VACANCY: Program Account Officer 666 views

Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Limited (SCANL) is Recruiting for Program Account Officer

Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Limited (SCANL) is a leading management consulting firm focused on the agricultural and nutrition sectors in Africa. We partner with government agencies, private sector companies, and leading international development organizations to conduct research, analyze policies, develop strategies and implement programs that promote sustainable food security and improved nutrition. We have worked on a variety of projects across West Africa, including in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal.

We are recruiting for the following positions:

Job Title: Program Account Officer

Job Type: Full Time

Qualification: BA/BSc/HND

Experience: 2 years

Locations: Lagos, Niger, Adamawa, Yobe, Taraba, Osun, Ondo, Rivers, Imo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kogi, Plateau

Job Field: Finance / Accounting / Audit

Reports to: Chief of Party (CoP)

Slots: 2

Travel: Limited travel across project States in Nigeria

About the Program

• Sahel, in collaboration with other partners, seeks to catalyze the local dairy sector in Nigeria in an inclusive way through a program that will improve the livelihoods, productivity, nutrition, and empowerment of smallholder female dairy farmers and the communities in which they live. If approved, the program will span 5 years and will:
• Advocate for an enabling environment for local sourcing through engagements with the government and relevant private sector stakeholders.
• Increase demand for locally sourced milk through partnerships with dairy processors currently or interested in sourcing locally.
• Improve smallholder dairy farmers’ productivity by increasing their access to technical support services and appropriate inputs.
• Empower women dairy farmers and enable them to improve their livelihoods and that of their households.
• Improve nutrition outcomes among smallholder dairy households through innovations in food systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Account Officer’s primary responsibilities are outlined below. The Account Officer is however expected to perform many tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the program:

• Financial Management & Oversight: Establish and maintain sound and transparent accounting and fiscal control procedures for internal operations and sub-award and contracts. Ensure compliance of financial and operations systems with Sahel policies and procedures, donor rules and regulations, terms and conditions, award requirements, and the laws of the Government of Nigeria (including PAYE, VAT, Withholding Tax, Pension, and NHF).
• Budgeting: Assisting the program annual budget development process that includes managing the annual work plan, life-of-project, and activity budgets and ensuring compliance of program expenditures with approved budgets; ensure the consistency, inclusion, and accuracy of costs and compliance with agreed policy and practices, and work with staff in developing budgets for technical activities as necessary. Revise overall and sub-budgets as needed throughout the work plan year·
• Cash Flow Management: Assist to manage the program’s cash flow and prepare cash flow forecasts on a regular basis. Maintain complete and accurate supporting documentation for all financial transactions·
• Reporting: Compute key business metrics and provide weekly, monthly and quarterly reports to management; create additional analyses and reports as requested. Prepare and submit periodic financial and accrual reports to the funding partners as required by the contract. Contribute to the development of high-quality work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by the donor.
• Grant Management: Oversee the administration of all grants, leases, contracts, and other financial obligations. ·
• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure that strong internal control systems are in place. Actively monitor all systems and ensure that staff act in full compliance with the terms and conditions of contract/award and donor requirements, local laws, and Sahel policies and standard operating procedures. Assist the Chief of Party to conduct regular and thorough operational risk assessments in-country, and monitor the success of risk mitigation and risk control activities. Coordinate execution of financial reviews or audits and ensure timely follow up to review or audit conclusions and recommendations in close collaboration with the project team.·
• Administration: Supervise other program-based finance and accounting staff. Ensure appropriate segregation of duties in all procurement and payment activities from initiation to final payment. Handle the acquisition of capital assets and ensure they are properly recorded, amortized, and disposed of as appropriate.

Minimum Required Skills & Experience

• Professional Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or related field is strongly preferred;
• 4+ years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, including overseeing the finance and operations of an equally large and complex project
• Recognized professional certification in Accounting such as ACA, ACCA, etc.
• Technical Expertise: Knowledge in generally-accepted accounting, budgeting, reporting, and fiscal control principles.
• Experience with preparing financial reports for development partners
• Relevant skills in automated accounting software systems and database spreadsheet
• Experience in tax and audit preparation according to Nigerian laws
• Experience building capacity in the financial management of, and demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with partner organizations
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Ability to translate complex financial concepts to individuals at all levels including finance and non-finance managers and team members.
• Fluency in the English language, and excellent writing and presentation skills
• Personal Characteristics and Other Requirements
• Excellent judgment.
• Ability to understand current issues quickly and make wise decisions
• Ability to work under pressure, plan personal workload effectively and delegate
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Residency in Abuja is an added advantage but also considering candidates willing to relocate.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply with a Word-formatted single document consisting of Cover letter and CV by using the “Login as Candidate” button below. Please identify the position and location for which you are applying in the message box provided.

Note

• We welcome hearing from qualified and interested applicants.
• Due to a high volume of applicants, please understand that we are able to contact only those who meet the minimum qualifications.
• Applicants are strongly advised not to do phone calls.

Application closing date: 24th January 2020