Finance Manager Job at Palladium Group

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Finance Manager

Job ID: req19572
Job Location: Kano
Reports to: Director of Finance & Admin

Project Overview and Role

• The UK Support to Health transformation in Nigeria through the Lafiya Programme is a flexible, demand-led strategic partnership with the Nigerian Federal and targeted State governments designed to address equity, improve and sustain health outcomes for the most vulnerable States with the worst health statistics.
• The desired objectives of the programme included fostering an enabling environment for UHC policy reform and implementation, institutional management capacity building and health system strengthening.
• This required the full engagement and participation communities with a view to contributing to ending preventable maternal and new-born deaths.
• The programme operated at the Federal level; and geographically in five states of - Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe. Following the ODA cuts, from 0.7% to 0.5% and the spend review handrails, the FCDO reprioritisation and business planning exercise beginning in the last quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021 the programme had to scale down some key interventions and consider reviewing the geographic scope going into the next financial years.

The programme now focuses on contributing to two outcomes (1) Morbidity amongst women, new-borns, children, and adolescents significantly reduced in targeted states; and (2) Covid-19 transmission and vaccine hesitancy reduced including improved plans and capacity for emergency preparedness and response in the targeted States:

• Output 1: Advocacy & Accountability - Leadership and Governance of primary health care services structures or planning and delivery teams are functional in targeted states (through partnership)
• Output 2: Adequate health workforce for primary health care including RMNCAH service delivery and BHCPF available and sustained in targeted states.
• Output 3: Health information management systems capacity to support decision-making for primary health care including RMNCAH and BHCPF service delivery in targeted states increased.
• Output 4: Health financing and public financial management to strengthen and sustain access to high quality and affordable primary health care in targeted states increased.
• Output 5: Health security and epidemic preparedness and response (EPR) plans developed and operationalized within the targeted states (by addressing social norms/behaviour change)

Job Purpose

• The Finance Manager (FM) contributes to the overall management and development of the Lafiya Project through providing support and advice to the Director- Finance & Administration (DFA) in their financial management of the project and performing general accounting duties. 
• The position also provides capacity enhancement support to Budget Holders and non-Finance Staff in internal controls & other accounting procedures as well as contributing to the Value for Money (VfM) Reporting function of the Programme.
• S/he contributes to Programme Risk Management by undertaking assurance-type functions in support of Internal Control and Compliance processes.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities
The Finance Manager shall be responsible for the following:

Strategic and Operational Planning:

• Provides ongoing support to the Programme Finance Lead towards achieving contractual spending targets.
• Reporting to the Director-Finance & Administration (DFA), the position provides critical support to annual strategic and operational workplans/budgets development.
• Supports the DFA in his oversight responsibility for institutionalizing Value for Money (VfM) principles and processes in the Programme.

General Accounting:

• Oversee the financial management of the reimbursable expenses component of the Programme Budget.
• Manage cash flow and ensure adequate funds are available to meet programme needs.
• Review and approve all financial transactions, including payment vouchers, journal entries, and bank reconciliations.
• In charge of accounts reconciliations, which includes but not limited to the Management of Project Receivables and Payables, Cashbook and Activity advances.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, including the preparation of monthly financial reports, The Client reports, and other financial reports as required.
• Lead on the Lafiya Programme’s weekly Field Voucher submissions.
• Preparing weekly/monthly/quarterly and ad hoc Budget vs. Actuals Reports, disseminating to the project SLT as a key decision-making tool for the Programme.
• Overseeing the maintenance of a robust filing system for easy retrieval of documents finance documentation both manual and electronic.
• Providing guidance, training, coaching and mentoring of finance staff.

Support to Project Delivery:

• Support the Kano-based Finance and Administration Coordinator (FACO) and Operations Assistants in their financial management responsibilities.
• Assist the DFA to proliferate understanding of and enforcement of financial procedures in the Programme teams.
• Develop and maintain financial policies and procedures for the programme, ensuring they are consistent with The Client regulations and best practices.
• Ensure financial procedures and guidelines are followed and to identify and advice on areas of procedural improvement.
• Supporting the DFA during the conduct of internal and external audits of the Lafiya Project.
• Assisting the DFA in strengthening accounting systems and procedures.
• Responding to internal control related queries; and
• Implementing new controls, process narratives and developing tests of control as needed.
• Ensure project financial documents are audit-ready at all times by reviewing documentation, conducting spot checks, providing reports on identified gaps and proffering recommendations to address identified shortcomings.
• Support STLs and FACOs in their pre-audit preparations.
• Assist State Teams and budget holders to monitor spending against their budgets to ensure consistent attainment of mandatory variance targets.
• Participate in the development and implementation of state teams’ programme work plans, providing financial input and analysis.
• Collaborate with programme management to develop and implement financial strategies that align with programme goals and objectives.
• Ensure compliance with FCDO, Palladium and Lafiya Programme financial management policies and procedures, including procurement, and financial reporting.

Budgeting and Budgetary Control:

• Oversee the preparation and review of budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Monitor and manage programme expenses to ensure they are within budget and provide variance analysis to programme management.
• Coordinate with programme management to ensure that programme activities are fully funded and that funds are being utilized efficiently.

Internal Controls:

• Monitor and analyse programme financial performance against budgets and forecasts, identifying areas for improvement and making recommendations for corrective action.

Other:

• Provide periodic short-term cover for the DFA and manage the absence of FACOs.
• Provide training and support to programme staff on financial management policies and procedures, including procurement and contracts management.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with programme stakeholders, including government agencies, vendors, and sub-recipients.
• Supervise and mentor Finance Coordinators, including setting performance objectives and providing regular feedback.
• Manage relationships with banks and other financial institutions to ensure the smooth operation of programme financial transactions.
• Provide support to other Palladium Nigeria project teams as needed, including assistance with financial management, taxation, budgeting, and reporting.

Working Contacts:

• Internal: Director - Finance & Administration, Finance & Administration Coordinators, All budget-holders, State and Technical Leads, Advisors, SMT members. PIDNL & Lafiya Project Operations.
• External: Auditors, Bankers, Government bodies (including regulatory agencies), Subcontractors.

Required Qualifications
Essential:

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field. (or equivalent certification and experience).
• Progressive years of experience in financial management, with at least 4 years in a supervisory role.
• Recognized professional accounting qualification such as ICAN, ICA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA.
• Self-evident inter-personal skills that will ensure senior managers seek their support in resolving financial management issues.
• Good personal organisational skills, including time management, and ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
• Knowledge of Nigerian tax and regulatory regime.
• Advanced knowledge and experience with the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work with, support and interpret financial reports to non-financial managers.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

Desirable:

• Financial management experience with INGOs, preferably with Palladium International Development Nigeria Limited (PIDNL).
• The ability to challenge poor practice constructively and to give direct actionable feedback on control failures.
• Experience working with donor-funded programmes, preferably in the health sector.
• Excellent communication skills