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Senior Finance Officer (PN10022623) - Ankara

Ankara

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Ankara
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Banking and Finance
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
  • Closing Date: Closed

This position is open to applications from Group 1, Group 2 and all external candidates, provided that requirements regarding professional experience, academic qualifications, language, etc. are fulfilled.

Candidates must be primarily Turkish nationals. The minimum educational requirement for this position is a university degree.

Applications must be supported by documentation of fully effective performance history and demonstrated potential to assume professional responsibilities.

Your application will NOT be considered if;

-      The application form is not duly filled.
-      The questionnaire at the end of the application form is not answered. (for external candidates)

Interested staff members should consult Recruitment and Assignment of Locally-recruited Staff (RALS) para 39-40-41. Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Regional Controller and in functional coordination with DFAM's Accounts and Financial Service (AFS). In the Country or Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent is normally supervised by the Representative, Assistant Representative (Admin) or other senior positions as delegated by the Representative.

The incumbent is responsible for co-ordinating, guiding, monitoring, advising on, and supporting the financial operations in the area of responsibility (AoR).

With the objective to safeguard and optimize the utilization of UNHCR's monetary and physical resources, the incumbent establishes and maintains efficient mechanisms and reliable processes to ensure compliance with UN financial regulations and UNHCR's rules, policies and procedures including, and not limited to, accounts payable and treasury processes, accounting, and implementation of internal control mechanisms, including support to oversight and audit functions. The incumbent also identifies and manages risks under their responsibility in close coordination with the Risk Management and Compliance Advisor.

The incumbent supports the work of the Regional Controller 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.


All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

- Oversee and guide integrated financial management and reporting for the assigned geographic area of responsibility.
- Assess, review, and ensure application of finance-related policies, instructions, procedures, etc.
- Provide advice to management regarding the application of financial policies and procedures and, when necessary, coordinate with the Regional Controller or Office of the Controller, as applicable, regarding the interpretation of such policies and procedures.
- Ensure accounting records are correct and reliable, including and not limited to timely bank reconciliations, maintenance of open items, timely processing of travel financial transactions, clearance of residual requisitions and purchase order balance.
- In close coordination with the AFS, support the preparation and review of donor financial reports, and endorse such reports before submission to donors.
- Ensure monthly and yearly closing as well as any other periodic accounting-related processes are executed in a timely and accurate manner.
- Ensure the maintenance and on-going validity of the Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP).
- Identify potential risks in relation to financial management, including the effectiveness of internal controls, and propose mitigating actions; monitor the application of internal control mechanisms.
- Make proposals for the continuous improvement of financial monitoring and control mechanisms, including the streamlining of financial systems and procedures.
- In coordination with DFAM's Change Management and Field Support Section and the Global Learning and Development Centre, identify and provide training on accounting matters, and recommend or develop training modules as necessary, aiming at the development of financial management skills.
- In close liaison with DFAM's System Administration Section and other divisions as necessary, provide and plan activities for rollout of new processes or systems.
- As delegated, supervise and manage local financial personnel, including participation in recruitment of senior local financial personnel.
- Ensure that payments made are timely and accurately, and all month-end and year-end cut-off processes are implemented in line with relevant guidance.
- Supervise the preparation of financial reports, monitoring and supervising expenditures with respect to approved budgets and work plans.
- Ensure that local bank account administration and associated cash management functions are performed in adherence to financial guidelines.
- Perform financial management and control related to Cash-Based Interventions in adherence to financial guidelines;
- Review and certify vouchers, including ABOD and project disbursements.
- Perform project control functions for both directly and indirectly implemented activities, in the absence of a dedicated project control position.
- Coordinate, review and endorse responses to audit queries from internal and external audits and ensure the implementation of accounting audit recommendations.
- Perform other relevant duties as required.

Regional financial services applicable to positions in the Regional Bureau only.

- In coordination with relevant services in HQ, and to improve cost-effectiveness and process efficiency for operations, implement and manage regional finance-related services such as: vendor and other related master data management and maintenance, invoice posting, travel claim processing, payments, bank reconciliations, accounting housekeeping and period cut-off activities, donor financial reporting, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

Field(s) of Education

Accounting; Finance; Public or Business Administration; Economics; or other relevant field.


