Finance Officer at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a Danish international non-governmental organisation, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world. DRC is present in more than 30 conflict territories around the world assisting displaced people with shelter, food, income-generating activities, and a wide range of other assistance. It is of utmost importance for DRC to work in compliance with the DRC Accountability and Quality Management system and national legislations. Smooth, reliable and effective operational systems are preconditions for DRC to maintain its position as a trustworthy and reliable partner for our donors and an accountable organisation towards our beneficiaries.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Officer

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Job type: National contract
Employment Period: 1 year
Supervised by: Finance Team Leader
Reporting to: Finance Team Leader
Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee): National

Background

• Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015 and has experience working in 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the BAY states.
• DRC provides life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including IDPs, returnees, and host communities in the sectors of armed violence reduction, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
• The operational context in northeastern Nigeria remains challenging, as the ongoing conflict impedes conflict-affected communities’ access to what limited basic services are available, as well as DRC and other humanitarians’ access to persons of concern.

Overall Purpose of the Role

• Under the supervision of the Finance Team Leader, the Finance Officer of Maiduguri, assisted by a finance assistant, will oversee the daily finance and accounting management of Maiduguri base.
• The Finance Officer will support the Finance Team Leader on the overall financial monitoring and support capacity building for Maiduguri office and partners and practice rigorous financial control mechanism and archiving System.
• He/she will make sure that financial procedures, policies, and requirements are implemented in compliance with DRC and Donors and to contribute to the achievement of DRC goals and vision.

Responsibilities and Tasks
Management of the office cash flow:

• Prepare the bank transfer instructions for suppliers’ payment on time for Maiduguri office.
• Manage the cash and safe boxes for the cash payment in the office and on the field if required (not a primary function).
• Ensure good relations with all relevant stakeholders (All sectors, banks, etc.).

Update daily the ERP-Dynamics system adequately:

• Ensure accurate recording of all transactions made by banks and monitor timely receipt and expenditure returns from the Program Team and ensure correct data entry on Dynamics.
• Manage daily operations around the accounting system which is in line with DRC and Donor’s requirements and ensures the records or entries are up to date on Dynamics at every given time.
• Comply always with the Finance and Procurement guidelines when dealing with any transactions while observing the thresholds.
• Check the justification of operational advances before making payment and ensure of the settlement in a reasonable time.
• Check and control the elements of accounting packages, including the consistency between cash books and Dynamics entries, physical counting, and balances;
• Support in the monthly closure of accounting.
• Stamp monthly the invoices with the donor stamp and/or the stamp “paid” as applicable.
• Ensure proper financial documentation is attached to ERP Dynamics during every transaction for the Maiduguri office.
• Support the monthly ledger clean ups on ERP Dynamics as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Responsibility 3: Management of financial assets and liabilities of the base

• Record all assets and liabilities in the ERP Dynamics system daily.
• Support the FTL to follow up on all cash advances and ensure they are properly settled in Dynamics.
• Withdraw cash from the bank to the office as an introduce cashier whenever required.
• Ensure compliance and safety of all financial assets.

Responsibility 4: Tax deduction and remittance on time

• Ensure that the withholding taxes are well calculated, recorded in the Dynamics System and paid at monthly basis. Delegatory function
• Follow up on the staff statutory and taxes payment at monthly basis and ensure that all receipts are collected and archived.
• Collect the taxes clearance certificate or credit notes when the payment is done.
• Prepare the WHT receipt (using the new receipt template) for every vendor for onward delivery to the vendors.

Responsibility 5: Archiving and Audit Management in Maiduguri

• Ensure that all the supporting documents are attached per transaction in Dynamics.
• Ensure that all supporting (Hard copies) are scanned and saved on Finance SharePoint, hard drives, etc.
• Participate in audits preparation/execution (compilation of audit requirements) as may be delegated.
• Provides feedback and enhances internal controls to satisfy audit requirements; takes part of providing data and records during the audit process; reports immediately on irregular spending to Finance Team Leader as deemed appropriate.

Other supports required for this position:

• Provide technical support to the program/Support team of Maiduguri base and other bases if required.
• Takes part of regular staff meeting and respects to the weekly task report in line with performance management.

Requirements
Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• Degrees preferred supplemented by technical, or university courses related to Finance, Accounting, Administration.
• Professional qualifications like ACA, ACCA, CNA will be an added advantage.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience):

• Experience working in international Non-Governmental (INGO) with a background in Audit and compliance management is considered as an asset.
• A minimum of 2 years (aggregate) of relevant professional experience in general accounting, finance, and Administration experience is needed
• Ability to work closely and effectively in a team to achieve work priorities and objectives.
• Ability to work with ERP-Dynamics will be an appreciated advantage.
• Enthusiasm as a team player, who is flexible, always ready to take on new challenges and drives for results in a dynamic environment
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and deliver under pressure.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and advise especially to non-finance colleague.
• A Good Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Etc.) is considerable.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• The knowledge of local Language is also an asset.

We Offer

• Contract length:  12 months with the possibility of extension
• Level: NM-H Step 1
• Start date: ASAP.

Application Closing Date
31st December, 2024 at midnight (GMT time).

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

Note

• Applications will be reviewed on rolling bases due to the urgency, therefore a candidate who closely meets the requirements may be selected before the above deadline.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be invited.

General Regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Application Process:

• All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.
• DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
• DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.
• Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered.
• Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline
• However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria).