Director of Finance and Operations

Job Description

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi State. Since then, IRC has emerged as a critical partner in addressing the humanitarian crises in the Northeast and Northwest through a multi-sectoral, client-centered and integrated program approach for conflict-affected populations. In Fiscal Year 2023, IRC assisted more than 800,000 displaced people and host communities with interventions in primary healthcare, nutrition, environmental health, protection, education, food security and livelihoods. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and has field offices in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kogi States. With almost 700 staff, and a diverse group of local partners, IRC Nigeria implements programs funded by a variety of institutional donors, UN agencies and private foundations.

Project Overview

Strengthening Quality of Care through Primary Health Care (PHC) is a 5-year and USD 50-100 million activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nigeria. USAID aims to advance PHC, accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), and improve health outcomes. USAID is committed to support Nigeria’s commitment to achieve sustainable, equitable and resilient health systems through locally led, evidence-driven, and context-specific approaches by strengthening its PHC system and enhancing focused efforts on prevention, detection and treatment at national and local levels.

Job Overview

The Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) will have responsibility for all aspects of finance and operations strategic management, acting as the principal finance and operations business partner to the Chief of Party (COP) and other Senior Management Team, as well as conforming to IRC’s financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives.

Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the program, and selection of final applicant is subject to USAID approval.

Major Responsibilities

Leadership and Program Compliance

• Establishes program’s finance and supporting function policies, systems and procedures, and directs or performs their development, documentation, and implementation

• Leads start-up immediately upon award, including establishing field offices as relevant, setting up the ERP system, crafting a staffing plan, and preparing for annual workplans and budgets.

• Ensures that all policies and procedures are compliant with USAID and the IRC policies, procedures, and requirements

• Maintains strict adherence to USAID cost allowability principles through thorough review and justification of all project expenditures

• Enforces internal control policies and procedures

• In compliance with IRC policies, establishes procedures regarding cash holding limits, cash movements and foreign currency holdings for the program

• Designs, implements, and monitor systems, procedures and reporting necessary to maintain updated accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments entered into and which obligate IRC to future spending

• Closely monitors all financial activities and keep the COP, Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and Country Senior Management Team advised of all situations which may have a negative impact on internal controls or financial performance

• Leads the project's annual budget process and monitors budget execution to ensure adherence to the implementer and USAID regulations

• Ensures project delivery meets best practices for operational policies and procedures, for their impact and compliance, with a specific focus on AIDAR conformity

• Supports consortium partners with finance, accounting and administrative matters, maintains collaborative partner relations, and ensures effective delivery of program support when needed

• Oversees all sub-recipients and sub-grantees’ adherence to USAID, the IRC, and host country policies

• Oversees development, delivery, capacity building, and monitoring of sub-grantees

• Directs the preparation and approval of all USAID financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the COP and IRC headquarters (HQ) prior to submission

• Manages all other operational aspects of the project including,but not limited to, procurement, IT, HR, Fleet, Warehousing, HASST, administrationetc to ensure smooth and efficient implementation of project activities and minimization of fraud and related risks.

• Reviews and submits invoices that reflect accurate service delivery, ensuring timely collections within contractually obligated timelines

• Maintains current knowledge of local Government requirements related to financial matters and ensure compliance with tax regulations and other legal requirements

• Coordinates and leads the annual audit process, liaise with external auditors and the IRC Finance team and Senior Management Team, supervise implementation of audit recommendations when necessary.

Technical Oversight

• Establishes program finance roles and responsibilities matrix; ensures job descriptions are updated; recruits and maintains qualified staff to perform finance functions

• Provides oversight of Operations teams, including Procurement, Finance, Grants, Logistics, HR, Security, and Administration support staff

• Manages all project finance activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by USAID and the IRC HQ

• Assists with the preparation and revision of project budgets

• Provides program management and program staff with monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and analysis for project funds and facilitate the review and discussion

• Prepares quarterly accrual reports, expenditure reporting, and burn rate projections

• Prepares annual and monthly cash budgets based on approved funding

• Supervises the preparation of Cash Transfer Requests to IRC HQ and ensure that appropriate cash balances are maintained to facilitate program implementation

• Supervises all project office bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates

• Oversees the timely preparation, review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliations

• Provides program management and program staff with monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and analysis for project funds and facilitate the review and discussion

• Ensures balance sheet reconciliations are completed monthly and on a timely basis and review final reconciliations and trial balances with the COP

• Any other duty assigned.

Staff Management and Development

• Promotes the growth and development of others within the Operations teams and consortium partners by assessing proficiencies, developing and leading targeted learning and training strategy, providing coaching, mentoring and supporting staff, providing vital finance and accounting tools and resources, as well as on the job training

• Supervises medium to large sized Operations team across multiple sectors and geographical areas by setting clear performance objectives, managing staff work plans, establishing regular performance reviews, championing a positive working environment for professional development, fostering an inclusive and respectful team climate, where all staff are valued and respected and can contribute to their maximum potential

• Leads the recruitment of program Finance staff, temporary seconded staff, consultants and, support their onboarding.

Job Requirements

Education:

• A Masters’ degree from an accredited university in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of ten years of experience in a similar Finance, Compliance, or Operations role for multi-million-dollar health programs -design, implementation and management of health programs- in Nigeria or relevant context, preferably for USAID

• Experience managing USAID cooperative agreements and overseeing financial management and reporting on USAID-funded programs with international and local sub-recipients and grantees

• In-depth knowledge of USAID financial management processes, rules and regulations, budgeting and reporting requirements required

• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices, financial reporting standards, financial management processes and procedures

• Extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs

• Significant previous experience working in crisis-affected contexts, preferably in West Africa and/or Nigeria

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders.

• Capacity to work well under pressure, and the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively cross‐culturally is critical

• Excellent oral and written communication in English and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range and levels of organizations

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office suite

• Commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion

• Ability to Travel: minimal

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Qualifications