Public Financial Management Experts: Accounting and Internal Controls at Adam Smith International (ASI) - 3 Positions

Adam Smith International are an award-winning professional services business that delivers real impact, value and lasting change through projects supporting economic growth and government reform internationally. Our reputation as a global leader has been built on the positive results our projects have achieved in many of the world’s most challenging environments.  Adam Smith International has a strong corporate presence globally, with 146 current projects across 49 countries and over 1,000 staff and associates. Headquartered in London, our regional headquarters are based in Africa (Nairobi, Abuja, and Pretoria), Asia Pacific (Sydney) and South Asia (Delhi), with numerous registered offices across Africa and Asia.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Public Financial Management Expert: Accounting and Internal Controls

Tracking Code: 786-112
Locations: Abuja, Sokoto, Bauchi, Nigeria
Department: Revenue Reform
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Job Description

• We are actively seeking international and regional/Nigerian experts on a long-term basis to work within one of the targeted Federal States of Nigeria.
• In brief, the experts working in this area will be expected to undertake activities and tasks related to the following:

Accounting:

• The consultant shall work with the selected ministries to improve accounting practices, and seek increased compliance with accounting standards.
• Non-compliant accounting practices and poor financial reporting limits the ability of the public sector to monitor the financial position, and reduces the transparency of a government’s financial position.
• The consultant will work to ensure proper accounting and reporting standards are met, and that government accounts properly reflect the local government’s financial situation.

Internal Controls:

• The consultant shall work with the selected ministries to improve internal controls operations. Enforcement of internal controls in Nigeria at State Level is very weak.
• The consultant shall assist the selected state governments to improve the quality and functioning of their system of internal controls.
• As a result, there will be fewer opportunities for fraud, waste and abuse of public funds, and a reduced chance of negative audit findings.
• These efforts will reinforce appropriate use of funds leading to improved allocation and expenditure in key sectors of health, education and WASH.

The Project

• The purpose of the State-to-State (State2State) contract is to increase the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of selected state and local governments (LGAs) in Nigeria.
• This will be achieved by strengthening systems to improve the delivery of services in key sectors (basic education, primary health care, and water, sanitation and hygiene - WASH); increasing the efficiency of key governance operations (with a focus on public financial management [PFM] and procurement, as well as monitoring and evaluation); increasing government’s responsiveness to citizen needs and priorities; and improving government and civil society capacity to manage conflict.
• State2State will work together with partner state governments to reform these sectors, and will learn and replicate best practice examples from other states. 
• State2State will support, scale-up, accelerate and institutionalize new and existing initiatives.
• State2State is a governance programme. Better governance is a means towards the ultimate end of poverty reduction by measurably improving primary health care, basic education and WASH services.
• Conflict mitigation is a core theme of the USAID/Nigeria Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS).
• The Mission expects that improved governance and public services coupled with a Do No Harm approach, conflict mitigation strategies and tools will contribute to reducing violent conflict in the targeted areas.

Requirements / Experience
Key competencies and experience:

• Experts should have the ability to deliver Technical Assistance of an international standard to Nigeria’s Federal States, and to work effectively in politically sensitive and challenging environment.
• You should relish working in a team, should be innovative, energetic, positive, and genuinely committed to achieving lasting change in your work.

The position requires the following Skills and Experience:

• A post-graduate Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics (or related degree) and/or 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Hands-on experience in in public sector accounting and internal control (e.g. cash management)
• Strong background of accounting and implementation of internal controls at State and local government level.
• Prior experience in developing policies and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient administration of accounting & internal controls at a sub-national level.
• Experience in the development of consolidated financial statements for government
• Knowledge and understanding of Charts of Accounts
• Understanding of financial management information systems
• Knowledge and understanding of fiscal decentralisation and revenue sharing arrangements.
• Experience working with automated tax administration systems, as well as their interface with financial management information systems.
• Competent in identifying legislative gaps and recommending relevant amendments/new pieces of legislation.
• Ability to deliver technical advice and effectively work with government counterparts in a politically aware manner.
• Strong experience in designing and delivering technical training to counterparts, as well as mentoring.
• Ability to demonstrate experience and knowledge of using initiative and being client-orientated.
• Excellent communication, inter-personal, and team-working skills.
• Ability to develop and manage relationships with key stakeholders both within government and the wider environment.

Timing:

• This project is a five-year programme expected to run from 2017-2022.

Duty station:

• The experts will be expected to travel to and undertake long-term assignments in the targeted Federal States.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online