Description:

Job Title: Finance Assistant

Sector: Finance

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods.

Job Overview/Summary

The Finance Assistant reports to the Finance Officer in Abuja, the FCT. She/he supports the Finance Officer in managing all aspects of day-to-day operations of accounting department in the Abuja office, He/she will assist in the implementation of Finance policies, procedures and systems and Ensure compliance with IRC procedures and guidelines.

Major Responsibilities

• Assist with making payments to suppliers, contractors and program staff based on approved documents and in line with authority delineation.
• Ensure scrutiny of the entire bill for accuracy and receipt of goods before process for payment.
• Be responsible for documentation, preparation of cash disbursement voucher for all cash transactions related to the station office.
• Ensure all transactions are in compliance with IRC accounting policy, Donor restriction and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Maintain confidentiality of all financial and other job-related information.
• Prepare and process day to day financial transactions and implement internal control procedures in keeping with IRC policies and procedures.
• Assist in the collection of financial needs for the office each week
• Ensure proper documentation and filing of all financial documents.
• Process tax filing Tax-Promax. 
• Submits mandates to the bank for processing.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by your supervisor

Finance/Budgeting

• Act at all times in accordance with local law and standards of accounting practice.
• Review budget with the aim of gaining a clear understanding of budget guidelines and instructions
• Review funding allocations to enable proper guidance to programs and proper coding.
• Produce monthly and quarterly reports to be reviewed by your supervisor.

• Required for all positions with supervisory responsibility, if special considerations are needed (e.g. remote management), make this additive to the base language here.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to:  Finance Officer

Indirect/Technical Reporting: Finance Coordinator

Position directly Supervises: None

Key Internal Contacts: All Sector

Country Program: 

Region/Global:

Key External Contacts:  Tax Authorities, Banks, Pension fund managers, Insurance Companies etc.

Qualifications

• Education: Diploma in Accounts or bachelor’s degree in accounting from recognized College/Institutions.
• Work Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of accounting experience. Computer literate with significant knowledge/experience in excel
• Demonstrated Technical Skills:
• Able to work in a high-pressure situation,
• Ability to independently organize work, prioritize task and manage time.
• Strong inter-personal skills, able to coach and support others
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible and punctual
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, fluent in written and spoken English.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Languages:  English

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.  Add position-specific (e.g. accounting software, statistical software, etc.).

Ability to Travel: Not Applicable

• Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
• Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.
• Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
• Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate’s potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.
• Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attracts, motivates, and retains employees that deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.