Associate Project Compliance Officer

Peace and Security Centre

The UNOPS Peace and Security Centre (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Centre is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It is headed by the Centre Director who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Centre on behalf of its clients.

Background - UNMAS

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a division of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly (RES/68/72) to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problem posed by a wide range of explosive hazards. Legislative mandates also recognize UNMAS technical expertise in responding to threats posed by unsecured and unsafe conventional weapons and ammunition stockpiles. As an office within DPKO, UNMAS supports peacekeeping and special political missions in accordance with Security Council mandates. 

Background – UNMAS Iraq

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was established in 1997, by the General Assembly, and as per the UN Policy on Mine Action and Effective Coordination (A/53/496, 1998) is the established coordinator of mine action within the United Nations system. UNMAS supports the UN's vision of "a world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully integrated into their societies."

UNMAS is a unit within the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS main headquarters is in the UN Secretariat, New York with a sub-office in Geneva. UNMAS provides direct support and assistance in the areas of Explosive Hazard (EH) mitigation to 18 countries/territories/missions, has a standby rapid response capacity and global technical advisors in the field of Improvised Explosive Devices and (IED) Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM).

* CANDIDATES WITH NO UN OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!
Under the supervision of the Project Compliance Officer, your duties and responsibilities will include:

1. Coordination for more informed project and donor compliance

• Liaise with sections focal points to prepare monthly and ad-hoc donor compliance reviews working in close collaboration with the Programme Office, the Projects Office, incl. all Project Managers and the Support Services Office.
• Work closely with the Project Compliance Officer on detailed preparation for monthly and ad-hoc compliance reviews.
• Help identify issues and challenges related to projects’ financial compliance and create solutions to address them with the ultimate goal to ensure efficient and compliant utilization of donor funds.
• Take the lead in ensuring follow-up on actions points from compliance meetings, including coordination with various units within UNMAS Iraq.
• Address queries in relation to financial compliance questions (implementation timelines, budget variance, spent deadlines, project to use etc.) in coordination with Support Services, Programme Office and/or Project Office, as required.
• Maintain electronic records of requisitions and other requests forms signed by the Project Compliance Officer and ensure that information included in those is included into the cash-flows.

2. Effective and accurate budget preparation, management, oversight and monitoring:

• Support the effective management of all the UNMAS Iraq project budgets and supervise the financial administration of projects in the UNMAS Iraq Programme.
• Advise and identify problems in financial and budgetary areas, suggesting alternative solutions to resolve issues in compliance with broader UNOPS policies, rules and procedures.
• Support the prepare working budgets to support the implementation of work plans and develop strategies for resource allocation, in close consultation and collaboration with the Programme Office, the Project Office and the Support Services Office.
• Support in the production of accurate periodic cash flow projections to share with the UNMAS Iraq Management team and individual project managers and Support Services for close monitoring, interpreting and predicting future trends of individual projects.
• Support in the provision of advice on guidelines for budget and proposal preparation including narrative budgets.
• Ensure full compliance of budget activities, budget recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the budget resources management system.
• Assist with the production of large data analysis to improve understanding and insight into expenditures and costs, with the ultimate goal of better budgeting, forecasting and decision-making.

* CANDIDATES WITH NO UN OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!
Education and relevant years of experience

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Accounting, Auditing, Finance, Project Management or other related field with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience; OR
• First level University degree (Bachelors Degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Accounting, Auditing, Finance, Project Management or other related field with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience; OR
• Secondary school (High School or equivalent) with 8 years of relevant experience.

Work Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in budget preparation and monitoring, financial management and planning, or project and donor compliance.

Language

• Fluency in English (speak, read, and write) is required.

• Baghdad, Iraq is a non-family duty station
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• This is a local position, therefore only nationals of duty station or applicants with a valid residence permit will be considered
• Baghdad is a Non-Family duty station
• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.  Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.