Certificates and/or Licenses

Professional accounting, auditing or financial management designation (CPA/ACCA/CIA/CMA or equivalent).


Relevant Job Experience

Essential:

Work experience in the field of accounting/finance, project management, business analysis, quality assurance and/or risk management. Excellent knowledge of, and experience in working with, international accounting and auditing standards, with a minimum of two years of practical experience in the audit process and/or in financial statements preparation. Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS). Excellent understanding and/or experience of financial modules a major Enterprise Resource Planning system (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle). Good understanding of project and resource management. Excellent computer skills, in particular in MS Office applications, especially MS-excel. Excellent communication and negotiation skills. Experience of managing people in multinational/multicultural environments.

Desirable:

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.

Functional Skills

- Accounting;
- IPSAS; IFRS or other internationally accepted accounting standards;
- Treasury/Cash Management/Banking/Investment/Foreign Exchange;
- Funds Monitoring/Cash management;
- UN-UNHCR Financial Rules and Regulations and Procedures;
- Financial Management;
- Auditing practical experience;
- International Auditing Standards;

Language Requirements

Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

REMUNERATION

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The monthly net salary is between TRY 26,300 and TRY 33,635 depending on relevant experience, dependency status and language proficiency. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== I. Nature of the Position

The position of Senior Finance Officer reports directrly to the Representative and is responsible, as a Head of Unit, to manage the administrative and finance team of UNHCR Turkey, overseeing administrative, financial, travel and IT related matters of the operation. Key responsibilities include planning, budgeting, monitoring and compliance in relation to the ABOD of UNHCR Turkey.

The incumbent is expected to have solid UN experience in finance and administration, including with UN's financial standards, rules, systems and tools, with a strong emphasis on IPSAS, financial control and  risk management. It is also important for the incumbent to be able to have demonstrated the ability to interact effectively with external stakeholders, including government counterparts and the private sector (service providers) in the country in a highly complex environment.

Since 2014, Turkey has hosted the largest refugee population in the world. As of 31 December 2019,  the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) announced that  3.5 million Syrian refugees under temporary protection and some 330,000 refuges and asylum seekers from other countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan were registered in Turkey. More than 98% refugees live in urban, peri-urban and rural areas and less than 2% in Temporary Accommodation Centers (TAC).

The Government of Turkey takes the lead in the refugee response, based on a solid asylum legal framework and policies to include people of concern in national services.  UNHCR is coordinating the refugee response by supporting national and local counterparts, co-leading the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), maintaining an operational footprint in order to better support the authorities in areas where it has a specific expertise and playing a catalytic role to ensure synergies among all actors engaged in the refugee response.

II. Interaction with Persons of Concern or External Stakeholders

The Senior Finance Officer position requires regular interaction with external stakeholders, including the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, customs and other authorities. The incumbent will interact with suppliers, with financial institutions as well as with UN sister agencies, including representing UNHCR in the UN Turkey Operations Management Team (OMT), as well as the  Local Salary Survey Committee (LSCC). The incumbent of the position is also the focal-point of the operation for audits, with interaction with Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

III. Reporting and Managerial Expectations

travel and IT, and plans and manages UNHCR Turkey's Administrative Budget (ABOD), directly supervising staff at NOB, NOA and G-6 levels, managing smaller teams. The incumbent is reporting directly to the Representative (D-2), working closely with the Senior HR Officer (P-4), the Senior Supply Coordinator (P-5) and the security staff. The encumbent is expected to closely liaise with and support administrative functions in field locations, with UNHCR Turkey having field presence in seven locations (Ankara, Gaziantep, Hatay, Sanliurfa, Istanbul, Izmir and Van) and three premises in Ankara. The position requires  good managerial and communication skills, and a proven interest in staff development.

IV. Additional Languages, Skills and Qualifications

Knowledge of United Nations operational and managerial reforms related to Back Office systems and functions. The closing date of the job opening for Group 1, Group 2 and all external candidates is 25 September 2020.
This vacancy is now closed.
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