Save the Children an independent organisation for children working in 120 countries. We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

POSITION : Director of Finance

Description

• As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in NIGERIA, the Director of Finance shares in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office (CO). 
• The Director of Finance in his/her capacity is responsible for finance administration, fiscal management, grant management, and financial and grant reporting, in both emergency and development programming contexts.

Scope 

• Dimensions:  Save the Children currently operates in 10 field bases (Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Cross River, Lagos, Gombe and Borno). SC Nigeria has over 400 staff with a team of 19 finance staff. SC Nigeria currently has about 20 active awards. 2017 active grants amount to approx. $50M.
• Staff directly/matrix reporting to this post: Senior Finance Manager, Finance Manager (X3).
• Direct Reports to: Country Director
• Matrix Reports to: Regional Finance Director

Key Areas Of Accountability
As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to:

• Help design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to programme needs
• Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with: host government authorities, partner agencies including humanitarian and development donors, and local and international NGOs
• Ensure NIGERIA Country Office complies with all Save the Children essential Standards and Standard Operating Procedures
• Leadership of the NIGERIA Country Office
• Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our full spectrum values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our Members and donors
• Ensure that all required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the Regional Office

Planning and Budgeting:

• Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency finance and grants procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale up
• Ensure budget holders understand their responsibilities (e.g., through training)
• Ensure sub-offices receive adequate support to operate efficient accounting systems, including timely receipt of monthly budget variance analysis by budget holders, timely answers to queries and scheduling tasks and deadlines
• Work with the Director of HR/Support Services to establish equitable staff compensation policies and practices within the approved budget and donor requirements
• Assist the Country  Director (CD) in the management /administration of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices including (a) the formulation of country work program and resource allocation, (b) providing effective support and guidance to the Senior Management Team and other key program staff during planning and allocation exercises; (c) monitoring implementation of donor agreements and resource utilization. Highlight variances, provide analyses and recommend resolution or reallocation of resources
• Work along with the Director of Program Operations, Business development unit and the Director of Programme Design & Quality in developing plans to meet funding and programming needs. This includes diversification of funding resources
• Identify and effectively manage all key risks, especially financial, related to delivering the Country Office program.  Develop mitigation plans at proposal stage
• Ensure correct level of budget authority exists within Country Office
• Manage financial aspects of budget development for new proposals
• Work with the SMT and the Director HR/Support Services design and implement a coherent organisational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to approved budget and program needs

Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control:

• Availability of funds for sub-offices and the Country Office
• Monitor accurate and timely submission of financial reports and attachments to members, donors and government regulatory agencies
• Ensure quarterly effort reporting is prepared with major variances discussed with Regional Office and centre
• Coordinate submission of control reports, respond to findings and recommend resolutions or action plans
• Lead and participate in the development of finance policies and procedures to be able to maintain a well-financially controlled environment in both development and emergency contexts
• Manage the Country Office financial systems and provide the SMT and all budget holders a monthly update on the budget variance analysis
• Ensure with the Director of Program Operations and the Director of HR/Support Services that systems are in place for the control of all assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities; submit timely financial reports to centre, Regional Office and donors as required
• Ensure that effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control including:
• Annual accounts and tax statement preparation;
• Accounting and management information systems;
• Cash and cash flow management and control in particular gain/losses on currency exchange;
• Financial procedures during emergency responses, including meeting all relevant responsibilities in the Rules and Principles for Emergency Response;
• Expenditure procedures, especially around procurement;
• Documentation of all controls and procedures;
• Finance training for staff in the field and partners as necessary;
• Coordinate and assist CD during any internal or external audits
• Ensure monthly financial reviews (MFRs) are prepared, reviewed with SMT, and submitted to Regional Office regularly

Award Management:

• Ensure Country Office treasury operations are adequately managed
• Ensure timely and accurate information is provided through Award Management systems
• Oversee and monitor sub grantees/ grants as required per SC policies and procedures
• Develop sub-grantees through training and capacity building
• Monitor completion of financial reports for awards/contracts. Ensure proper accounting and closing of books upon receipt of completed reports and documents from various sub-offices
• Coordinate the release of donor fund summaries from the members to ensure accurate and systematic accounting of grant transactions
• Provide guidance to finance and non-finance staff and coordinate efforts to ensure compliance with donor requirements
• Work with budget holders to estimate funds request on a timely basis to ensure resources are in place for carrying project activities
• Ensure that donor financial reports and additive reports align

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Finance:

• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff incorporates staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.  Establish result based system and follow up
• Ensure adequate segregation of finance duty within Country Office Manage the performance of all staff in the finance work area through:
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
• Ensure appropriate staffing within finance
• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in an emergency
• Manage finance team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plans

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years management experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, of which three at a management level within the finance department of a national or international organization
• CPA or equivalent degree (CA, ACMA, ACCA) strongly recommended
• Ability to manage a complex and diverse workload and to work to tight deadlines
• Ability to build a small, proactive team, motivating staff and working collaboratively with colleagues and providing support and advice as necessary
• Willingness and ability to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
• A full appreciation of the value of co-operation, both internationally and within a team environment
• Understanding of Save the Children’s vision and mission and a commitment to its objectives and values
• Experience with recent experience working in an emergency context
• Excellent understanding of business and financial planning including strategic modelling
• Excellent analytical skills – the ability to analyse complex financial data and design and produce effective management information
• Excellent experience of budgeting and budget management
• Excellent understanding of financial systems and procedures
• Strong business acumen and the ability to contribute to strategic decisions
• Excellent experience of computerised accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Experience of general administration work
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Written and verbal fluency in  English and in French