About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

As part of its agency-wide commitment to local leadership, CRS has developed the High Performing Implementers (HPI) Initiative, which aims to accompany government partners to become and remain strong implementers of institutional donor grants. HPI is based on CRS’ decades of experience and success with capacity strengthening. The goal of HPI in Nigeria is to support States to strengthen their capacities so that they may incrementally increase their leadership in grant management and implementation. Together with a government partner, CRS will implement this structured approach to partner-led capacity strengthening in Nigeria and is assembling an HPI Support Team to provide direct, comprehensive capacity strengthening support to a state partner according to their prioritized needs. This is a one-year pilot project in Enugu state.

Job Summary:

As a key member of the HPI Support Team, you will contribute to strategy development for government capacity strengthening at state level and provide technical guidance and leadership in capacity strengthening services to the state partner (primarily the State Malaria Elimination Program) in financial management. In line with CRS’ program quality and partnership and capacity strengthening principles, as well as donor and industry standards, you will provide technical leadership and support to a state partner to strengthen their financial management capacity. Your expertise, advice and influence will significantly contribute to determining how effective, adaptive, and innovative CRS’ HPI capacity strengthening is in preparing state partners to eventually become and remain strong implementers of institutional donor grants.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of strategies, tools, and best practices for capacity strengthening in financial management, with a focus on state partners meeting institutional donor standards. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach and leverage existing agency financial management guidance and tools for use with the state partner.
• Provide technical solutions to the state partner for strengthening their capacity in financial management and for achievement of institutional donor standards, leveraging CRS’ HPI solutions platform for technical solutions.
• Oversee and lead the delivery of capacity strengthening in financial management for CRS’ state partner, beginning with understanding the finance-related capacity needs identified by the state partner and the initial action plans proposed to address them; facilitate trainings, workshops, mentor and coach state program staff on best practices, tools and approaches.
• Provide finance-related capacity building, institutional strengthening, and accompaniment for the state partner in accordance with their priorities and related institutional donor standards.
• Oversee and lead certain aspects of the knowledge management in financial capacity strengthening of the state partner by ensuring collective learning, documenting, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned and evidence-based implementation; contribute to the development of the state partner transition plan, as appropriate.
• Promote the collection of regular feedback from the state partner to ensure partner satisfaction with the support and process. Establish and maintain relationships with state partner, donors, peer organizations, and other institutions.
• Represent CRS in targeted state or national forums to develop opportunities and ensure collaboration and shared learning in financial capacity strengthening; to influence and share best practices and promote the joint work of the state partner and CRS.
• Continuously review the adequacy of internal control to ensure the provision of accurate and timely financial information, protection of assets and adherence to policies, systems and procedures.
• Support government partners to enhance financial management systems, structures, and policies that comply with international donor standards.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to build buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Excellent strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Cultural sensitivity, patience, flexibility, and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral and multi-cultural team and to work closely, understand and support state/national government partners.
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented; detail-oriented and excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and deliver required results in a timely, quality manner.
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently ability to work in a challenging and stressful environment with unexpected challenges.
• Demonstrated personal accountability and drive to serve others.

Required Languages

• English. A knowledge of local languages will be an added advantage.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong familiarity and experience with international donor financial management requirements and guidelines.
• Familiarity with SMEPs and Ministries of Health in Nigeria.
• Excellent knowledge of financial reporting software.

Supervisory Responsibilities: none

Key Working Relationships:

Internal – HPI Support Team, HPI Finance Focal Point, CP Finance Team, CP Deputy Head of Programs

External – Finance department and State focal point at the State Malaria Elimination Programme

Basic Qualifications

• MBA or master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (ACA or equivalent) required.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally within a national/state government, the Global Fund or an international NGO, with a minimum of three years of accounting experience.
• Proven experience in technical assistance/capacity strengthening in financial management, including experience facilitating, training, mentoring, and coaching applying adult learning practices.
• Strong understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in Accounting and Finance.
• Experience in the development and production of curricula, tools, and other products to support financial capacity strengthening interventions. Demonstrated experience to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and informal methods.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, state/national governments, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of CRS’ partnership principles and capacity strengthening approach.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.

Safeguarding: 

CRS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all people who interact with our work. We uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and expect all staff and partners to respect and protect the dignity and rights of everyone from any form of harm, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. All staff are required to follow CRS’s safeguarding policies and procedures and to complete mandatory safeguarding e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note:  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer