Snr Reg Admin/Finance Officer

Senior Regional Administrative/Finance Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

The Senior Regional Admin/Finance Officer is part of the Senior Management of a Regional Office, Regional Hub or Regional Service Centre. He/she will establish and maintain efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UNHCR and UN administrative, human resources and financial rules and procedures.

Frequent external contacts with counterparts in other organizations or at working level in national Governments on issues of importance to Organization's programmes. He/she acts as adviser or representative of the Organization with authority to discuss problems and seek common ground on which to recommend solutions based on predetermined guidelines provided by higher authority.

The incumbent directly supervises professional and general service staff.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- UNHCR premises in the region are managed in an efficient and cost-effective manner, and provide a healthy, safe and respectful working environment.
- UNHCR's financial rules and regulations, policies and procedures are adhered to in the region.
- UNHCR's resources are allocated efficiently and transparently to meet the region's objectives and priorities.
- UNHCR's cash is safeguarded in the regional office.
- The Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) is up-to-date and reflects the necessary segregation of duties in the region.
- Risks are identified, and a mitigation plan is implemented.

Responsibility

General Administration

- Provide functional direction to admin/finance officers within the region.
- Ensure the provision of resources (human, material and services) necessary to support the operations in the region.
- Manage services and contracts relating to the functioning and maintenance of the regional office's premises, furniture and equipment.
- Participate in the physical verification of UNHCR property plant and equipment.
- Advise the Regional Representative and senior staff on personnel and administrative policies and procedures.
- Undertake missions to field locations within the region to review administrative arrangements and make appropriate recommendations as required.
- Provide support and advice to country offices, in close coordination with Headquarters, in identifying and adhering to minimum operating security standards (MOSS) and minimum operating residential security standards (MORSS).

Human Resources

- Promote and monitor regional compliance with UNHCR's human resources policies on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS.
- Manage a process to ensure that UNHCR's workforce in the region is aware of its rights and obligations as well as its benefits and entitlements.
- Manage a process to ensure that country operations review the impact of learning on UNHCR's workforce;
- Facilitate inspections and investigations, ensuring appropriate and timely follow-up.
- Support efforts by country operations to meet UNHCR's minimum standards for working and living conditions for staff, allocating the required resources and providing advice and guidance when necessary.

Finance/Budget

- Analyze projected budget requirements for the region against UNHCR's priorities and to manage a transparent and consultative process for the approval of country-level budgets and the allocation of resources
- Monitor and ensure compliance with UNHCR's internal control framework, financial rules, policies and procedures, and provide guidance and support as necessary;
- Provide timely and accurate monthly and year-end closure of accounts, including bank reconciliation;
- Monitor and ensure compliance in the region with UNHCR's financial policies and procedures.
- Ensure that budget submission deadlines within the region are met, and prepare/endorse consolidated budgetary documentation for the region.
- Conduct regular checks of petty cash and cash accounts.
- Produce financial reports, analyses and projections for the region;
- Manage a process to ensure that operations are capacitated to provide risk-based financial oversight of partners;
- Identify potential risks in relation to the financial management of the region, and propose mitigating action to senior management, when applicable.
- Ensure timely and effective follow-up to audit observations and recommendations.
- Provide training on financial matters.

Authority:

- Implement regional workforce management strategies.
- Approve and negotiate with service providers for the regional office, within the established financial parameters.
- Ensure regional compliance with UNHCR's administrative, human resources and financial policies and procedures.
- Approve and certify regional and country-level bank reconciliation and petty cash accounts.
- Prepare financial expenditure reports from the regional office and country offices to be submitted to Headquarters.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

