Financial Management Lead Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development to its staff. UNICEF is known for its inclusive culture and attractive compensation and benefits package, aiming to build careers while serving children and communities globally.

Job Overview:
The Financial Management Lead Consultant will play a pivotal role in enhancing financial management systems within the health sector in Nigeria, particularly focusing on the 3 EU SARAH states’ Ministry of Health and PHCDAs, as well as the 6 states PHCDAs under GAVI HSS3 grants. The consultant will collaborate closely with the IPM specialist, financial management team, and health programme team to implement key financial management reforms. This includes strengthening asset management, facilitating stakeholder engagement, delivering training programs, leading financial planning and budgeting processes, and enhancing financial management practices through targeted capacity building. The consultant will also develop knowledge management systems to capture and share best practices in financial management, ensuring that the financial stewardship and accountability within the State PHCDAs are significantly improved.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strengthen asset management through asset registration, verification, tagging, and accountability support.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement to institutionalize financial management reforms in State Ministries of Health and PHCDAs.
• Deliver Training of Trainers (ToT) programs to support the rollout and effective use of accounting software across MOH and PHCDA finance units.
• Lead the 2027 financial planning and budgeting processes to enhance financial stewardship, accountability, and resource utilization within State PHCDAs.
• Build the financial management capacity of selected partners through training, mentoring, and technical support.
• Enhance financial management practices through process improvements and targeted capacity building for State and LGA PHCDA accounting teams.
• Develop knowledge management systems to capture and share financial management best practices and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum BA university degree in Social Sciences, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Audit, or any other relevant field is required.
• A master’s or professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, ICAN, ACCA) is an advantage.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in financial management, accounting, financial controls, and partnership management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting donor-funded health programmes, preferably GAVI, EU, Global Fund, World Bank, or similar.
• Experience working with government institutions and sub-national entities, including State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDAs), will be an advantage.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least a BA university degree in relevant fields such as Social Sciences, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or Audit. A master's degree or professional accounting qualification is highly desirable and will enhance the candidate's profile.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 to 10 years of progressive experience in financial management, accounting, and financial controls. Candidates should have a strong background in partnership management and experience in supporting donor-funded health programmes, particularly those related to GAVI, EU, Global Fund, or World Bank initiatives. Familiarity with government institutions and sub-national entities, especially State Primary Health Care Development Agencies, is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory. Candidates should possess strong report writing and presentation skills, along with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders at both national and state levels.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is 12 months, and the working arrangement is home-based. UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. The organization promotes a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and reasonable accommodations will be provided for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.