RELIABLE FARM AND AGROBASE IND. LTD.

Job Title: Internal Control Officer Location: Onsite – Farm Facility, Elele, Rivers State Department: Internal Control & Audit Experience Level: Mid-to-Senior level (4 – 7 Years) Reports To: Head of Internal Control / Managing Director

JOB SUMMARY

The Internal Control Officer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring a robust internal control and audit framework across our commercial agricultural operations in Elele, Rivers State. This role is critical to mitigating operational risks, preventing fraud, safeguarding physical and financial farm assets, and ensuring strict compliance with regulatory standards and internal policies. Because our core value and risk areas sit directly in the field, this position is fully operational and requires an absolute willingness to relocate and work daily at the farm site in Elele, Rivers State. Key Duties and Responsibilities 1. Internal Control & Audit Process Execution

Formulate, review, and implement comprehensive internal control policies and audit programs tailored to the farm’s specific workflows.
Conduct regular, unannounced financial, operational, and compliance audits across all farm segments (crop production, livestock, engineering, and logistics).
Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of existing accounting, administrative, and field-level operational controls, recommending immediate corrective actions for identified gaps.

2. Agricultural Material & Asset Control

Establish rigorous control mechanisms for inventory management, monitoring the lifecycle of farm inputs (fertilizers, agrochemicals, feeds, seeds) from procurement and storage to field application.
Perform routine and random physical stock counts of warehouse inventory, harvested produce, tools, and heavy farm machinery to prevent pilferage and shrinkage.
Audit fuel consumption metrics, machinery maintenance logs, and spare parts utilization to plug leakages in operational logistics.

3. Financial & Transactional Assurance

Review and verify all farm-level transactions, vouchers, purchase orders, and payment approvals before execution to ensure accuracy and legitimacy.
Audit farm payroll records, cross-referencing casual labor daily time-sheets and piece-rate harvest outputs against actual cash or digital disbursements.
Inspect revenue collection channels from bulk produce sales and agro-processing output to ensure seamless, leak-proof financial reporting.

4. Risk Management & Fraud Prevention

Identify potential risk areas across the farm layout (e.g., harvest diversion, input dilution, biological assets inflation) and develop robust risk-mitigation strategies.
Lead objective investigations into suspected fraudulent activities, operational breaches, or policy non-compliance, presenting detailed findings and actionable recommendations to management.

JOB SPECIFICATION

1. Experience & Agribusiness Domain Knowledge

Proven Experience: A minimum of 4 to 7 years of verifiable post-qualification experience actively driving internal control, internal audit, or risk management processes.
Sector Knowledge: Deep, working knowledge of agricultural operations is mandatory. The ideal candidate must understand the realities of farm management, agricultural logistics, supply chain integrity, and bulk commodity handling. Experience in manufacturing, FMCG, or related heavy industries will also be evaluated.

2. Educational Background & Professional Certifications

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Agribusiness Management, or a related discipline.
Professional Certifications: Active professional qualifications (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIA - Certified Internal Auditor, or CISA) will be a distinct, added advantage and will significantly weigh in the candidate's favor during selection.

3. Key Competencies & Skills

Technical Audit Depth: Mastery of internal audit methodologies, risk assessment techniques, forensic investigation, and data analysis.
Analytical Skills: Exceptional ability to spot inconsistencies in massive spreadsheets, inventory logs, and complex field operational data.
Integrity & Independence: Uncompromised professional ethics, high emotional intelligence, and the firmness required to enforce compliance independently.
Software Proficiency: High competence in using accounting/ERP software, inventory management tools, and Microsoft Office Suite (advanced MS Excel skills are essential).

4. Mobility & Physical Attributes

Relocation: Absolute, unconditional willingness to live and work long-term at the farm location in Elele, Rivers State.
Resilience: Ready and able to perform field-level audits, inspect distant storage silos, walk farm perimeters, and engage directly with operational supervisors right on the field.

Internal control Officer