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Snr Admin/Finance Officer

Ouagadougou

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Ouagadougou
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Banking and Finance
  • Closing Date: Closed

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Administrative/Finance Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Senior Admin/Finance Officer is part of the Senior Management of an office. He/she will establish and maintain efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UN Financial, Administrative and Staff 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 for the country operation 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 by the country operation.
- UNHCR's resources are allocated efficiently and transparently to meet the country operation's objectives and priorities.
- UNHCR's local cash is safeguarded.
- The Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) is up-to-date and reflects the necessary segregation of duties in the office.
- Risks are identified, and a mitigation plan is implemented.
- The country operation complies with UN security standards.

Responsibility

General Administration

- Ensure the provision of resources (human, material and services) necessary to support the day-to-day activities of the staff in the office.
- Manage the day-to-day personnel and administrative operations of the office.
- Advise the Head of Office and other staff on personnel and administrative policies and procedures.
- Participate in the physical verification of UNHCR property plant and equipment.
- Undertake missions to field locations within the assigned region to review administrative arrangements and make appropriate recommendations as required.
- Formulate, implement staff safety and security measures and ensure MOSS/MORSS compliance, in consultation with the Head of Office and Field Safety Advisers (FSAs).

Human Resources

- Oversee recruitment, appointments and administrative formalities concerning local General Service staff.
- Prepare the operational context for all international posts in the office.
- Review and approve the settlement of employee entitlements including DSA, local salaries and the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP).
- Coordinate training and capacity-building activities to staff in administrative related areas.

Finance/Budget
- Manage a transparent and consultative process to determine the country's budget, which is consistent with UNHCR's result framework and regional objectives.
- Ensure compliance with UNHCR's internal control framework, financial rules, policies and procedures requesting guidance and support from headquarters as necessary.
- Identify potential risks in relation to the financial management of the office, and propose mitigating action to senior management, when applicable.
- Ensure that budget submission deadlines are met locally and prepare/endorse consolidated budgetary documentation for the country operation.
- Ensure timely and accurate monthly and year-end closure of accounts, including bank reconciliation, and submit reports to headquarters.
- Manage the FOCUS token for the country as a Focus Planning Coordinator.
- Monitor local compliance with UNHCR¿s policies and processes for cash management, requesting support and guidance from headquarters when required.
- Ensure timely and effective follow-up to audit observations and recommendations.
- Provide training on financial matters.

Authority
- Implement country-level workforce management strategies.
- Approve and negotiate with local service providers, within the established financial parameters.
- Ensure local compliance with UNHCR¿s administrative, human resources and financial policies and procedures.
- Approve and certify bank reconciliation and petty cash accounts.
- Certify country-level financial expenditure reports submitted to the regional office or Headquarters.
- Settle amounts due, or recover amounts receivables, from country operation staff.
- To correct deficiencies, identified through audits, in the country operation's financial management.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) in Accounting, Finance, Public or Business Administration, Economics or related field, OR graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) in another field combined with a professional qualification in accounting or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent) plus 8 years in the field of accounting or finance, of which at least five years in an intergovernmental organization (United Nations or similar). Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- 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.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

***For National Officer positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Professional qualification in accounting or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent).
- Excellent knowledge of United Nations administrative, human resources and financial rules and procedures.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Senior Administrative/Finance Officer positions. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates 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
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

 

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

 

The Senior Admin/Finance Officer is part of the Senior Management team and supervised directly by the Deputy Representative. He/she will establish and maintain efficient administrative and financial control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UN Financial, Administrative and Staff rules and procedures.  The incumbent is supervising ICT, HR and admin/finance colleagues and the drivers. The incumbent should have a good understanding of UNHCR financial management and possess solid administrative skills. Apart from excellent functional competencies, the incumbent would also be expected to possess proven managerial and leadership skills.
The incumbent will interact with all other sections and colleagues. He/she needs to have an open mind. The UNHCR Burkina Faso Office structure represents 81 staff disseminated among the Representation in Ouagadougou (headed by a D1), one Field Office in Dori (headed by a P4), one Field Unit in Djibo (headed by a NOB) and one Antenna Office in Bobo-Dioulasso (headed by a NOA). The incumbent must travel regularly to the filed for monitoring purposes and ensure that living and working conditions of staff are up to UNHCR¿ standards. The incumbent must also be conversant with MSRP and FOCUS and have an excellent knowledge of United Nations administrative, human resources and financial rules and procedures.
The incumbent is an OMT member and in that capacity he or she will attend monthly OMT meetings with other UN Agency members and comply with OMT/UNHCT decisions. He or she must be fluent in French and with excellent working knowledge of English. The operation is stabilized with 24,394 refugees as of August 31, 2018. The majority is installed in two camps in the Sahel region (Mentao and Goudoubo camps) and the rest in border areas and in the two biggest cities of Burkina. Due to global financial challenges, the operation is gradually downsizing. 
Focus is put on livelihoods and self-reliance of refugees, as well as the Mixed Migration Project, including the installation of an Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM). Given the protracted situation of most refugees, one of the biggest challenges of the operation is to find appropriate durable solutions and progressively phase out while making refugees self-reliant and resilient enough to stop depending on UNHCR¿s assistance. 
Transition from emergency (2012/2013) to protracted refugee situation combined with the low level of financial resources, has resulted as well in the gradual reduction of the number of implementing partners. Burkina Faso has very basic infrastructures, including in the health sector.  In Ouagadougou, there are more than 20 health clinics, but only four recommended by the UN System.
Epidemics and other disease outbreaks are common in the operational area.
Ouagadougou is a family duty station and education is generally in French, however there is also  a US English school. Banking services available include more than five international banks among which two are recommended by the UN System (United Bank of Africa and Ecobank);
 
Hot and dry desert environment with high daylight temperature fluctuations.
In the field, due to security-borne restrictions, the office has built two well organized guest houses where all staff are advised to reside during field missions (in FU  Djibo and FO  Dori).
Housing in Ouagadougou is mainly individual houses and are easily available.  But most buildings are not well maintained and need repair.  Electricity is very expensive and a backup generator is recommended. The security situation in Burkina Faso has been continuously deteriorating with sporadic incursions and attacks in the northern part of the country, as well as the east and the south west. Sensitive security context could put certain nationalities, like white skin people (European, American or Asiatic) at risk. The Sahel region (Northern part of Burkina Faso, bordering Mali), our main operational area, is permanently facing terrorist activities, resulting to casualties and kidnappings. 
Although a C category family duty station, there is general criminality and banditry due to the prevailing security situation. French is the official working language.  Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Geographical diversity is most welcome.  Female candidates are encouraged, as it will be a good balance to the current staffing of the office.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).

This vacancy is now closed.
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