Finance Manager at FINDEF

Purpose / Role:

FINDEF is currently looking for a Finance Manager in Abuja. Under the supervision of the Country Director, the finance manager will be responsible for all financial functions for the Organization, from Payroll, budgeting, financial management operations (Financial reporting including donors and government authorities), ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, developing financial strategies, managing audit processes, Capacity building of the finance team at both the Head office and sub-bases according to FINDEF guidelines. The role would also work closely with project teams and partners to provide high-quality financial analysis, support budget realignments, forecasting and tracking, and ensure timely and accurate reporting. The ideal candidate for this role should possess a strong ethical framework, understand confidentiality and have demonstrated integrity, accountability, and a strong work ethic.

Responsibilities:

• The finance manager will be responsible for monitoring and managing cash flow, ensuring sufficient liquidity for operational needs.
• Responsible for identifying financial risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Ensuring adherence to relevant financial laws, regulations, and accounting standards.
• Analysing and controlling operational costs and conducting adequate control checks on all procurement processes and documentation for all contracts managed to ensure full compliance with FINDEF procedures and donor guidelines. 
• Ensuring respect for project duration and liquidation period, and checking budget availability and allocation accuracy. 
• Ensuring that all vendor and procurement payments are fair and applicable by ensuring that the procurement process is in line with FINDEF internal rules. 
• Understanding different project procurement cycles and prioritizing contract reviews in close collaboration with the logistics and program departments to avoid procurement delays and project blockage. 
• Providing key checklists and feedback to the logistics team monthly to improve documentation quality that meets the audit requirements, internally or externally. 
• Attending the tender opening of the organization at the Abuja office. 
• Preparing records in the accountancy for the organization. 
• Validating payroll by checking calculations and all proper documentation. 
• Supervising all payment preparation managed by the field team in collaboration with the finance assistant under your supervision.

Commitment Of Expenditures, Budget Control, & Financial Management

Commitment of expenditure – guarantee budget availability and compliance with internal and donor procedures before releasing payments:

• Before commitment/payment of any expenditure, check authorization levels, budget availability, and budget line to which the expense is to be allocated, ensuring full compliance with internal and donor procedures 
• In close coordination with the Logistics unit, negotiate terms of contracts including payment schedule and tax obligations; ensure that procurement procedures are adhered to; 
• Ensure financial, compliance and budget control points during Purchase Committee meetings; review coherence between orders, quotations/offers, purchase orders, call for tender documentation, procurement memos, contracts, invoices, receipts, and works/services completion certificates; Check the receiver’s ability to endorse payment; 
• In close coordination with the Admin Team, ensure that staff contracts are in line with standard salary grid, available budgets and regulations; propose salary grid revisions based on benchmarks, national legislation and budget constraints. 
• Validate partner’s accounting and documentation accuracy and compliance before payment. 
• Project budget follow-up, mission’s cost control, internal & external audits – anticipate and mitigate financial risks ensuring operations are run in a compliant and cost-efficient manner: 
• Lead Budget follow-ups, allocation and consolidation process; 
• Analyse report gaps between planned budgets and actual expenses; comply with the flexibility rule; 
• Anticipate financial risks, and present budget updates and mitigation plans to management; 
• Analyze and report monthly running costs, fleet and communication of each state office; 
• Prevent and report any financial and operational loss; 
• Follow-up with exiting staff to ensure they are cleared and validated; 
• Take the lead on external audit preparation in support of the compliance team; responses to audit reports, recommendations’ implementation plans.

Project Financial Cycle Management

Develop project budgets and reports – ensure the financial feasibility of projects, respecting internal and donor rules and deadlines;

• Gather information from the relevant units to consolidate budgets for project proposals according to project needs and donor constraints;
• Review and negotiate terms of grant contracts before signature (payment & financial reporting schedule, etc.);
• Follow-up payments from donors and financial project close-out (contract liquidation).
• Review and implement financial policies
• Oversee the monitoring of actual expenditure against budget;
• Ensure the provision of adequate responses to audit queries raised by donor /client auditors; 
• Prepare required management reports and provide explanations on accounting transactions when required to aid decision-making.

Audit focal point  

Ensure smooth and proactive communication with the Head of Corporate Service or compliance department.

•  Act as the focal point to address any review or request from internal audit and make sure to follow up on their recommendations.
•  Take responsibility for implementing and following up on internal and external audit recommendations. Lead monthly audit reviews with the Head of Corporate Service and follow up as necessary.

Technical Line Management Responsibilities

Offer technical guidance and support to all Finance staff 

• Advise on and promote understanding and application of FINDEF financial and organizational policies, procedures, and principles - Communicate any issues of non-compliance. 
• When relevant, drive the development of policies and standards for the department. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field. Acquired certification in ACCA, CIMA or ICAN 
• Minimum of 6 years of work experience in finance management 
• Experience  in audit management and implementing audit recommendations 
• Excellent leadership and people management skills 
• Strong analytical and accounting skills 
• Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint 
• NGO experience is a plus 
• Must be able to work independently 
• Strong communication and teamwork skills. 
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and values. 
• Applicants must be based in Abuja.