Finance Officers at Oxfam Nigeria

Oxfam is a confederation of 17 Affiliates committed to creating a just world without poverty. In Nigeria Oxfam works in the areas of Economic Justice/Sustainable Livelihoods, Humanitarian programming to save lives, Advancing Gender Justice and Good governance, adopting a right based approach.

FINANCE OFFICER

Department: Humanitarian
Reports To: Humanitarian Finance Manager
Internal Job Grade: D2 National

TEAM PURPOSE
To provide a proactive, efficient and effective financial management service to the Oxfam Humanitarian Programme in Nigeria, to ensure financial procedures are working efficiently and effectively and that they are being adhered to, and to provide strong financial monitoring and oversight to Oxfam partners

JOB PURPOSE
To implement and monitor all financial aspects of the Humanitarian programme, including the management of financial risks.
To ensure that financial procedures are adhered to and non compliance challenged. To provide financial information and monitoring to programme staff.
To work closely with the Country Finance Teams to provide quality financial information, process payments and maintain comprehensive accounting records.

Dimensions:
Handling (finance related) queries regarding Donors
Interpretation of financial information, advice to Operational Lead, Humanitarian Finance Manager, Business Support Manager and Coordinators
Analysing reports for programme staff and providing guidance
Flexibility to anticipate and resolve challenges
Manages and contributes to project work
Influences staff to adopt procedures
100% focus on the Oxfam Humanitarian programme

ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
Humanitarian Payments:
Ensure supporting documentation for payments is complete and correct (e.g. authorised and coded by budget holder) in accordance with Oxfam financial procedures
Prepare payments for authorisation by account signatories. Ensure relevant statutory deductions are made, and transactions recorded accurately on Finance System (Pastel)
Liaise with the Country Office Finance Team for authorisations/payments and recording on Pastel
Notify the Country Office Finance Team of any expenditure that needs to be moved between projects
Support the Humanitarian team by ensuring transfers to the field are anticipated, made in a timely manner and with safety in mind
Ensure payments are made in accordance with the delegation of authority limits

Receipts:
Ensure that all receipts are properly documented, e.g. by an invoice or receipt

Managing Humanitarian Cash Account:
Proactively monitor and manage cash account to:
Ensure that balances are sufficient to cover anticipated payments
Identify receipts or payments that may require further investigation
Maintain spreadsheets to summarise receipts, payments and balances
Monitor and chase outstanding floats
Ensure cash counts undertaken weekly, monthly, and whenever responsibility is handed to another person
Support to Donor Reporting and Donor Proposals:

Ensure expenditure is recorded accurately against donor budgets and reconciled with Pastel Finance System
Support year-end processes as required
Assist Finance Manager with interpreting and collating information in budgets, and monitoring spend

Others:
Performance manage the Finance Assistant(s)
Support audits
Oversee filing systems, both electronic and hard copy (payables, receivables, payments, receipts, cash payments etc).
Act as point of contact for day-to-day matters with financial service providers, and ensure that bank signatories are up to date
Support the implementation of the One Oxfam Logistics Tool and all logistics procedures
Provide support and advice to Humanitarian Staff on various matters including
Completion of finance related forms (expense claims, float accounts)
Locating documentation supporting particular payments, receipts and re-charges made to budget holders
Coding of financial transactions

SKILLS AND COMPETENCES
A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or any relevant equivalent is required
ICAN or ACCA qualification will be an added advantage
3 -5 years of progressively responsible and directly relevant professional experience, such as finance, accounting, grants management - ideally with at least 2 years in International NGO
Ability to understand and implement the Nigeria government tax & VAT laws
Proven knowledge of computerised systems and demonstrable experience of working with computerized accounting packages and spreadsheets
Proactive, flexible, and able to respond to a variety of questions relating to the job
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Manages own time under guidance and direction from supervisor and meet the deadlines
Strong analytical and planning skills
Strong understanding of Gender and Diversity
A strong commitment to Oxfam’s purpose, a broad understanding of the work culture in the “humanitarian” sector and its impact on key areas of responsibility and a commitment to humanitarian principles and action

TO APPLY
Applicants should send their application letter and Curriculum vitae as one attachment in English to: vacancies-nigeria@oxfamnovib.nl with the position title as the subject of your email.

Note
Prospective candidate must be available and willing to commence work immediately.

Completed applications should reach us before the closing date above. Applications sent in the required format will be considered and only short listed candidates will be contacted.

DUE DATE: 7 March, 2017