Position Title: Consortium Finance and Compliance Coordinator

Reporting to: Chief of Party

Duty Station : Maiduguri

Employment Period: 12 months

Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee): National/Expat

Salary & Benefits: NM-G1

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015. DRC Nigeria is the largest DRC country mission in the West Africa region and one of the largest DRC country missions globally. Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees, and host communities in the areas of armed violence reduction, humanitarian mine action, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter, and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in 30+ Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno, Adamawa and states in northeast Nigeria and Sokoto and Zamfara states in Northwest Nigeria.

Overall purpose of the role:

The DRC-led six-consortium member BHA-funded consortium ‘Stronger Communities through Stronger Protection Environment in Northeast Nigeria,’ commenced implementation. The consortium aims to deliver an integrated, multisectoral and area-based, humanitarian assistance to displacement-affected communities in Borno state, Nigeria in partnership with international and national NGOs.

This position has a country focus and multi-organization focus (Consortium Members) and ensure compliance with Consortium harmonized approaches, DRC procedure and guidelines as well the donor regulations within Nigeria. The role contributes to the development of the strategic objectives of the Consortium, the collaboration with its members that shall be translated into guidance and plans for day-to-day tasks. The role involves overseeing the financial implementation, general administration of the consortium, reporting and communication as well as providing technical guidance in support services to consortium partners.

• Provide overall advice, coordination, and technical support to the financial process as well as the members finance teams.

• Ensure compliance with the finance DRC specific guidelines and donor regulations.

• Nurture and promote a culture of compliance and risk management in collaboration with the consortium members through the Operations Working Group

• Other support services related to Supply Chain, HR and admin to ensure quality, timely and on budget delivery of the project.

Responsibilities:

Financial Management

• In close cooperation with Consortium Members, reinforce existing procedures and systems for financial management and control in compliance with
• guidelines of DRC, Consortium internal guidelines and donor requirements.
• In collaboration with the COP, lead on Budget Follow Up [BFU] meetings with regards to Consortium budgeting and spending, document, track and cooperate with Consortium Members and grants management team to ensure all actions are implemented.
• Ensure that all appropriate formats related to support services [Finance, supply chain, HR, Admin] for donor and DRC are available across the Consortium and Consortium staff have a clear understanding of donor requirements/expectations.
• Track, document and coordinate response to all necessary follow-up internally and externally for relevant Consortium Members staff.
• Maintain continuity of work operations by documenting and communicating needed actions to management (Consortium Management Unit and Steering Committee)
• Support and lead timely delivery of quality financial reports to donors and internal reports to DRC, Consortium Management Unit and Steering Committee.
• Consolidate all financial and support services data and provide monthly financial briefings to the Chief of Party and Steering Committee
• Build rapport and lead the Operations Working Group comprised of Consortium Finance, Supply Chain, HR, Admin personnel, and timely recommend remedial action on key financial and support services issues for the consortium programme, that need to be addressed for timley and quality including financial reporting, key variances, underspends, delays in logs, recruitments etc. Ensure thorough and effective budgetary control for the consortium programme.
• Initiate Consortium Partners’ instalments, settlements and reports and maintain these in regularly updated bookkeeping in DRC ERP system (DRC Dynamics)

Risk and Compliance

• Develop and maintain up-to-date and in-depth knowledge of donor and government policies, and support implementing DRC Led Consortia teams to ensure full compliance.
• Maintain effective communications with Consortium Members and track the engagement regarding donor-related issues.
• Monitor the compliance aspect of implementation by conducting spot checks and verification visits particularly focusing on timely and qulaity delivery of support services to the field for efficient implementation.
• Work closely with Consortium Members to establish efficiency in integration or time or cost-reduction because of sharing of resources at all levels of implementation such as shared field bases, joint trainings, joint procurement, etc and document this efficiency in regular reports.
• Contribute to the preparation of audits and lead the preparation for local audits
• Provides expert advice and support to set strategy and assure operational quality and compliance
• Support and evaluate areas of compliance risk while feeding into risk registers, and recommend corrective actions
• Work closely with Consortium Members senior personnel and DRC teams to ensure monitoring the performance of risk mitigation, improvement plans and corrective actions.

Partnership and Sub-Granting

• Review and ensure compliance of project agreements, including subgrant-agreements, teaming agreements and memoranda of understanding.
• Maintain an updated consortium calendar and support in organizing Consortium meetings such as kick-off meetings, working group meetings, external relations, mid-term reviews, and closure meetings to ensure that information is shared effectively with relevant staff, including Consortium members.
• Ensure all required documentation for financial audits in cooperation with Consortium Members’ focal points
• Ensure timely reporting and disbursement of funds for all consortium members.

Capacity and Needs Assessments and Partnership Management

• Input into in-depth capacity assessment tools related to support systems, including finance, supply chain, finance, administration, HR
• Support partner OCA/OCD processes for NGOs including local authority liaisons as needed
• Manage positive and productive relations with NGOs and other collaborators across the consortium
• Establish and maintain productive links between the Consortium and and with DRC Program teams and Support departments.

Accountability and Reporting

• Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, and BHA guidelines, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact and lessons learned of activities
• Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement
• Provide input for monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports as needed
• Contribute to the improvement of partnership practices by periodically participating in partnership management approach considering both DRC and partners’ perspectives, capture lessons learned and best practices, and make recommendations for improvement.

People Management

• Ability to deliver concrete results in an environment where you don’t line-manage teams. Therefore, position requires a high level of organization, diplomacy and negotiation skills, while being firm on producing results
• Provide on the job training as much as required and adapt trainings/coaching to specific staff needs within the partnerships team

Any other duties as may be assigned by the Line manager.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 5 years of international practical experience in financial management is required
• Proven experience in managing large budgets is required
• Additional experience managing other support services in the field [Logs/supply chain, HR and admin] is required, with a minimum Three (03) years’ experience in Administration or Human Resources Management or Change Management or Organisational Development and other related fields specifically within the International NGOs, Embassies, UN Agencies and other similar sectors mid-management level.
• Proven experience managing risks and compliance issues.
• Competence in providing technical guidance and training
• Proven experience in working with national partners, local/government authorities
• Working experience with relevant donors’ guidelines such as US-funding (USAID, BHA)
• Experience with using ERP systems and ability to understand their architecture. Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a big advantage

Note: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Education: (include certificates, licenses et.)

Education and Skills:

• Degree in finance, accounting, economics, international development, logistics, Business Administration or other relevant field experience is an asset
• Strong organization and planning skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Broad understanding of donor rules and regulations – BHA
• Expertise with non-profit budgeting is required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Skilled in obtaining information necessary to accomplish duties.
• Able to meet deadlines while managing and prioritizing competing demands.
• Problem analysis and solutions-oriented way of working.
• Able to quickly research, learn and disseminate new knowledge and information.
• Able to communicate clearly and in a timely manner.
• Able to adapt quickly, with an openness to learn and ask questions.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Fluency in written and spoken English – Advanced proficiency Knowledge of local languages

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• Consortium Members’ focal Points, Particularly the Operations WG.
• Consortia Management Unit
• Chief of Party
• Donors (BHA)
• Steering Committee