Finance and Administrative Officer 1

The ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, and for the Special Representative to the AU and the ECA will be implementing a comprehensive sectoral intervention to advance decent work and inclusive industrialization in Ethiopia through the ILO Apparel and Textiles Programme. A commitment to the textile and garment sector is part of Ethiopia’s broad Industrial Development Strategic Plan (2013-2025) to propel the country to middle-income status over the next decade.

Ethiopia has a nascent garment sector poised for rapid growth. While the growing sector represents opportunities for business, industrialization, job creation and inclusive economic growth, a concerted effort from various actors is required to realize this potential. This is therefore an important moment for Ethiopia and the ILO to address the root causes of some of the industry’s most endemic issues as the sector develops. Through coordinated interventions at factory, sectoral and national level, this project aims to improve worker wellbeing and achieve higher industry productivity and competitiveness. It provides an opportunity to promote and inculcate a culture of prevention and protection in the industry from its inception, while assisting the government, social partners and other major stakeholders in their efforts to develop social dialogue within and between the parties, and to improve wages and working conditions through sharing productivity gains, and promoting sound labour relations practices, and collective bargaining.

The following ILO units/programmes/branches will support this project: Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health (LABADMIN/OSH), Vision Zero Fund (VZF), Better Work (BETTERWORK), Inclusive Labour Markets, Labour Relations and Working Conditions (INWORK), Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Global Programme on Employment Injury Insurance and Protection (GEIP), Multinational Enterprises (MULTI), Bureau for Employers' Activities (ACT/EMP), Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV).

This position involves supervising support staff that are providing administrative, financial, HR operational and IT support to the ILO Apparel and Textiles Programme. The incumbent has key responsibility for ensuring that all management and professional employees of the ILO Apparel and Textiles Programme have timely and accurate financial information on which to base their decisions. It also has key responsibility for ensuring that all programme transactions are prepared in accordance with relevant and applicable ILO financial rules and regulations and in accordance with ILO Addis Ababa’s financial system.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall responsibility of the ILO/CO-Addis Ababa Director, the incumbent of the position will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager of the ILO Apparel and Textile programme (for Ethiopia) in Addis Ababa.

• Within the overall strategic direction agreed by the Project Manager of the ILO apparel and textile programme (for Ethiopia), lead, organize, plan, supervise and control the work of the team responsible for financial management, administration and HR of the programme. This includes managerial functions related to all areas of administration, budget management and HR.
• Assist with the implementation of operational and strategic decisions regarding the programme’s financial operations. Provide guidance on the financial implications of decision making, hiring and HR, budget, services development and expansion, programmatic targets, and other operational issues.
• Manage budgets, including revision and rephasing and provide periodic budget forecasts, cash need predictions, resource gap analyses, management reports on budgetary status and variance reports; provide targeted, pro-active and accurate advice to Project Managers/CTAs, Management Team and other relevant staff on financial operations/management.
• Ensure that all programme transactions are prepared in accordance with relevant and applicable ILO financial rules and regulations and enter transactions, as appropriate, into ILO’s financial system.
• Manage the factory invoicing process for the Better Work Ethiopia component of the programme and ensure that revenues are collected in a timely manner and used to fund operational expenses of the programme. Monitor operational cost recovery of the Better Work Ethiopia component and work with Better Work’s Global Headquarters to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme and its impact on financial sustainability. Propose recommendations for meeting cost recovery targets.
• Implement, operationalize and maintaining internal systems, procedures, policies and structures to ensure sound financial and HR practices in accordance with ILO’s HR policies and procedures, including ethical, effective and efficient use of money. Research and analyse individual cases requiring the interpretation of HR rules and propose action accordingly. Provide verbal and written explanations to managers and staff regarding the application of HR rules, regulations and procedures.
• Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the overall programme.
• Ensure effective office management, including availability of office supplies, management of inventory, approval processes, payment systems, petty cash etc.
• Actively contribute to and support the development and implementation of the ILO Apparel and Textile Programme, including input into the development of strategies, policies, and tools and in cooperation with the Project Manager.

First Level University Degree in Business Administration, Finance or Accounting or equivalent professional qualification is required in order to have knowledge and understanding of the application of financial principles and procedures.

At least two or three years of professional experience in finance/general accounting experience or experience in human resources management and at least two years of experience in the other area. These periods of experience may have occurred simultaneously.

Excellent command of English and good knowledge of Amharic.

• Excellent communications skills, both oral and written; ability to work as part of a team, to cooperate, and collaborate with others and deal with diplomacy; ability to explain decisions effectively to staff within the department; ability to motivate staff, establish team objectives, assign and supervise work and ensure that quality service/work is provided to clients.
• Ability to analyse financial information from several sources, examining documentation and reconciling discrepancies or inconsistencies; ability to relate financial/accounting theory to operating practices; ability to use common IT applications and familiarity with computerised accounting packages; ability to plan and coordinate moderately complex projects or programmes.
• High level analytical skills, ability to reason and make sound judgments; must demonstrate responsible behaviour and good attention to detail.
• Ability to work with confidential material and maintain high standards of ethical conduct.
• Capacity to liaise and network with a range of stakeholders including staff, buyers, government officials, management, unions and NGOs.
• Ability to work in a multilingual and multicultural environment.
• Ability to systematise information, procedures and processes for future use.
• Appreciation of principles of gender equity and how they can be promoted to improve the team dynamics and efficiency.