Finance & Compliance Consultant (NGO Sector)

We are seeking an experienced Finance & Compliance Consultant to support the establishment and strengthening of finance, compliance, governance, and donor-readiness systems for emerging NGOs operating in Northern Nigeria.

The consultant will work closely with NGO leadership, finance teams, board members, and programme staff to design practical financial management systems, strengthen internal controls, build donor compliance capacity, and support implementation of policies and procedures aligned with Nigerian regulations and international donor requirements.

This assignment focuses on helping local organizations become grant-ready, compliant, transparent, and capable of managing institutional funding effectively.

Finance Systems Development
>Design and implement finance management systems for NGO operations.
>Develop charts of accounts, coding structures, cash books, reconciliation procedures, and reporting tools.
>Establish month-end close procedures and financial controls.
>Support budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and grant financial tracking.

Compliance & Governance
>Review organizational compliance status and governance structures.
>Develop compliance calendars covering statutory filings, audits, donor reporting, and regulatory obligations.
>Ensure alignment with Nigerian NGO regulations, FIRS requirements, PAYE, withholding tax, and VAT obligations.
>Strengthen AML/CFT and anti-diversion controls.

Donor Readiness & Grant Compliance
>Support compliance with donor requirements including US Government-funded projects and institutional grants.
>Strengthen systems related to:
. Financial management
. Procurement
. Internal controls
. Documentation and record retention
. Audit readiness
. Risk management
>Develop donor-compliant policies, templates, and operational workflows.

Procurement & Risk Management
>Design procurement policies and procedures.
>Develop vendor due diligence frameworks.
>Strengthen fraud prevention and whistleblowing mechanisms.
>Establish conflict-of-interest and ethical compliance procedures.

Training & Capacity Building
>Deliver finance and compliance training for staff and board members.
>Conduct workshops on donor compliance, financial controls, budgeting, procurement, and reporting.
>Provide practical coaching and mentoring to finance and programme teams.

Audit Readiness & Reporting
>Establish audit-ready filing systems.
>Develop supporting documentation standards.
>Create reporting packs and compliance tracking tools.
>Support preparation for donor reviews and external audits.

Education
>Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Development Studies, or a related field.
>Professional certification such as ACA, ACCA, CPA, ANAN, ICAN, or equivalent is strongly preferred.

Experience
>Minimum of 7 years' experience in NGO finance, compliance, grants management, or institutional capacity strengthening.
>Proven experience supporting donor-funded projects.
>Experience working with local NGOs, CSOs, INGOs, humanitarian organizations, or development programs.
>Demonstrated experience developing finance manuals, internal controls, procurement systems, and compliance frameworks.

Technical Expertise
Strong knowledge of:

>NGO financial management
>Budgeting and forecasting
>Internal controls
>Procurement compliance
>Payroll administration
>Audit readiness
>Financial reporting
>Risk management
>Grant management

Preferred Experience
>Experience with USAID, CDC, FCDO, Global Fund, Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, or similar donor-funded projects.
>Familiarity with donor regulations and institutional grant compliance.
>Experience working in Northern Nigeria or similar operational contexts.