Finance Assistant at Norwegian Church Aid

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is one of the largest aid organizations in the Nordic region. We respond to disasters and emergencies by providing water and critical assistance to those affected. Through our international network and partner organizations in the ACT Alliance, we reach millions of people each year, helping to make a positive difference around the world. Our mission is to eradicate injustice, and we work passionately on advocacy, long-term development in local communities, and emergency assistance.

As the number of people impacted by disasters continues to rise, we are committed to delivering more emergency relief and ensuring access to clean water. We believe that people in need must be helped, and we will not stop fighting for a just world. NCA has been operational in northeastern Nigeria, providing humanitarian relief with a strong presence in Monguno, Maiduguri, Pulka, and Dikwa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Assistant

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full-time
Timeframe: 1 year – with possibility of extension
Duty Station: Maiduguri, Borno State (with occasional field visits as needed)
Reporting to: Senior Finance Officer & Finance Manager

Description 

• We are now seeking the right candidate to join our team as a Finance Assistant to help us further our mission and contribute to ongoing efforts in the region

General Description

• The role focuses on processing financial transactions, maintaining accurate records, and supporting monthly reconciliations. It includes assisting with partner financial reviews and capacity building while ensuring compliance with accounting standards. The post holder will also help with audit preparations and proper archiving of financial documents, with occasional travel for field payments

Job Roles & Responsibilities
Bookkeeping & Accounting:

• Process cash payments/receipts and ensure proper documentation and authorization of all financial transactions.
• Update/ Reconcile monthly cash journal, and cash count to ensure timely and secure funds transfers to the Safe account balance.
• Initiates payment vouchers and bank instruction letters subject for review by the Senior Finance Officer and/or Finance Manager.
• Extract monthly payments and prepare Withholding Tax (WHT) remittances.
• Prepare monthly time registration overview and follow up staff time bookings.
• Traveling to the field areas per need for supplier payments, salaries, and other cash-related payments.
• Properly stamp, file, and scan financial documents in handling systems of accounting vouchers, contracts, and required supporting documents.
• Ensure archiving of accounting documents is completed monthly.
• Assist in preparing audit requirements for statutory or project audits.

Partner coordination and capacity building:

• Assist in partners’ verification of financial reports/ transactions, documenting review observations and follow up of training for the needs identified.
• Participate in regular assessment / capacity building for the partners

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the Post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Qualifications & Experience
Essential Criteria:

• Commitment to Financial Integrity: Strong dedication to upholding financial integrity, accountability, and compliance with donor requirements and internal policies.
• Adherence to NCA Values: Commitment to NCA’s core values and principles, including timely reporting, adherence to the NCA Code of Conduct, and ensuring compliance with Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify financial discrepancies and provide effective solutions to enhance financial processes.
• Cultural Competence: Ability to work and communicate effectively in culturally diverse settings, understanding local financial practices and engaging with community partners.
• Financial Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial reports clearly and train non-financial staff on financial processes.
• Computer Literacy: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, financial software (e.g., Maconomy), and other relevant tools for effective financial analysis and reporting.
• Fieldwork Readiness: Willingness to travel to field sites to engage with financial operations and provide support to project teams, particularly in humanitarian contexts.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Certification: ICAN or any relevant professional certification will be considered an added advantage.

Experience:

• INGO Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience working with an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO), ideally in a humanitarian or emergency setting.
• Team Collaboration: Experience working within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to financial planning and reporting efforts.
• Policy Compliance: Ability to enforce compliance with financial control procedures and policies, ensuring the integrity of financial operations.
• Capacity Building: Experience in training staff or partners in financial management practices to enhance organizational capacity.

NCA’S Commitments:
NCA is committed to following the following policies, standards and commitments, and all staff are equally expected to conform to their requirements:

• Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP)
• Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief
• ACT Alliance Code of Conduct
• SPHERE Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Relief
• NCA Nigeria Security Plan
• NCA Nigeria Staff Handbook

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within Norwegian Church Aid and amongst beneficiaries served by Norwegian Church Aid.

Compliance & Ethics:

• Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics within Norwegian Church Aid.
• As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of Norwegian Church Aid’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Conducts work with the highest level of integrity. Communicates these values to staff and to partners and requires them to adhere to these values.

Application Closing Date
24th October, 2024, at 4 PM.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit a copy of their CV and cover letter in a single PDF file to: [email protected] using "Finance Assistant" as the subject of the mail

Important Notes

• Ensure that you follow the instructions on method of application carefully, as failure to do so may result in disqualification from the recruitment process
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage early submission.
• We are committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process, ensuring all applications are evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and relevant experience, free from bias or discrimination.
• We value diversity and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.
• Only candidates who meet the specified qualifications will be contacted for the subsequent phases of the recruitment process.