Project Accountant

Job title : Project Accountant

Job Location : Oyo Deadline : October 18, 2026 Quick Recommended Links

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Duties
Three-Country Financial Coordination and Oversight:

• Coordinate the financial management and reporting requirements of I-Youth 2.0 across Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
• Serve as the central finance focal point for coordination between the project management team and country-level finance/admin personnel.
• Establish and maintain mechanisms for the timely collection, review, consolidation, and submission of financial information from the three countries.
• Ensure consistency in the application of project financial procedures, reporting requirements, and financial controls across country operations.
• Coordinate country-level financial reporting calendars and ensure timely submission of financial information required for project management and donor reporting.
• Review country-level financial information and identify discrepancies, unusual expenditure patterns, budget pressures, unsupported costs or other financial management issues requiring corrective action.
• Consolidate country-level financial information for program-wide management reporting and financial analysis.
• Facilitate cross-country learning and consistency in financial management practices while recognizing applicable country-specific regulatory and institutional requirements.

Budget Management and Financial Analysis:

• Monitor project budgets and expenditure across the three countries against approved work plans, budgets, and implementation schedules.
• Prepare regular budget-versus-actual analyses and identify significant variances, emerging budget pressures, and under-utilization of funds.
• Provide financial analysis to support project management decision-making, work planning, reprogramming, and resource allocation.
• Monitor project commitments, obligations, expenditure trends, and available balances across countries and project components.
• Prepare cash-flow projections and funding requirements based on approved implementation plans and projected expenditures.
• Advise project management on the financial implications of planned activities and proposed changes to implementation schedules or resource allocation.
• Support budget revisions and reprogramming exercises by providing accurate financial analysis and supporting information.

Financial Reporting and Donor Accountability:

• Lead the consolidation and preparation of periodic project financial reports for management review and submission to the relevant institutional and donor platforms.
• Coordinate financial inputs from Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to ensure completeness, accuracy, consistency, and timely reporting.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including expenditure summaries, budget-versus-actual analyses, cash-flow projections, and other management reports.
• Coordinate preparation of financial information required for MasterCard Foundation reporting in accordance with approved reporting formats and timelines.
• Ensure alignment between financial reports, approved work plans, implementation progress, and narrative reporting.
• Review financial data for accuracy and completeness before submission for management review and approval.
• Provide financial information and analysis required for project reviews, management meetings, donor engagements, and other strategic discussions.

Financial Controls and Compliance:

• Monitor compliance with IITA financial policies, donor financial requirements, applicable country regulations, and approved project procedures across the three countries.
• Review country-level financial submissions, expenditure returns, imprest retirements, and supporting documentation to ensure compliance with applicable requirements.
• Identify control weaknesses, financial risks, and compliance gaps and recommend appropriate corrective measures.
• Follow up on outstanding financial documentation, unsupported expenditure, and other compliance issues with relevant country teams.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and adherence to established financial controls within project operations.
• Maintain oversight of project financial documentation and ensure that financial records are complete, accurate, properly authorized, and audit-ready.
• Keep abreast of relevant donor and country-specific financial and regulatory requirements affecting project implementation and communicate implications to relevant project personnel.

Fund Management and Disbursement Coordination:

• Coordinate timely disbursement of project funds to country teams, implementation locations, and approved project partners in accordance with approved work plans and financial procedures.
• Monitor utilization of disbursed funds against approved activities, budgets, and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate cash-flow requirements from the three countries and consolidate funding requirements for project management and Finance.
• Monitor outstanding advances, imprests, retirements, and financial obligations and ensure timely resolution.
• Identify potential cash-flow constraints and communicate them proactively to the Finance Manager and project management.
• Ensure that project funding is aligned with implementation priorities and approved financial plans.

Country Finance Coordination:

• Provide technical coordination and guidance to country-level finance and finance-facing personnel on project financial procedures and reporting requirements.
• Establish clear timelines and reporting expectations for country-level financial submissions.
• Review and provide feedback on country financial reports and supporting schedules before consolidation.
• Coordinate resolution of financial queries arising from country operations.
• Facilitate communication between country teams and the central Finance function on project-specific financial matters.
• Support orientation and capacity strengthening of country-level staff on project financial management, donor requirements, and financial controls.
• Promote consistent application of project financial procedures across Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Procurement and Contract Financial Interface:

• Work closely with the Procurement Officer to ensure that procurement and contracting activities have appropriate budgetary and financial coverage.
• Review financial implications of procurement and contractual commitments within the scope of the accountant’s responsibilities.
• Monitor financial commitments arising from major project contracts and procurement activities and ensure appropriate recording and reporting.
• Coordinate with Procurement and project teams to ensure that financial documentation required for payment and accountability is complete.
• Provide financial information required for procurement planning and project implementation without assuming the procurement function or procurement decision-making authority.

Audit, Assurance and Risk Management:

• Coordinate project financial preparations for internal, external and donor audits across the three countries.
• Prepare financial schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to audit queries.
• Coordinate with country teams to ensure the timely provision of documentation requested during audits and financial reviews.
• Track implementation of financial audit recommendations and report outstanding issues to the Finance Manager and project management.
• Identify emerging financial risks and recommend measures to strengthen financial controls and accountability.
• Maintain an organized and audit-ready financial documentation system for the overall project.

Management Advisory and Decision Support:

• Provide the Finance Manager and project management team with timely analysis of the project's financial position and implementation performance.
• Highlight significant financial risks, variances, funding gaps, under-utilization, and emerging financial pressures requiring management attention.
• Provide financial inputs to annual work planning, project reviews, forecasts, and implementation decisions.
• Participate in project management and planning meetings and provide professional financial advice on proposed activities and operational decisions.
• Support management in assessing the financial implications of changes in implementation priorities, activity schedules, and resource allocation.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of financial management systems, processes, and controls across the program.

Financial Systems, Records and Data Management:

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project financial records and supporting documentation in accordance with IITA requirements.
• Ensure appropriate electronic and physical filing of financial records, contracts, payment documentation, financial reports, and other accountability documents.
• Develop and maintain financial tracking tools, reporting templates, and analytical schedules required for effective program-wide financial management.
• Promote accurate, timely, and consistent financial data across the three countries.
• Support the effective use of financial management and reporting systems for project monitoring and decision-making.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Financial Manager or Program Manager.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field.
• A professional accounting qualification (ICAN, ACCA or equivalent) is an added advantage.
• 3-5 years of relevant accounting/finance experience, preferably on donor-funded development or agriculture projects is required.

Competencies
The ideal candidate must have:

• Working knowledge of accounting software (e.g., Oracle, SAP, QuickBooks, or similar ERP systems) and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Familiarity with donor financial compliance requirements.
• Strong attention to detail, integrity, and ability to manage confidential financial information.
• Good organizational and time management skills, with the ability to meet reporting deadlines across multiple locations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong financial management and accounting skills.
• Sound knowledge of budgeting, financial reporting, and grant management.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to interpret financial data and prepare management reports.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other financial management software.