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UNICEF, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, works together with partners in 190 countries and territories to promote and advocate for the protection of the rights of every child.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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For every child, commitment 

In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children's rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families.  UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally - click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The EU SARAH programme (launched in 2024) and the GAVI HSS3 programme (2025–2026) aim to strengthen SRMCH services and health systems across targeted states through the PHCDAs. As part of these initiatives, the HACT/IPM team will support financial management system strengthening in PHCDAs across EU SARAH states (Adamawa, Kwara, Sokoto) and GAVI HSS3 states (Bayelsa, Kano, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara). To deliver this support effectively, it is required to review the existing structure and system and to come up with context specific solutions in consultation with state stakeholders. To deliver on the object, a financial management expert is required who can work closely with the states.

Scope of Work:

Under the direct supervision of IPM Specialist, the Consultant will provide strategic technical expertise to strengthen state-level financial management systems through comprehensive assessments, digital transformation initiatives, and the institutionalization of standardized financial governance frameworks. This includes the design and implementation of state-specific financial management SOPs, provision of strategic advisory support to enhance financial stewardship, and delivery of assurance, compliance strengthening, and risk mitigation measures. The role will also lead strategic capacity development and institutional strengthening efforts for government and partner counterparts, while providing cross-functional technical leadership to ensure effective integration of financial management within programme planning, implementation, and results delivery. Key results will be covering:

1. Conduct an assessment of existing PHCDA financial management systems and develop a roadmap and technical recommendations for digitization and improvement.
2. Develop standardized financial management SOPs, templates and tools for adoption by participating states.
3. Provide time-bound technical advisory inputs to state counterparts on applying the developed SOPs and strengthening internal financial controls.
4. Develop a risk and compliance checklist and guidance for periodic self-assessment by PHCDAs.
5. Design and deliver targeted training materials and capacity building sessions for PHCDA finance staff.
6. Produce integration guidance notes to align financial management processes with programme planning and reporting requirements under EU SARAH and GAVI HSS3

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

1) Facilitate high‑level consultative engagements with the three (3) State Commissioners for Health and Directors of Finance and Administration to collaboratively formulate the 2026 Financial Management Annual Plan within the framework of the EU SARAH programme

Deliverables/Outputs:

Annual Plan Development Report

2. Facilitate structured stakeholder engagements at the three states Ministry of Health and PHCDA to disseminate and deliberate the findings of the bottleneck analysis, support the systematic implementation of its recommendations across the states, and collaboratively develop state‑specific financial management Standard Operating Procedures informed by the evidence and feedback emerging from the analysis for EU SARAH.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Activity Report and SOP

3) Assess the existing digital financial‑management landscape of the three (3) states under EU SARAH and deliver TOT to support the deployment of the accounting software to all MOH and PHCDA accounts units.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Assessment Report and Training Materials

4)  Lead the design and execution of financial management planning and performance‑monitoring processes to strengthen financial management systems across the six State PHCDAs under the GAVI HSS 3 programme, ensuring improved internal controls, enhanced budget execution capacity, and measurable gains in financial accountability.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Fin Mgt Strengthening Report

5)  Conduct assessments of state‑level financial management systems to identify control and accountability gaps, and provide focused oversight to detect fiduciary risks and bottlenecks at the six states on GAVI HSS 3

Deliverables/Outputs:

FM Diagnostics

6)  Provide process optimization support and targeted on‑the‑job capacity strengthening to the six State and LGA PHCDA accounts teams to enhance compliance, standardization, and sustainability of financial management practices under the GAVI HSS 3 programme

Deliverables/Outputs:

Capacity Strengthening Report

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Terms of Reference Fin Mgt Consultant VA.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

• A university degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Audit or any other relevant field is required.
• A master’s or professional accounting qualification is an advantage (e.g CPA, ICAN and ACCA). 
• At least five years of progressively responsible relevant experience in financial management, accounting and financial controls. In-depth knowledge of internal auditing and accounting systems.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience working with international organisations, reputable organisations within the private sector, NGOs and/or UN.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.