The Finance Specialist – Cash Transfer Programmes supports the Cash Implementation Unit by providing dedicated operational finance expertise to ensure that UNICEF’s cash transfer payments in Sudan are accurate, traceable, compliant, and fully reconciled. Under the supervision of the CIU Cash Manager, the role focuses on the financial execution and control of cash transfers delivered through multiple FSPs and modalities, including bank transfers, mobile money, smart cards, and other approved digital mechanisms. The incumbent plays a critical role in payment processing, reconciliation, FSP invoice verification, treasury monitoring, and payment verification follow-up, ensuring alignment with UNICEF Financial Regulations and Rules, IPSAS, HACT requirements when cash is disbursed via IPs, donor agreements, and CBOS directives. By strengthening financial controls and supporting the timely resolution of exceptions and discrepancies, the position directly contributes to risk informed decision-making, the safeguarding of resources, and the uninterrupted delivery of cash assistance to women and children affected by the Sudan emergency.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to empowerment 

Sudan is facing one of the most severe and protracted humanitarian crises globally, characterized by widespread conflict, mass displacement, market disruption, liquidity shortages, currency volatility, and severely constrained access to basic services. The crisis has disproportionately affected women and children, exacerbating food insecurity, protection risks, and interruptions to essential health, nutrition, education, and social protection services. In response, UNICEF Sudan Country Office (SCO) is implementing a large-scale and rapidly expanding humanitarian cash transfer portfolio as a core delivery modality to support vulnerable populations and sustain access to life-saving services. These interventions include, but are not limited to, Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), Mother and Child Cash Transfer Plus (MCCT+), frontline worker incentives, education and school grants, and sector-linked cash transfers, implemented across multiple states under complex operational conditions. To manage this portfolio, UNICEF has established the Cash Implementation Unit (CIU) as a centralized operational and fiduciary function responsible for end-to-end management of cash programming, including beneficiary registration, payment modality selection, contracting and oversight of Financial Service Providers (FSPs), payment execution, reconciliation, payment verification, and compliance with donor, government, and UNICEF internal control requirements. CIU operates within a high-risk environment marked by limited banking infrastructure, varying digital connectivity, evolving Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS) regulations, and heightened fiduciary and reputational risks. 

How can you make a difference? 

The Finance Specialist – Cash Transfer Programmes supports the Cash Implementation Unit by providing dedicated operational finance expertise to ensure that UNICEF’s cash transfer payments in Sudan are accurate, traceable, compliant, and fully reconciled. Under the supervision of the CIU Cash Manager, the role focuses on the financial execution and control of cash transfers delivered through multiple FSPs and modalities, including bank transfers, mobile money, smart cards, and other approved digital mechanisms. The incumbent plays a critical role in payment processing, reconciliation, FSP invoice verification, treasury monitoring, and payment verification follow-up, ensuring alignment with UNICEF Financial Regulations and Rules, IPSAS, HACT requirements when cash is disbursed via IPs, donor agreements, and CBOS directives. By strengthening financial controls and supporting the timely resolution of exceptions and discrepancies, the position directly contributes to risk-informed decision-making, the safeguarding of resources, and the uninterrupted delivery of cash assistance to women and children affected by the Sudan emergency. 

