Snr Reg Project Control Off

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 Regional Project Control Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The primary functions of project control are to complement programme management and provide support for oversight of projects including the formulation of a monitoring plan, quality assurance, and verification. Other activities of project control include: review of project agreements, project audit, monitoring that there is synchrony between financial and operational performance, participation in multi-functional monitoring activities and reviews, tracking project risk management, and supporting project closure. It is essential to maintain segregation of duties between project control and programme functions for effective accountability and oversight. Therefore, the incumbent should report directly to the same senior management level as programme, i.e. Regional Representative or Deputy Regional Representative. The incumbent is expected to supervise normally one or two professional staff, and normally supervises some support staff.

Project Control Officers play a very important role in maintaining harmonious and effective partnerships, and often interact with implementing partners. As a result, incumbents need to be very mindful of all dimensions of partnerships in their interaction with partners (in accordance with the Principles of Partnership, the Code of Conduct and other relevant documents).

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- Quality assurance of project agreements is provided in accordance with applicable UNHCR rules and regulations.
- A project monitoring plan is in place and implemented in collaboration with multi-functional teams (MFT).
- Assurance of project implementation and delivery of expected results within budget/resources, timeframe, and in accordance with project agreements is provided.
- Resources transferred to implementing partners are utilized for the intended purposes and in accordance with project agreements.
- Performance delivery and financial expenditure reported by implementing partners are accurate and consistent.
- Sufficient and adequate internal controls are in place for the management of projects and activities.
- Effective project risk management is carried out in collaboration with the programme unit.
- Programme and senior management are promptly informed of major variances and risks in the execution of projects (budgets, finance, implementation or timeframe).
- Project audit certificates are of good quality, timely obtained, and recommendations are implemented.

Responsibility

- Contribute to the development of the Country Operations Plans and strategy with respect to project control within the region.
- Ensure that project control strategies in the region are in line with Global Strategic Priorities, as well as with annual programming and planning instructions.
- Support the selection and retention processes of implementing partners in the region, in accordance with UNHCR's rules, policies and procedures.
- Perform project control functions in the absence of a dedicated project control position in a specific country.
- Formulate and implement a project monitoring plan for the region, in collaboration with the programme unit and MFT.
- Track the management of risks for projects in the region, in collaboration with the programme unit, and report major risks to senior management.
- Review, analyze and verify Financial and Performance Implementing Partner Reports (Part I-IPFR and Part II-IPR), and check accuracy and consistency between IPFR and IPR, in accordance with project agreements.
- Undertake missions within the region.
- Monitor, track and verify that expenditure for direct implementation by UNHCR is in line with the approved budget.
- Conduct reviews of the internal control systems of implementing partners and provide advice as required.
- Advise senior management of the regional office and partners on identified gaps, variances and solutions.
- Prepare project control reports with the current status of programme implementation and financial status.
- Inform management of cases where UNHCR may not adhere to its obligations under project agreements.
- Manage the selection and engagement process of audit providers for projects within the region, and the execution of the audits, including obtaining reports, reviewing outcomes and following-up with recommendations.
- Participate in regional programme training for implementing partners and UNHCR staff as necessary, as well as brief staff and implementing partners on project control and risk management.
- Provide input to the mid- and end-year programme review process on issues related to project control and risk management in the region.
- Maintain professional relationships with implementing partners.
- Keep up-to-date with all UNHCR rules, regulations and procedures necessary to perform these duties.
- Perform other duties as required.

Authority

- Report on financial and operational performance and risks related to projects within the region, and escalate issues to senior management.
- Recommend acceptance or non-acceptance of IPRs and payment of instalments within the region.
- Advise on improvements related to project management and internal controls within the region.
- Contact implementing partners for project related matters.
- Have unlimited access to financial and operational records relating to projects.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- 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, auditing or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent).
- Minimum ten years of previous job experience in the field of accounting/finance, project management, business analysis, quality assurance and/or risk management, of which at least five years in an intergovernmental organization (United Nations or similar).
- Excellent knowledge of international auditing standards, with a minimum of two years of practical experience in auditing.
- Good understanding of project and resource management.
- Excellent computer skills, in particular in MS Office applications
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

