timely basis.
• Process all payments (cheque and/or cash) to vendors, service providers, and partners in line with SC policies & DFID requirements.  Ensure all financial transactions in the state office are appropriately approved, authorised and administered, in line with SC & DFID policies.
• Ensure weekly cash counts are done and properly documented by non finance staff.
• Conduct state level finance induction for all new staff on finance policies, systems and procedure
• Review partner retirements and support the state teams to provide administrative and technical support to the partners to ensure that all financial documentation and reports are prepared and submitted on a timely basis in line with SC policies, project agreements and donor guidelines.
• In collaboration with the line manager support the training in financial management in accordance with SC’s financial management policies

Behaviours (Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

Required Qualification, Skills and Experience
Administrative & General Skills:

Essential Criteria:

• Level of Education - B.Sc. /HND or equivalent
• Specified Study Area - Finance / Accounts
• Minimum 5 years post NYSC experience
• Experience in working with partners accountable for grants and other financial support provided to implement project activities, particularly at community level.
• Excellent verbal communication and listening skills.
• Language Requirements: Spoken English-Excellent; Written English-Excellent
• Must be able to speak at least one local language predominant in that state.
• Level of IT Expertise: Excellent (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Ongoing / full Professional certificate in accounting and finance

Desirable Criteria:

• Good training and facilitation skills (for financial training/support to partners).
• Ability to multi-task, engage in long-term planning, meet deadlines, and handles last-minute demands; exercise patience, and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to be creative and proactive health service improvement is essential.