Organization: UNOPS – United Nations Office for Project Services
Location: Addis Ababa
Grade: Mid level – LICA-10, Local Individual Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
Operations and Administrations
Banking and Finance
Closing Date: 2024-05-27
Job categories Finance
Vacancy code VA/2024/B5333/28146
Department/office AFR, ETMCO, Ethiopia MCO
Duty station Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contract type Local ICA Specialist
Contract level LICA Specialist-10
Duration Ongoing Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’
Application period 14-May-2024 to 27-May-2024
Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.
Functional Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Support Services, the Finance Specialist ensures that robust fiduciary controls are in place and contributes to the achievement of MCOs strategic objectives and plan. The incumbent will be responsible for full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies. The incumbent implements effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system, and lead on the project’s finance business processes mapping and the implementation of internal standard operating procedures.
Summary of responsblities:
Implementation of operational and financial management strategies
Budget planning and management
Accounting management
Cash and treasury management
Financial reporting
Team Management
Knowledge building and knowledge sharing
1. Implementation of operational and financial management strategies
Ensures the implementation of the operational and financial management, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
Lead the MCOs finance business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal standard operating procedures; control of the workflows in the Multi country Office projects.
Advice to senior management on sound financial resources management.
Provide guidance on requirements for handling transactions concerning UNOPS’ financial practices and rules.
Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of financial statuses of the MCO admin projects, and provide recommendations on appropriate measures to ensure financial sustainability of the Country Offices under the MCO.
Develop a financial database and financial management information system for the MCO that supports budgeting, planning in a way that enables UNOPS to respond to the financial reporting requirements of the funding partner.
Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies and IPSAS standards.
Implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system.
Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions.
Proper planning, expenditure tracking and control on the utilization of the MCOs financial resources
Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies.
Support the MCO during project audits.
2. Budget planning and management
Manages the ETMCOs budgets focusing on achievement of the following results:
Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNOPS rules and regulations.
Preparation and monitoring of the project’s budget.
Advice on budget revisions upon authorization by the Senior Management (can be done only on the basis of signed documents and project budgets).
Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.
Preparation of Budget variance reports
3. Accounting Management
Ensures effective accounting systems focusing on achievement of the following results in compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and UNOPS policies and procedures:
Elaboration of the internal control framework which ensures that payment requests ( RFP) are processed are e-matched and completed, financial transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Enterprise system ( ERP); travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed and timely receipting of goods and services in the ERP system.
Timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions security for cash assets on site.
Advice on proper management of the contributions management business process and accounting for contributions to ensure that funds due to UNOPS are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation
Timely corrective actions on unposted payment requests , including RFP’s with budget and fund check errors, match exceptions and unapproved payment vouchers. Follow up with HQ for timely resolutions on finance requests.
4. Cash and Treasury Management
Ensures effective cash management systems focusing on achievement of the following results:
Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to supervisors and other UNOPS staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters.
Efficient local banking and/or treasury arrangements and compliance with local financial and banking regulations.
5. Financial Reporting
Prepare Monthly and Quarterly Interim Financial Reports (IFR’s) for both the Senior Management and the Client, in the prescribed format.
Approval of Contribution’s Tranche requests, in prescribed format and on the ERP to apply funds to projects.
6. Team Management
Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.
Ensure principles of human rights, gender equity, peace, voice and accountability, ‘doing no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities.
Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.
7. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing
Provide strategic guidance and on-the-job training to ensure work standards are achieved, both in terms of quality and quantity of inputs/outputs processed.
Lead, approve and conduct initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for Finance personnel, including network development, plans, learning plans and activities, Finance practice information and best practice benchmarking.
Oversee team’s contributions to Finance knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources management.
Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.
Impacts of results.
The effective and successful achievement of results by the Finance Specialist directly impact on the availability of UNOPS’ financial resources to effectively develop and implement the organization’s programmes and projects. It enhances the organization’s financial and programme performance, demonstrating UNOPS’ effective stewardship of donor and partner funds. These promote the credibility of the organization as an effective service provider in project services and management.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education:
An advanced university degree (e.g., a Master’s Degree) in Finance, Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or other relevant discipline is required.
A first-level university degree (e.g. Bachelor’s Degree) in Finance, Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or other relevant discipline in combination with two (2) additional years of progressively relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience:
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in finance or accounting is required.
At least three (3) years’ Experience in budget preparation, financial statement preparation, and financial reporting is required.
A minimum of two (2) years experience in managing, guiding, and leading employees to ensure appropriate financial processes are used is required.
Experience in implementing projects funded by the International Financial Institutions (IFI) is desirable.
Experience working in post-crisis countries is desirable.
Knowledge of UNOPS financial rules and regulations is an advantage.
Financial management experience and use of electronic systems is desired.
Strong communication and facilitation skills and ability to establish good working relations with national program, partners, colleagues, and stakeholders in a sensitive environment is an asset.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in writing, reading, and spoken English is required.
Knowledge of another UN Official Language is an asset.