USAID Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity
Scope of Work
Title: Director of Finance and Administration
Location: Bauchi, Nigeria, and including telework opportunity.
Start Date: On/about October 15, 2022
Background:
The purpose of the five-year (2020-2025) “State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness” (“State2State”) Activity is to increase the accountability, transparency and effectiveness of selected state and local governments (LGAs) in Nigeria. This will be achieved by: strengthening governance systems (with a focus on public financial management [PFM] and procurement, as well as monitoring and evaluation) related to the delivery of services in key sectors (basic education, primary health care, and water, sanitation and hygiene [WASH]); increasing government responsiveness to citizen needs and priorities; and improving government and civil society capacity to manage conflict (through work on prevention, mitigation and reconciliation with the same sectoral partners, not stand-alone assistance to the police or judiciary). State2State will achieve this purpose by facilitating the strengthening of subnational governance systems in a sustainable manner, supporting the efforts of local reformers, and building on locally derived solutions including, to the extent possible, reforms already working in other parts of Nigeria.
Position Objectives:
The Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) is a ‘key personnel’ position, i.e., USAID will approve, and will serve as a key member of the State2State senior management team. S/he will be responsible for the administration, operations, and financial management of the activity, including grant management oversight and capacity building of counterparts. S/he ensures timely and accurate financial reporting, aligned with technical outcomes. S/he will oversee the management of Human Resource issues in coordination with DAI/Nigeria and in conjunction with the Chief of Party. S/he will manage, process and account for all expenditures under the activity. S/he will provide USAID with budgets of expenditure as well as forecasts against budget statements. S/he will allocate activity funds among various program activities with the authorization of the Chief of Party. S/he will oversee and ensure adequate activity profitability and ensure non-billable requirements are kept to a minimum. S/he will set up and refine financial systems to USAID requirements and will prepare regular reports for appropriate management as necessary or requested.
The DFA will directly supervise the Grants Manager, Operations Manager, Senior HR Officer, and Senior Accounting Manager.
Responsibilities:
Financial Management:
- Ensure that policies and practices are carried out in accordance with GAAP standards; activity internal controls are established and implemented in accordance with DAI policies, USAID rules/regulations and the terms of the contract.
- Monitor budget analysis/reports and activity cost reports/invoices against contract requirements, implementation progress, and general cost reasonableness/allowability/allocability; alert management team to necessary contractual or management actions based on reviews.
- Direct the schedule of financial activities to ensure the timely preparation of budget related reports.
- Be responsible for accurate and timely processing of invoices, advances and reimbursements, checks, and wire transfer payments including timely reviews and approvals as required.
- Develop internal control measures, conduct internal audits, and coordinate external financial audits.
- Review and approve all subgrant/subcontract budgets, and associated budget variances or other fiscal reports.
- Set up and manage people and systems to ensure adherence to restricted grant budgets, including periodic updates on budget variance and preparation of budget modification documents.
- Develop the financial capacities and capabilities of all relevant staff and subgrantees and subcontractors under this activity.
- Develop and implement systems, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with DAI and USAID funding requirements.
- Other responsibilities of a reasonable nature as assigned by the Chief of Party.
Administration/Operations Management:
- Ensure that all operational and administrative functions of the activity are aligned and support technical activities, and that the activity conforms to USAID rules and regulations as well as contractual requirements, including cost, schedule, and quality parameters.
- In coordination with DAI/Nigeria, oversee all human resources (HR) functions including hiring practices, employee review policies, professional development and orientation, and other HR activities; assure compliance with applicable HR, employment and personnel laws and regulations.
- In coordination with DAI/Nigeria, oversee payroll, benefits administration, recruiting, onboarding, off-boarding, employee check-in and exit interviews, and other human resource needs.
- Review and approve documents in a timely manner as per the Project Schedule of Authorities (PSOA), which may be updated time to time in coordination with DAI home office project management unit (PMU) and internal audit.
- Maintain updated personnel and operations policies and procedures and ensure compliance, including reflecting updates (as approved by DAI home office PMU), as managed by the Operations Manager, in a timely and consistent manner within the Field Operations Manual (FOM).
- Oversee project procurement efforts for cost reasonableness/allowability/allocability and compliance.
- Negotiate, prepare, and monitor all vendor and consultant contracts.
- Oversee management and maintenance of all office systems and facilities.
- Maintain files on grant/procurement/subcontractor documents and modifications as applicable.
- Establish guidelines for maintaining subgrantee and subcontractor and other partnership files and activities, as applicable.
- Develop and oversee document retention policies and manage disposal of records in collaboration with DAI home office.
- Other responsibilities of a reasonable nature as assigned by the Chief of Party.
Reporting:
The Director of Finance and Administration will report to the Chief of Party.
Minimum Requirements:
- A master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance or equivalent, and ACA/ACCA/CPA, or other recognized professional accounting qualification.
- Ability to develop and manage large budgets, and in-depth knowledge of USG Cost Accounting Standards.
- Progressively responsible experience supervising project operations, including human resources, procurement, subgrants and subcontracts, auditing, and accounting/finance.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communications skills in English; supervisory skills; and ability to work well on a team.
- Experience in managing and administering grants under contract (GUCs).
- Experience in building or enhancing civil society organization (CSO) financial management capacity.
- Proficient in Microsoft programs, i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc., and the ability to use various commercially available accounting software programs.
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to both train and be trained.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience, including with remote management.
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.
- Analytical and forward-thinking problem solver with high ethical standards and professionalism.
- 12+ years of relevant experience and progressive responsibility in finance and accounting, internal controls, and project operations at the senior-level of an organization.
- Experience managing operations of USAID-funded projects, preferably in complex and fast paced environments.
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing operations and financial systems.
- Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
Note: This is a local hire position only for Nigerian Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs).