Compliance Officer I at Management Sciences For Health – MSH – Apply Now

Overview

The Compliance Officer will conduct verification of internal controls and compliance of all financial and operational functions in the GF-Malaria Project, Nigeria. The position holder will verify that all staff are well versed in donor and MSH policies and procedures, and are adhering to such standards. S/he will identify gaps in existing internal control systems, and provide recommendations to strengthen them; will identify gaps in knowledge and skills; will provide recommendations for training.
In coordination with the Senior Compliance Officer, s/he will develop a plan and evaluation tools, and then carry out independent appraisals and verifications of the effectiveness of MSH and donor policies, procedures and standards, and (country) law, by which MSH (country/project) financial resources are managed. S/he will review and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting, compliance with applicable laws and the safeguarding of assets.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all MSH Nigeria GF-Malaria Project financial and operational activities are in compliance with Nigeria law (tax laws, labor laws and government pension agency laws), donor rules and regulations, and MSH policies and standards.
• Develops an annual customized compliance monitoring plan, including evaluation tools, standards, ethical considerations, and schedule to evaluate all country/project functions, including remote staff/office locations, and to visit sites needing attention and further verifications.
• Develops compliance framework for the MSH Nigeria/GF-Malaria office; including compliance checklists for the various business processes, transaction classes, country laws governing NGO operations, and specific donor requirements.
• Periodically reviews and updates the compliance monitoring checklist and other tools to stay current with MSH procedures and policies.
• Examines the effectiveness of internal controls and compliance within MSH Nigeria/GF-Malaria policy framework and identifies gaps in procedures and controls systems and provides recommendations to the Country/Project Leadership Team for strengthening them.
• Tests internal controls, targeting high risk areas, including Procurement Workshops, Vehicle usage, Inventory control and Cash advance management, Payroll and Fleet Management.
• Documents internal control weaknesses and compliance deviations and their impact, and makes recommendations to address these weaknesses.
• Identifies gaps in knowledge and skills and provides recommendations for training.
• May be requested to provide training directly to staff.
• Prepares detailed reports of each compliance review and other task assignments, with prioritized findings and recommendations.
• Presents final reports to the MSH Nigeria/GF-Malaria Country Leadership Team after review and approval from Supervisor.
• When necessary, collaborates with internal and external audit on investigations of whistleblower cases, suspected fraud, mismanagement, loss of assets, etc.
• Follows-up on recommendations from the internal and external auditors to ensure the recommendations have been implemented and adhered to. Assists the Project Management and Finance/Operations Lead in providing response to ad hoc requests from auditors.
• Stays abreast of laws, directives, and current trends in the local legal and NGO environment.
• Provides risk assessment for financial and operational landscape. Identify high risk, high probability events, and provide recommended mitigation plan. Provide ad-hoc risk assessments for specific scenarios by request.
• Provide ad-hoc advice, helping staff to achieve the goal of establishing sound risk management and internal control systems; offer practical advice on how best to comply with financial policy and donor guidelines.
• Conduct 100% review of project vouchers and documents monthly and provide immediate recommendations were necessary to address weaknesses and correct errors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Management or related area.
• Advanced degree preferred
• Professional certification in Accounting, Internal Audit, and Fraud Examination
• 6 years + of experience in compliance, risk management or audit required.
• Extensive familiarity of Global Fund and US government grant rules and regulations and/or other donor rules and regulations (E.U, USAID, CDC, DFID) required.
• Experience in international development programs preferred.
• Excellent planning, management, and organizational skills.
• Proven leadership and interpersonal skill.
• Professional proficiency in English required
• Perspective, Dealing with ambiguity, Organizational Agility, Political Savvy and Strategic Agility
• Functional/Technical skills, Client Focus, Managing through systems, Managing and Measuring work, Negotiating, Information Sharing, Process Management, Priority Setting, Problem Solving and Timely Decision Making
• Ethics and Values, Integrity and Trust, Listening, Written Communication
• Adaptability, Communication, Problem Solving, Creativity and Innovation, Quality, Quality and Timeliness of Work, Quality of work and Team Relationships, Resource Utilization
• Travel requirements: Availability to travel domestically and internationally as needed. Up to 50% domestic travel.
• Physical Demands: Keyboard use, Pulling drawers, Lifting papers <10lbs., ETC.