Finance Officer- Norwegian Red Cross

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the Finance Officer (FO) role is to work with the Finance Manager (FM) and assist to account, monitor, control, manage and report Norwegian Red Cross (NorCross) funds and budgets at the country level through results-based project management and risk management. The Finance Officer (FO) will be contracted by the IFRC with whom NorCross has established an Integration Agreement. The Finance Officer will be under the direct supervision of the NorCross Finance Manager (FM) in Nigeria and also report functionally to the NorCross Regional Finance Unit and Manager in Nairobi.

In her/his capacity as Finance Officer, s/he is responsible to ensure that all NorCross project expenses are implemented in accordance with the Project Agreements and accounts maintained in line with Norwegian Red Cross policies and procedures and comply with NorCross contractual obligations.

This position is based within the Norwegian Red Cross country office in Abuja, Nigeria.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

General Tasks

• Coordinate and prepare monthly cash forecasts for the NorCross supported projects in Nigeria.
• Coordinate transfer of funds to the relevant NRCS branches
• Receives the clearance documents from branches and prepare monthly reconciliation.
• Liaise with NRCS Branch Finance Officers to ensure timely submission of their financial documents.
• Verify the validity of invoices, ensure proper level of approvals and make timely cash payment.
• Ensure that financial returns submitted by the branches and in accordance with SRCS and funding partners’ regulations as per contractual obligations.
• Participate in the monthly financial follow-up meeting.
• Maintain the consolidated accounting records for the projects/branches supported.
• Be responsible for maintaining the filing of all accounting documents submitted by the branches
• Assist NRCS counterparts to prepare ad hoc budget requests (Trainings, field trip, etc.)
• Prepare a weekly list of outstanding WADs and dispatch them to the field.

Management of cash

• Be responsible for managing the Petty Cash box for Nigeria Country office expenses.
• Make cash payments for various expenses and make the relevant entries in the cash book as per SRCS financial procedures.
• On a daily basis submit cash control and cash statement to the Finance Manager.
• Prepare monthly Bank order (funds send to all branches)
• Submit the final Bank order request to the Finance Manager for final validation.
• Prepares the monthly bank reconciliation for review and approval by finance director.
• Ensure that monthly cash counts are documented and witnessed by a third-party

Filing and archiving

• In charge all the all filing of Finance department
• File all current accounting vouchers in an orderly manner.
• Ensure all copies of vouchers after accounting closure are filed in an orderly manner after dispatch of the originals to funding partners.
• Archiving of all financial documents for the stipulated period

Programme support

• Provide technical support to Programme Officers supervising implementation of NorCross funded projects at Borno and Benue.
• Travel regularly to project sites and branches to provide support.
• Participate in the training needs assessment for the branches supported.
• Ensure branches are following the standard and agreed financial procedures and policies.
• Ensure the branches have the necessary equipment and tools for bookkeeping/accounting.
• Assist to disseminate the Finance procedures and policies including the anti-corruption and fraud policies to the branches and to the project staff.
• Assist Finance Manager to follow up and implement of audit recommendations.

Education

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance or equivalent.

 

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in finance or accounting.

Experience

Required:

• Minimum 2 years of work experience in a similar function 
• Experience and good knowledge of key accounting software packages.

Preferred:

• Experience working in the humanitarian sector.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Maintains high standards of integrity
• Good organizational and communication skills.
• Able to work independently and meticulously
• Good rigor, method, and analytical skills
• Ability to take initiative and work both in the team and independently
• Capacity to treat information confidentially
• Resistant to stressful situations, patience, perseverance, adaptability, self-confidence

 

Competencies, Values and Comments

• National Society relations
• Communication - Teamwork
• Professionalism – Integrity - Diversity
• Judgement-Decision-making
• Results focus and accountability.

Language

• Fluent in spoken and written English