Finance, Cash Based Transfers (CBT) Officer, P4 (based in Rome, Italy)

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Assisting 80 million people in around 80 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

WFP’s efforts focus on emergency assistance, relief and rehabilitation, development aid and special operations. Two-thirds of our work is in conflict-affected countries where people are three times more likely to be undernourished than those living in countries without conflict. 

In emergencies, WFP is often first on the scene, providing food assistance to the victims of war, civil conflict, drought, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, crop failures and natural disasters. When the emergency subsides, WFP helps communities rebuild shattered lives and livelihoods. We also work to strengthen the resilience of people and communities affected by protracted crises by applying a development lens in our humanitarian response.

Funded entirely by voluntary donations, WFP has more than 14,000 staff worldwide of whom over 90 percent are based in the countries where the agency provides assistance. 

JOB PURPOSE

To manage stewardship of WFP’s resources, coordinating financial risks assessment, including provision of policy and procedural guidance to the implementation of the Cash Based Transfer (CBT) interventions.  Support to implementation of innovative strategies and technical approaches on CBT interventions to ensure that assistance to Beneficiaries is undertaken in the most efficient and effective way. To establish team priorities and work plan.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Lead implementation of corporate finance and Cash Based Transfers (CBT) strategies by contributing to the development of corporate policies and procedures in consultation with Headquarters (HQ) relevant divisions, participating in key functional and cross-functional initiatives, and embedding value for money in these initiatives through advice on financial assessment, reporting and accounting.

• Participate in technical working groups ensuring functional participation in various cross-functional discussions on CBT related procedural and business process requirements at Country Offices (COs), Regional Bureau (RBs) and HQ levels;

• Provide policy and procedural guidance on validation and addressing of organizational CBT-related regulatory framework gaps, constrains and /or risks and assist in development of corporate and functional strategies to address identified issues and procedural needs;

• Support WFP efforts to expand the use of CBT Special Account through: liaison with relevant units in HQ as well as RB and CO counterparts on establishment of CO CBT Special Accounts; regular oversight over its performance, cons analyses and identification of areas of improvement and enhancement for CBT special account with an objective to improve overall efficiency of platform services and risk identification and mitigation;

• Lead in CBT related financial risks analysis of WFP operations with an objective to identify and address organizational exposure to risks, collection and dissemination of lessons learnt;

• Coordinate initiatives on capacity building and knowledge sharing activities on financial risks management, including development of relevant guidelines, presentations, training materials and courses;

• Support the alignment of CBT activities with other WFP corporate initiatives, specifically the Financial Framework Review through provision of regular support and technical assistance to the RBs and COs, including transactional and business process requirements;

• Contribute to preparedness actions such as early warning, risk analysis and contingency planning and make recommendations. Periodically monitor the management of financial risks and report on any action taken;

• Perform CBT-related budgeting and cost effectiveness analysis;

• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men;

• Other tasks as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with additional years of related work experience plus membership in an international recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ICPA) or equivalent.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible postgraduate professional experience in finance.
• Experience in roles with great independence, decision making authority, supervision of staff and managing complex budgets.
• Professional experience in working with financial services providers (for example banks, micro financing institutes or mobile telecommunication companies) on delivery of services to clients or beneficiaries.
• Field experience in implementation of CBT in a humanitarian context - UN or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
• Experience in undertaking risk assessments of financial services providers and provision of guidance on risk mitigating factors.
• Ability to manage, coach and motivate diverse teams and deliver effectively through others to achieve results.
• High availability for traveling.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Ability to assimilate and analyze complex issues using independent judgement and anticipate potential strategic impact.

• Broad understanding of business principals and processes and the ability to quickly assimilate UN/WFP specific processes and systems.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

25 May 2018

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.