- Advanced University Degree in Accounting, Finance, Public or Business Administration, Economics or related field, OR university degree in another field combined with a professional qualification in accounting or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent).
- Minimum 10 years of previous job experience (12 years with University degree) in the field of accounting/finance, of which at least five years in an international organization.
- Excellent understanding of the workflows of PeopleSoft/Oracle Financial and HR modules, with working experience with either one.
- Proven experience with risk management.
- Excellent computer skills, in particular in MS Office applications.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Professional qualification in accounting or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent).
- Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.
- Excellent knowledge of UNHCR's administrative, human resources and financial rules and procedures. C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
X009L3 - Change Capability and Adaptability Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3 The incumbent of this position will report to the Senior Regional Operations Manager based in the MENA Director¿s Office in Amman, Jordan. The Senior Regional Admin/Finance Officer is part of the Senior Management of the MENA Director¿s Office in Amman. He/she will frequently travel to and interact regularly with the country operations covered by the Director`s Office in Amman, i.e. Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, to establish and maintain efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UNHCR and UN administrative, human resources and financial rules and procedures. Frequent external contacts with counterparts in other organizations or at working level in national Governments on issues of importance to Organization¿s programmes. He/she acts as adviser or representative of the Organization with authority to discuss problems and seek common ground on which to recommend solutions based on predetermined guidelines provided by higher authority. S/he must have a demonstrated knowledge and command of financial administration of resources and ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, and make conclusions and recommendations in the wider area of resource management. Given the scope of work and the fluid emergency environment, the incumbent will show persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. The incumbent should possess demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and speak and write effectively in English, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations of key issues. S/he will be called upon to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies of the office, identify priority activities and assignments and adjust priorities as instructed and required. The incumbent also must have the maturity to foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning. Senior Regional Admin/Finance Officer must have first-hand aptitude in IPSAS and be well-informed of the new developments and initiatives in the areas of finance, accounting and budgeting. The incumbent directly supervises professional and general service staff. The Middle East and North Africa region continues to see large complex displacement movements. The conflict in Syria has now entered its sixth year representing an increasingly complex global challenge with unprecedented displacement in the region and increased needs and vulnerabilities of refugees and persons of concern. Over 4.9 million Syrian refugees have sought refuge in neighboring countries and North Africa. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have sought asylum in Europe. The Syria crisis has displaced 6.5 million people inside the country. In addition, the conflict in Iraq has led to an estimated 3.3 million IDPs and approximately 220,000 Iraqi refugees. The current escalation of violence in Yemen, is driving internal displacement. UNHCR's operations in the MENA region now represent one of the largest responses globally. Amman being an "A" classified duty station, there are very good health & education facilities available locally. Climate tends to be dry, sunny and cloudless from May to November. From December to February the weather is cool and wet and most of the country's rainfall occurs. Snowfall does occur occasionally, however, the average temperature in winter is above 7.2° C (45° F). Staff are renting private accommodation.  Currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD=0.708 USD) with a Fixed Exchange Rate in Jordan with availability of Money Traders and  good local banking system.

Emergency operational environment. Current operational circumstances may require long working hours and travel in support of operations across the region. Jordan is a stable country strategically located between Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Syria and Saudi Arabia. A constitutional monarchy, Jordan has a well-trained, equipped and alert security apparatus and well-structured and functional administrative machinery in all the 12 governorates. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is composed of five security level areas- Jordan-Syria border zone (0-5 kms of Jordan-Syria borders inside Jordan) / Jordan-Iraq Border zone (0-5 kms of Jordan-Iraq borders inside Jordan) / Zaatari Camp / Azraq Camp/ Jordan (excluding all specific areas as above). Jordan is currently at Security Level II (LOW) along with Azraq Camp and Jordan-Iraq border zone. Jordan-Syria border zone and Zaatari Camp are both in Security Level III.

Jordan has a fully structured UN security management structure. Jordan remains a stable kingdom and affords reasonable security and safety for UN staff. It currently has Medium levels of risk from Terrorism and Hazards and Low levels of risk from Armed conflict, Crime and Civil Unrest (SRA Jordan 2015 refers). A Security Clearance is required for travel to this country, and internal travel within Jordan outside Greater Amman Municipal limits on TRIP at https://dss.un.org. Requests for clearance should be submitted 7 days prior to travel.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add. 1 to March 2017 Compendium is Wednesday, 3 May 2017 (midnight Geneva time).