Summary of Key Functions and Accountabilities

  1. Support to financial planning and management
    • Provide support to the financial planning process for cash transfer projects delivered by the CIU by preparing/analyzing financial data/estimates and documentations, verifying relevancy, accuracy and completeness to facilitate financial planning.
    • Provide financial operational support throughout the financial planning and implementation process.
    • Serve as support to the contract manager to financial service providers or provide support to same by
      ensuring compliance to contract terms and conditions by all FSPs.
    • Review budget implementation according to allotment, codes and certify compliance with guidelines and procedures. Keep stakeholders informed for timely action.
    • Provide technical and operational support on the application, interpretation and implementation of financial policies, procedures and guidelines to the CIU team. Resolve routine financial issues and/or recommend (and record) deviation from procedures and guidelines to meet objectives.
    • Evaluate financial and reputational risk in transactions carried out by the office and raise flags when actions are needed by management.
    • Prepare and/or monitor financial exception reports to assess unusual activities and transactions, investigate anomalies, and keep the supervisor informed for timely action.
    • Provide timely technical guidance, monitor work in progress and review work completed to approve transactions and/or certify/verify accuracy of work and compliance with IPSAS and UNICEF Regulations and Rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
    • Where applicable, advise and support the CIU Chief and/or Cash Manager on budget preparation, strategic income projection/reporting, setting and monitoring performance indicators, revenue and expense reporting, and provide technical advice during strategic planning exercises.
  2. Cash Payments Processing, Reconciliation, and Control
    • Process and review (within delegated authority) cash payment transactions through UNICEF systems and the Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
    • Review payment lists, beneficiary summaries, and supporting documentation prior to submission to FSPs to ensure alignment with approved budgets and payment parameters.
    • Track payment execution status with FSPs and follow up on pending, rejected, or failed transactions.
    • Conduct a detailed reconciliation of cash transfer payment lists against:
    • FSP transaction reports,
    • Bank statements,
    • UNICEF financial systems,
    • Programme beneficiary databases (e.g., HOPE-KOBO).
    • Analyze discrepancies, duplicate payments, rejected transactions, or unusual patterns; document findings and support corrective actions.
    • Maintain comprehensive reconciliation trackers and audit-ready documentation for each payment cycle.
  3. Treasury and cash management
    • Manage bank, petty and cash on hand accounts transactions and operations in accordance with UNICEF/UN financial regulations and rules, policies, procedures and local banking practices. Keep abreast of procedures and regulations regarding maintenance of bank accounts, exchange and interest rates. Keep the supervisor and relevant colleagues informed for timely action.
    • Support foreign exchange transactions and tracking mechanisms.
    • Maintain a system to monitor and forecast periodic cash requirements. Provide current information on cash position/forecast to management and make recommendation or take action to ensure sufficient availability of resources for programmes and operations activities.
    • Review monthly bank reconciliation and take appropriate corrective actions on findings identified by the GSSC.
    • Support financial monitoring of FSP contracts, including review of service fees, invoices, exchange rates, and compliance with agreed terms.
    • Verify FSP invoices against reconciled payment data and approved unit costs prior to certification for payment.
    • Support monitoring of liquidity availability, cash-out points, and payment readiness in coordination with operations and programme teams.
    • Assist in tracking foreign exchange rates, conversion losses, and treasury risks associated with cash transfers.
    • Support bank account monitoring, cash forecasting, and liquidity planning for high-volume cash operations.
  4. Payment Verification, Assurance, and Compliance
    • Support implementation of payment verification and assurance mechanisms, including internal verification and third-party monitoring (TPM).
    • Review payment verification reports, analyze findings, and support follow-up on unpaid, partially paid, or incorrectly paid beneficiaries.
    • Support compliance with HACT requirements for Direct Cash Transfers (DCT), including review of FACE forms and supporting documentation when cash programming is implemented via IPs.
    • Compile financial documentation and evidence for donor reporting, audits, and internal assurance reviews.
    • Support responses to audit observations and follow up on agreed management actions related to cash transfers.
  5. Knowledge and capacity building
    • Promote culture of highest ethical standards and behavior in management of UNICEF’s resources.
    • Contribute to initiatives for management improvement by capturing, institutionalizing and sharing best practices and lessons learned. Implement and/or recommend management improvements to enhance productivity and performance including implementation of cost saving strategies.
    • Participate and/or organize training and learning events to build capacity of staff and stakeholders/partners.
  6. Support office operations as required.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:Download File TOR - TA POST - CIU Cash Finance Specialist NOC signed.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

  • Education:  An advanced university degree (Master's) in financial management related fields such as Accountancy or Finance or their equivalent, is required; or an advanced diploma qualification in CIPFA or its equivalent with other internationally recognized institutions or a valid professional certification (CA; CPA; etc.) from an internationally recognized, accredited chartered accountancy institution is 3 required, along with a first-level (Bachelor's) university degree in accounting, financial management or another related financial field is required.
    A first University Degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant field, combined with 2 additional years of professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
  • Work Experience:  A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in financial management or auditing at an international organization and/or a large corporation is required.
  • Experience at a UN system agency or organization, some of which served in developing countries, is considered an asset.
  • Experience in Humanitarian Cash Transfer projects is considered a requirement.
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel required.
  • Experience in database packages, web-based management systems and ERP systems (preferably
    SAP financial modules) is considered an asset.
  • Experience with IPSAS and/or IFRS is considered an asset.
  • Language Requirements:  Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian) or the local language is an asset.

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, so we can 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks and be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credentials and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be asked to submit supporting documentation about 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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.