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

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Professional qualification in accounting, auditing or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent).
- Project management accreditation highly desirable.
- Risk management certification.
- Good knowledge of UNHCR systems (such as Focus and MSRP).
- Excellent knowledge of United Nations financial rules and procedures.
- Good understanding of the workflows of major Entreprise Resource Planning financial modules (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle).
- Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS). 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
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3 The incumbent should have excellent knowledge of UNHCR financial rules and the Financial and Accountability Framework, and should be conversant with the international accounting and auditing standards. S/he should hold a professional qualification in accounting, auditing or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent). Project Management accreditation is highly desirable.  Apart from excellent functional competencies, the incumbent is also expected to possess proven analytical skills and political awareness.  

The incumbent must also be conversant with MSRP and FOCUS.
The incumbent must be able to conduct is a regular manner Audit exercise in the whole operation, to make UNHCR operation compliant to rules and regulations. 

The incumbent will be the focal point for all audit and inspection exercises in DRC, ROC and Gabon.

The candidate must have strong drafting skills both in English and in French. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hosts some 467,473 refugees as of 30 April 2017 countrywide (including 245,052 Rwandan refugees, 102,568 CAR refugees, 41,073 Burundian refugees and 77,473 South Sudanese refugees).  The South Sudan crisis, which started in 2016, led to more than 77,473 refugees arriving in DRC mainly in remote border areas in Haut-Uele province (Aba town, Dungu and Faradje territories) and in Ituri province (Aru territory). The DRC operation anticipates that more than 80,000 South Sudanese refugees mainly from the Equator region in South Sudan may flee to DRC in the coming months.   The number of Congolese refugees living in other countries reaches 539,106 (South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania), and voluntary returns are expected in 2017, under the framework of the DRC Peace and Security Framework - Addis Ababa peace agreement.  This framework is a regional initiative promoting the voluntary return and the reintegration of displaced people in the region, including refugees.  DRC also hosts some 3.7 million IDPs located as follows: 1.7 million in Kasai provinces, 883,000 in North Kivu province, 422,000 in South Kivu province, 370,000 in Tanganyika province, 210,000 in Ituri province, 147,000 in Maniema province, 96,000 in Haut-Katanga province, 64,000 in Haut-Lomami province and 16,000 in Lualaba province. Following recent clashes in Kasai provinces, UNOCHA records another half a million IDPs.  As lead Protection Cluster, UNHCR continues to play a key role supporting the DRC Government in implementing a durable solutions strategy in order to help end the circle of protracted displacement in the country. 
The Regional Office in Kinshasa supervises and provides support to 4 sub-offices and 11 field offices/units within the Country.  It also oversees operations in Gabon, Sao & Principe and the Republic of Congo which provides support to more than 55,000 people of concern. 2017 operation budget is approx. USD 37 M, with some 15 partners and above 50 project agreements.  Therefore, for an effective and efficient management of the expanding operations under the DRC umbrella, UNHCR needs to ensure that resources allocated to the protection and assistance of PoCs are used appropriately both in terms of procedures and results based management. Majority of implementing partners are national NGOs whose financial and programme delivery capacity requires strengthening, in the areas of transparency, accountability, reporting and overall internal control mechanisms. 
Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Representative, the Senior Project Control Officer oversees all financial activities throughout DRC, RoC and Gabon, hence the need for a competent and skilled Project Control Officer holding a certified accountant title. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest country in Africa, and as a result is quite diverse.  Living conditions therefore vary between UNHCR duty stations, with all usual amenities present in the capital Kinshasa, but only very basic conditions in remote duty stations in the provinces, where, for instance, there may be no guarantee of public power supply nor running water.  Accommodation is very expensive in Kinshasa.

There are several Supermarkets in town but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative.  Kinshasa is considered family duty station effective 1 January 2015, despite the fact that most facilities and amenities are still basic.

The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc. The US dollar is the other preferred currency. It may be impossible to exchange traveller¿s checks away from the capital city. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels only in Kinshasa. In larger towns and cities (e.g. Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, Kisangani), it is recommended to open US Dollar bank accounts, while in other places, banks may be absent (including ATMs) and payments will be processed in cash.

In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili. Kinshasa is a security level 2 duty station. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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).