Accountant (Humanitarian Finance & Budgeting) Role

Role Purpose

The Accountant will be responsible for financial management, budgeting, and reporting in line with humanitarian programming standards and donor requirements. The role requires strong expertise in humanitarian budget approaches, cost allocation methodologies, and compliance with UN financial systems. The position is pivotal to ensuring financial integrity, transparency, and accountability in humanitarian interventions across Northeast Nigeria.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Accounting


Prepare, review, and post financial transactions in line with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and organizational policies.
Maintain accurate ledgers, reconciliations, and cashbooks for humanitarian projects.
Support month-end and year-end closing processes with timely submission of financial statements.


Budgeting & Grants Management


Lead in the preparation and monitoring of multi-donor humanitarian budgets, including UN agencies (UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, OCHA, etc.).
Ensure alignment of financial planning with project activities, humanitarian response plans (HRPs), and donor guidelines.
Track budget utilization, analyze variances, and prepare budget vs. actual (BvA) reports for internal and external stakeholders.
Coordinate with program teams on reprogramming requests, budget revisions, and donor compliance.


Donor & UN Compliance


Ensure strict compliance with UN and donor financial regulations, audit requirements, and cost eligibility criteria.
Support donor financial reporting, ensuring timely, accurate, and transparent submissions.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of UN Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT), UN funding modalities, and humanitarian pooled funds (CERF, NHF).


Capacity Building & Internal Control


Provide training and mentorship to field finance staff on humanitarian budgeting, donor compliance, and financial systems.
Strengthen internal controls and ensure adherence to anti-fraud, safeguarding, and accountability policies.
Liaise with auditors, donors, and stakeholders during financial reviews and external audits.


Qualifications & Experience


Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field (Master’s degree or CPA/ACCA certification an added advantage).
Minimum 5 years of experience in financial management within humanitarian organizations, NGOs, or UN agencies.
Proven experience working with UN agencies in Northeast Nigeria (e.g., UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, OCHA), with sound knowledge of HACT and UN budgetary frameworks.
Strong knowledge of humanitarian budget approaches including direct vs. shared costs, cost recovery models, pooled fund mechanisms, and donor compliance frameworks.
Proficiency in accounting software (QuickBooks, SUN Systems, SAP, or UN ERP systems such as Umoja/ATLAS).
Strong analytical, communication, and report writing skills.
Ability to work under pressure in insecure environments and meet strict deadlines.


Core Competencies


Strong financial integrity and ethical conduct.
Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
Ability to collaborate with diverse teams, including program, logistics, and donor representatives.
Strong understanding of humanitarian coordination architecture in Nigeria (clusters, OCHA, HRP).