CSSF West Africa Programme Finance Manager at the British High Commission (BHC)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: CSSF West Africa Programme Finance Manager

Job ID: 07/22 ABJ
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: C4 (L)
Duration of Post: 12 months
Type of Position: Fixed Term
Type of Post: British High Commission
Job Subcategory: CSSF (Conflict, Stability and Security Fund)
Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Start Date: 1 April 2022

Main Purpose of Job

• The Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) West Africa team, British High Commission Abuja, a rapidly growing team, is looking for a confident and proactive finance and compliance manager to maintain oversight of a £30m p.a. regional portfolio across West Africa.
• The CSSF is an FCDO managed global cross-HMG fund which brings together the UK’s contribution to stability, security and defence activities in countries at risk of instability.
• The job holder will work directly to the Head of CSSF West Africa and be based in Abuja. She / he will work with a wide range of regional HMG and international actors to monitor, report on and improve financial risk management across the entire portfolio. This will require a range of activities, including establishing and communicating HMG financial processing requirements; strengthening systems to monitor spend and compliance; improving regional financial capacity; providing financial advisory support to programme leads; and leading procurement, due diligence and audit processes directly as appropriate.
• This role presents an exciting opportunity to support UK foreign policy priorities in West Africa by ensuring compliance with HMG financial, risk management and audit requirements.
• The role will appeal to anyone who wishes to apply strong financial, risk-management and stakeholder engagement skills in a fast-moving and challenging context. It will suit someone who has closely managed funds before, ideally in a development programme setting, and has a naturally critical eye when looking at budgets and forecasts.

Roles and Responsibilities (What will the job holder be expected to achieve)
The post-holder will be responsible and accountable for:

• Maintaining a clear overview of financial and compliance performance across the West Africa CSSF portfolio, proactively ensuring compliance with all financial risk management and audit requirements, escalating any identified risks and identified areas for improvement;
• Leading on providing financial reports to the CSSF Africa Team for the West Africa portfolio, coordinating with each country manager;
• Ensuring programme management cycle principles and best practice are applied to support delivery of projects in line with annual milestones and targets;
• Providing accurate and timely financial and compliance report for the strategy board, presenting information in a clear and accessible way to inform strategic decisions;
• Improving regional capability on finance, procurement and risk management by sharing guidance, tools and training opportunities;
• Providing advice on specific finance, procurement and financial risk management issues across the region;
• Implementing all pre-contract compliance requirements such as due diligence and audit processes are followed to protect programme funds;
• Maintaining and managing relationships with suppliers, implementing partners and programme managers professionally and effectively to ensure value for money, minimising the occurrence of fraud and inefficiencies;
• Proactively facilitating the sharing of information between programme leads, Senior Responsible Officers (SROs) and implementing partners;
• Holding PRISM responsibilities for FCDO projects managed;

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience  

• A Bachelor’s Degree
• Have strong programme and project cycle management skills and experience. This will include evidence of successful programme/project/other financial management and application of sound procurement principles and financial planning and budgeting;
• Be able to master quickly FCDO’s financial and programme management systems;
• Have a strong understanding of systems and tools for financial planning and budgeting, including excel, and financial results monitoring such as use of variance analysis to inform future decision making;
• Be able to constructively challenge existing norms and basis for assumptions, particularly on financial forecasts and budgets;
• Be articulate, competent in drafting high quality written communication, and have an excellent attention to detail;
• Be able to engage effectively with technical level staff in government and other donors, build relationships and be able to negotiate with others;
• Have experience of working with commercial suppliers, multi-lateral agencies, civil society, government and development partners to identify problems/obstacles and develop/implement practical solutions;
• The ability to work as part of a team to deliver results, be a self-starter and able to take and see through delegated decisions.
• This role requires the jobholder to have significant experience in financial management but with a programme management background rather than pure finance.  The post holder will have a line management responsibility

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Financial management qualification
• Conflict/Security programme experience

Required competencies:

• Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering Value for Money, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace

Salary  
NGN 879,967.44 / Month

Other benefits and conditions of employment
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

• There are a wealth of L&D opportunities available through the Diplomatic Academy, as well as lots of on the job learning opportunities, attending CSSF professional development, conferences and training.

Application Closing Date
3rd March, 2022.