Snr Fin Off (Partnership Fin)

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the IOM-FOM issued for this Compendium / Fast Track exercise, as well as the  Revised Policy and Procedures on Assignments (UNHCR/HCP/2015/2 refers). Senior Finance Officer (Partnership Financials)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Implementing Partnership Management Service (IPMS) is responsible to the Controller for all matters related to the Framework for Implementing with Partners organisational-wide, including setting policies, designing procedures, the implementation of strategies, coordination, efficient implementation of strategies and regulations and oversight in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and regulations.
The post is placed (HQ Budapest) at distance from its supervisor location (HQ Geneva). Under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Service, the incumbent will lead a small team of colleagues to provide support to the operations in meeting the requirements for enhanced financial management and accurate and timely recording of transactions of funds provided to partners across the organisation at global level.
The incumbent will be based in Budapest, and will report to the Head of Service (Implementing Partnerships Management). Under the leadership and guidance of the supervisor, the incumbent will supervise a team of 4-5 general service staff members
Also responsible for preparing relevant documentation and reports for the review of the Head of Service and subsequent use by senior management, external auditors and oversight bodies. The incumbent will provide support and guidance on the application related policies and procedures to the field and other users.
The incumbent will also collaborates with other staff members in UNHCR, particularly middle management staff within DFAM, other Divisions, Bureaux, and Field Offices and will interact with external entities such as partners, auditors, and service providers. As a lead team member of the Service, the incumbent will participate in MSRP Upgrade Project, within related areas.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Effective management of project partnership financials is carried out, including timely and accurate recording and reporting of transactions in MSRP.
- A systematic approach to follow-up for the recovering balances and outstanding partnership financials issues with the field and headquarters offices is conducted and resolutions are achieved.
- Accurate and updated reports issued for review of the Head of Service and oversight bodies Monitoring system is implemented on the management of partnerships financials, project control and its system/tools across the organization.
- Needs for support or non-compliance are identified and reported to the Head of Service.
- A system is implemented to support users and ensure their proper understanding and application of policies and procedures related to partnership financials.


Responsibility
- Apply UNHCR policy and procedures related to the management of partnership financial transactions
- Analyse financial and audit financial inputs and identify finance-related risks, errors, fraud, and challenges related to implementing partnerships financials.
- Monitor and reconcile any discrepancies, and undertake required similar activities in the system
- Ensure accurate and timely recording of all financial transactions related to partnership financials at global level and posting onto UNHCR financial journals.
- Ensure and follow up with field and headquarters offices on clearance of outstanding balances, recovery of unspent balances, audit recovery, revenues and other financial balances from partners.
- Report on financial performance and risks related to project management to the Head of Service.
- Contribute to the strengthening of the project control and project financials in field offices, including through on-the-job training and field support missions.
- Represent the Service in the technical/SME in the PeopleSoft Upgrade project workgroups to ensure that requirements for partnership management processes are fully reviewed and integrated in functional and technical solutions for the project deliverables.
- Propose solutions and mitigation measures through the implementation of best practices related to project management and partnership financials.
- Supervise and coach the Partnership Finance team within the Service in close consultation with the Head of Service
- Design and validate tools for the application of the enhanced financial management and internal control of partner financial transactions.
- Verify the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls mechanisms across the Organization, when required.
- Support and advise the Head of Service on the management of partnership financials and related matters.
- Perform any other relevant duties, as required by the supervisor.

Authority
- Enforce compliance with applicable financial regulations, rules, policies and procedures related to partnership financials.
- Enter the required financial adjustments in MSRP, in consultations with supervisor and the Head of Service and in Coordination with DFAM.
- Access to financial records, and within area of responsibilities relating to the management partnership financials and related documents and other information needed to discharge his/her functions.
- Implement solutions to technical issues related to partnership financials reports.
- Contact and follow up with the field on matters related to partner financial transactions and for project management
- Enforce compliance with applicable financial regulations, rules, policies and procedures related to partnership financials.


ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced University Degree in Business Administration, Accounting or Finance with a professional qualification in risk management or audit (CA, CPA, CIA or equivalent).
- Minimum ten years of relevant in-depth experience, at the professional level, in the areas of finance, risk management and/or audit, of which at least two years of service in field operations at the professional level.
- Strong experience in setting standard operating procedures and internal control design and implementation.
- Strong analytical skills in data and financial review.
- Solid knowledge of accounting principles including IPSAS or IFRS.
- Command of financial management systems, PeopleSoft or a similar ERP system.
- Excellent computer skills, in particular in MS Office applications.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Experience in coaching and mentoring staff.
- Fluency in English, including strong drafting skills.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Grant Management and Project Management including its software.
- Training in the fields of finance, evaluations, risk and programme management.
- Knowledge of another UN language, in particular French.
- Good knowledge of reporting requirements within the UN/UNHCR system.
- Experience in UNHCR field operations or partnership and humanitarian operations.
- Ability to formulate innovative and creative solutions, especially technical financial and system solutions. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3 The incumbent must be capable of understanding the aspects of partnership financials in the complex financial and accounting systems of UNHCR. She/he will be responsible to monitor, analyze financial data and journals, and prepare relevant documentation and reports for the review of the Head of Service and subsequent use by senior management, external auditors and oversight bodies. The incumbent will provide support and guidance on the application of related policies and procedures to the field and other users.
Several enhancement initiatives are being undertaken to improve the effective management of partnership and financial resources. As a lead team member of the Service, the incumbent will participate in these activities and in particular in the MSRP Upgrade Project, within related areas. Thus, she/he must have up-to-date skills in application of enterprise resource planning software systems such as MSRP, SAP, etc).

The incumbent must have an advanced university degree in Accounting, Finance, with a professional qualification in risk management or audit from internationally recognized institutions (CA, CPA, CIA or equivalent).

She/he should have a minimum of ten years of relevant in-depth experience in the area of finance/accounting, risk management and/or audit, of which at least two years in field operations at the professional level.  Solid experience and knowledge of accounting principles including IFRS or IPSAS and strong analytical skills are required. The Implementing Partnership Management Service (IPMS) is part of the Division of Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM). IPMS is responsible to the Controller for all matters relating to the Framework for Implementing with Partners organization-wide, including setting policies, designing procedures,  the efficient implementation of strategies, the coordination and regulations including financial aspects of the partnership and oversight in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and regulations.
The incumbent will be responsible for monitoring instalment payments, operations financial data inputs, ensuring the accurate and proper recording of financial transactions related to the management of partnership financials into UNHCR financial systems (MSRP) and preparing financial journals and reports in accordance to established rules and procedures. The post is unique as there is no other similar post in the organization. The post is based at HQ Budapest, at distance from its supervisor location (HQ Geneva).
Under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Service, the incumbent will be leading a small team of 4-5 general service staff members to provide support to the operations in meeting the requirements for enhanced financial management and accurate and timely recording of transactions of funds provided to partners across the organization at global level. The incumbent will also collaborates with other staff members in UNHCR, particularly middle management staff within DFAM, other Divisions, Bureaux, and Field Offices and will interact with external entities such as partners, auditors, and service providers. The incumbent thus needs to have a level of maturity to be able to lead, mentor and coach a team of staff, and able to work harmoniously within teams and take effective initiatives under minimum support. The incumbent should have the ability to work and effectively deliver under constant pressures and time constraints. Budapest is the capital of Hungary, a middle-level European income country. Living amenities such as schools (international school, French) and universities, shopping entertainment, sports and cultural facilities, accommodation are fairly available at reasonable price. Hungarian language is the native language, English and other foreign languages are not widely spoken.
About two hundred UNHCR staff members (DFAM, DHRM, DESS, and DIST) are stationed in the UNHCR Global Service Centre in Budapest.  It has been noticed that certain staff members have not found the local environment and post adjustment to their satisfaction. The candidate may wish to check with DHRM before applying. Security is reasonably good. As in any place and capital city, one has to take precautions. The incumbent must be an excellent communicator and have an excellent command of spoken and written English. Although knowledge of other UN language is not essential according to the Job Description, given the fact that the incumbent has to oversee UNHCR world-wide partnership financials, a French speaker will be a special advantage.

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