Finance Manager at Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Agency for International Cooperation) is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.

In Nigeria, GIZ's portfolio includes among others, a programme to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional integration goals. The programme aims to strengthen sector-specific capacities in the areas of Peace and Security, Customs and Trade as weir as Strategic Management and Organizational Development in the ECOWAS Commission.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Manager

Vacancy No: 066
Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Background
GIZ. Solutions that work.

• GIZ Solutions that work. As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world.
• GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
• The diverse expertise of our federal enterprise is in demand around the globe – from the German government, European union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector, and governments of other countries.
• We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity.
• Our main commissioning party is the German federal ministry for economic cooperation and development (BMZ).
• The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. Our approximately 23,500 employees, almost 70 percent of whom are national personnel, work in a round 120 countries (July 2020) GIZ has worked in Nigeria since 1974.
• Since 2004, GIZ has maintained a country office in the capital city Abuja. Currently 361 national and 66 international employees, 19 regional staff, 4 integrated specialists and 3 development workers are working in the country (June 2020).

The Project
ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations Project:

• Since 2006, GIZ through the commissioning and funding of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) implemented the “Support Programme to the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)”.
• The Programme was aimed at strengthening the Commission in executing its core mandate of facilitating economic and political integration. GIZ support has had a focus in three principal areas including 1) Organisational Development, 2) Trade and Customs, and 3) Peace and Security in which the Programme supported the strengthening of sector-specific expertise as well as strategic planning and management structures, capacities and processes. Presently, GIZ implements the “ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations” (EPSAO) Project with co-funding from the European Union (EU) and the BMZ. The main objective of the project is to support ECOWAS in the prevention and management of conflict and security threats in West Africa.
• There are five strategic areas of focus for the project: the strengthening of ECOWAS mechanisms for the promotion and maintenance of peace, stability and post crisis operations; enabling ECOWAS to manage emerging or existing conflicts; contributing to the creation of a secure and safe post conflict environment; and promoting peaceful, fair, transparent and inclusive electoral processes in West Africa.
• Since September 2022, the BMZfunded module "Supporting the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC)" has been integrated into the EPSAO module and serves to further strengthen the regional training infrastructure

Responsibilities

• In your role you support the Commission Manager and projectmanaging staff at Head Office of at the respective Country Offices in all issues related to financial management including advice related to budget planning and costing.
• You clearly communicate the relevant requirements, conditions and restrictions in terms of your capacity to act with due regard for compliance rules and P+R. Financial steering of the project is performed cooperatively, cost-effectively and efficiently. You are responsible for the correct processing and monitoring of all payment flows and for ensuring the supply of funds to the Project, in consultation with the relevant sectoral division(s) and the country office, and coordinate all administrative work related to financial management.
• You also assist in the preparation of grants and local subsidies including if necessary, the training of recipients.
• You guarantee comprehensive reporting on the finances of the Project, at regular intervals, hereby enabling the Commission Manager/ your line manager to anticipate and document the financial impacts of all project activities.
• Identifying and assessing commercial risks plays an important role in this context.
• You are responsible for ongoing process development within your remit and are responsible for knowledge management and support other experts as relevant in familiarizing themselves with and performing their tasks.

The Finance Manager is responsible for:

• Advise on all financial, commercial, contractual and commissioning matters
• Preparation of budget elaboration and preparation of change offers
• Preparation of financial reports to the EU and BMZ based on KOMP
• Lead all EU-Audit related processes and activities.
• Monitoring of expenditure and costs and commission values
• Monitoring of receivables and obligos
• Contract monitoring and management • Ensuring the quality of accounting, procurement and inventory
• Preparing internal controls and ensuring projects adherence to processes and rules of GIZ
• In charge of updates of expenditure in Onsite Operations
• Ensuring compliance with P+R and Donor requirements

Tasks
The Finance Manager also performs the following tasks:

• Explains commercial rules, standards and guidelines
• Works in and with networks of financial managers at the local, regional and national levels
• Assists in managing external and internal audits and internal controls

Financial Management:

• Participates in the commercial set-up of new and follow-on projects together with the Commission Manager, Head Office and the field structure
• Supports the Commission Manager in managing commercial aspects of the commission together with the relevant country office, the regional department, the Financial Management Advisory Services Division, the Financial Services Division and ELVIS
• Supports the initiation and implementation of cofinancing arrangements
• Monitors the implementation of internal control findings and action taken to address objections raised in audit reports
• Ensures reporting in accordance with the allocation of costs to outputs (KOMP)
• Acts as a contact person for the project partner and/or financing recipients in relation to commercial issues

Procurement and Contracting:

• Prepares the contracts entered into via the country office and/or Head Office in accordance with the requirements of P+R, above all service and financing agreements, construction contracts, etc.
• Ensures that an adequate internal control system is in place (separation of functions, cross-check principle, observation of the Code of Conduct and of procurement rules) together with the Commission Manager or the responsible line manager.
• Safeguards the correct handling of procurement services for the implementation of the project, taking into account the current procurement regulations • Compliance with the EU sanctions list check in accordance with P+R and departmental and country requirements

Administration:

• Engages in the coordination of the project infrastructure (facility management, logistics, fleet management, IT services etc.) in consultation with the line manager and the responsible Country Office.

Other duties/additional tasks

• Supports technical staff to find solutions for problems related to administration and procurement during implementation and in relation to the GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS Country Office.
• Performs other duties and tasks as may be requested by management. • Provides support for other tasks and activities in support of the ECOWAS Cluster Finance & Admin team

Required Qualifications, Competences, and Experience
Qualifications:

• University Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or a related field of study

Professional Experience

• At least 6 years’ experience of professional experience in a comparable position
• Experience with EU co-financing processes
• Proven experience with SAP, Onsite Reporting and Onsite Operations • Professional experience in GIZ
• Fluent in English - with a knowledge of German being an added advantage

Other Knowledge, Additional Competences:

• In-depth knowledge of accounting software
• Good knowledge of internal control systems and financial audit processes • Good working knowledge of ICT technologies and computers applications (e.g., MS Office)
• Demonstrates integrity, confidentiality and ethical behavior when handling sensitive and confidential data and information
• Ability to work closely and effectively with technical teams to ensure financial objectives align with project goals and to be able to explain budgetary information in a clear and understandable manner to non-financial colleagues
• Sharp ability to identify financial issues and to support identification of solutions
• Systematic and meticulous approach financial analysis in support of informed decision-making

Application Closing Date
12th July, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Letter of Motivation as one document with complete contact details to: [email protected] using "vacancy no. 066" as the subject of the email.

Note

• Please include vacancy no. 066 in mail subject
• GIZ is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity. All qualified candidates, regardless of disability, age, sex, ethnicity, race, and religion are encouraged to apply.