Finance Expert at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

Uncategorized

In the high-stakes world of humanitarian aid, financial integrity is the foundation upon which life-saving interventions are built. For an organization dedicated to eradicating malnutrition and providing clean water, every dollar saved through expert management is a resource redirected toward a child in need. By taking on this leadership role in Abuja, you will ensure that the financial engine driving our missions across Nigeria remains transparent, efficient, and fully accountable to the communities we serve.

Job Summary

The Finance Expert serves as the strategic guardian of the mission’s financial health, overseeing a complex portfolio that spans several high-impact operational zones. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will provide the technical leadership necessary to navigate multi-donor regulations while ensuring that our field offices in the North East and North West have the liquidity and oversight required to operate safely. You will be a key architect of the mission’s financial strategy, balancing rigorous compliance with the agile needs of emergency response.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Financial Planning: Lead the development of the mission’s financial strategy and provide expert frameworks for new project proposals and multi-year budgets.
  • Complex Grant Oversight: Manage a large-scale financial portfolio, ensuring that all donor-funded initiatives comply with specific international regulations and institutional guidelines.
  • Treasury & Cash Management: Maintain total oversight of mission-wide cash flow, ensuring liquidity for operational needs while mitigating currency and security risks.
  • Reporting & Accountability: Orchestrate the production of high-quality financial reports, ensuring absolute accuracy in accounting and the timely closure of fiscal periods.
  • Internal Control & Risk Mitigation: Continuously refine financial procedures to prevent fraud, manage audit trails, and ensure the mission remains a low-risk partner for global donors.
  • Inter-Agency Coordination: Foster strong financial collaboration with local partners and international stakeholders to ensure harmonized reporting and transparency.
  • Leadership & Capacity Building: Directly manage a senior finance team in Abuja and provide indirect technical supervision to Finance Managers across five critical operational hubs (Maiduguri, Yobe, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Yola).

Qualifications & Requirements

Experience & Education

  • Academic Background: A University Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
  • Professional Track Record: At least five (5) years of senior finance experience, with a heavy emphasis on managing complex, multi-million dollar grant portfolios in the NGO sector.
  • Technical Mastery: Proven proficiency with the SAGA accounting system is highly preferred.
  • Humanitarian Insight: A minimum of three (3) years in a management role within a humanitarian context, demonstrating a deep understanding of field dynamics and emergency operations.

Essential Skills

  • Regulatory Expertise: Deep familiarity with international donor regulations (e.g., USAID, ECHO, FCDO) and the specific fiscal landscape of Nigeria.
  • Leadership: Exceptional ability to mentor diverse teams and manage performance across geographically dispersed field offices.
  • Communication: Mastery of professional English, with the ability to present complex financial data to non-finance stakeholders.
  • Ethical Standards: A rock-solid commitment to organizational codes of conduct and humanitarian principles.

Why This Role is Important

Action Against Hunger operates in some of the most logistically challenging environments in Nigeria. As a Finance Expert, you are the link between global donor intent and local impact. Without your oversight, life-saving funds cannot reach the frontlines of the hunger crisis. You provide the “financial security” that allows our medical and WASH teams to focus on their mission, knowing the resources they rely on are managed with the highest degree of professionalism.

Benefits & Salary

  • Type: Contract (Professional Level)
  • Salary: Competitive (Based on Action Against Hunger’s international salary scale and the candidate’s depth of experience).
  • Impact: The chance to lead financial strategy for a world-renowned NGO during a critical period for food security in the Sahel.

Tips for Applicants

  1. Emphasize Grant Management: Use your CV to demonstrate the scale of budgets you have managed. Numbers speak louder than words in finance.
  2. Focus on SAGA: If you have used SAGA (or similar humanitarian ERPs), highlight this prominently, as it is a specific technical advantage for this organization.
  3. Field Context Matters: Mention your experience working in or supporting North-Eastern/North-Western Nigeria, as understanding these specific operational risks is a major asset.

About the Organization

Action Against Hunger (ACF) is a global leader in the fight against malnutrition, operating in over 50 countries to provide life-saving solutions where they are needed most. For over 40 years, we have worked to provide communities with sustainable access to clean water, food security, and healthcare. In Nigeria, our mission is at the forefront of the response to the nutrition crisis, working tirelessly in conflict-affected areas to build resilience and save lives through an integrated approach to humanitarian aid.

Application Details

  • Location: Abuja, Nigeria (with oversight of 5 field operations)
  • Deadline: Rolling Application (Interested candidates are encouraged to apply immediately)
  • How to Apply: Applications must be submitted through the official Action Against Hunger international recruitment portal: ACF Careers.

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and diverse backgrounds.