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Senior Project Control Officer

Islamabad

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Islamabad
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Accounting (Audit, Controlling)
    • Project and Programme Management
  • 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 Programme Assurance Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Programme Assurance Officer may be located in HQ, Regional Bureau, Multi-Country or Country Offices.
The incumbent will support the improved integration of risk management and mitigation into the programming and operational cycle including in the formulation/design of projects, the selection of project managers/partners, and the monitoring, verification and auditing processes. 

The Senior Programme Assurance Officer will be expected to establish and foster the work of communities of practice in the areas of project control and assurance. 

Positions in HQ, Regional Bureau will support the undertaking of the broader reforms in risk management and assurance throughout the detailed planning and implementation/monitoring cycle, will contribute to the work of multi-functional teams and project control activities at country level to ensure monitoring and oversight systems are effective, simple and timely, taking full advantage of new technologies, while engaging and working with external audit firms to provide independent reviews and audits of projects implemented by partners.

The incumbent will manage the annual process of auditing of partnership agreements and will advise on matters relating to the selection of projects for audit based on risk-criteria; the selection of auditing firms and assignment of project agreements; the design of auditing reports and internal control questionnaires; the follow-up of audit recommendations; and referrals and handling of integrity related allegations against partner organizations.  The incumbent will play a core role in liaising with the UN Board of Auditors and with the Office of Internal Oversight Services on matters relating to partner audits.

Positions in Country Offices provide substantive support, guidance, and oversight on the effective management of the Enhanced Framework for Implementing with Partners (the Framework) as well as oversight on the effective management of Direct Implementation. The incumbent prompts partnership integrity and other safeguarding mechanisms for ensuring sound stewardship and accountability of funds entrusted to partners or through direct implementation arrangements (e.g. contracts for the procurement of goods and/or services) to ensure resources are used in the most efficient and effective manner to attain the best results for persons of concern.

The Senior Programme Assurance Officer will promote dialogue and consultations for strengthening partnerships and have frequent contacts with UNHCR colleagues. The incumbent may have contact with external stakeholders, such as UNHCR-funded partners, auditors, oversight bodies, and host governments on matters related to partnerships. The incumbent will be mindful of the dimensions of partnerships in accordance with the Principles of Partnership, the Code of Conduct, UN/UNHCR¿s financial rules, policies and regulations and other relevant documents.


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 the compliance with and quality of audit reports, while supporting the proper understanding and application of relevant policies and procedures and ensure submission of accurate and up to date partner audit related reports to oversight bodies.
- Foster the improvements of internal controls and project audit to comply with the Framework for Implementing with Partners. Support and oversee a coherent approach in its application to ensure effective partnerships, as well as sound stewardship and accountability for the funds entrusted to partners.
- Review and analyse audit certificates and carry out the required follow up including remedial actions.
- Ensure accurate and timely recording of data and reports related to project audit in relevant systems.
- Analyse project audit certificates (financial reports and management letters) and identify financial and internal control risks, errors, fraud, and challenges related to project audits.
- Work towards strengthening capacities related to the project control function and project audit in Field Offices, including on the job training and/or field support missions.
- Follow up with the stakeholders on actions for the clearance of outstanding audit recommendations and proposed solutions.
- Verify the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls for improved audit reports.
- Champion and pursue high quality partnerships and integrity culture in UNHCR, among partners and UNHCR¿s contractors to mitigate misuse and wastage of resources, fraud and corruptions, sexual abuse and exploitation, and other forms of misconduct, including assessing and putting in place safeguards and measures for detection, prevention, reporting and addressing fraud and other forms of partnership/contractors misconduct.
- Ensure coherent practices of analysis and critical reviews of risk exposure and establishment of linkages of risk management with monitoring, financial management, project control, audit and other processes relate to partnership agreement and direct implementation to enhance effective delivery and optimum use of funds through partnerships or through direct implementation.
- Work towards the integration of best-practice risk-mitigation techniques into the programming and operational cycle and provide technical advice and tools to functions involved in project control and assurance.
- Ensure UNHCR management (country/bureau/global) and offices have access to high-quality and timely analytical insights and advice for enabling evidence-based operational decisions and accountability on project control, partnership and direct implementation management.
- Foster constructive dialogue and consultations with partners, UNHCR contractors and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, interagency collaborations, and harmonisations.
- Liaise with the Inspector General¿s Office on integrity-related allegations concerning partner organizations. 
- Perform other related duties as required.

In HQ, Regional Bureau
- Manage the selection process of project audit service providers and issuance of standard audit instructions to project audit service providers.
- Design and validate tools for the application of project control and audit for the enhanced project audit management.
- Scrutinize the quality of audit opinions and prepare reports for the review of the supervisor and subsequent use by senior arrangement and external auditors.
- Follow up with the stakeholders on actions for the clearance of outstanding audit recommendations and proposed solutions.
- Verify the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls for improved audit reports.
- Recommend solutions to technical issues related to recording of project reports, project audit related issues and/or risks across the Organization.

In Country
- Participate in and contribute to the annual assessment and planning cycle.
- Participate in and contribute to the development and implementation of partnership management objectives aligned with UNHCR¿s strategy and priorities.
- Participate in the development of the direct implementation monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and other relevant functions.
- Support Programme and other relevant functions in the selection of implementation modalities.
- Provide first-line support for project control, external and internal audit, evaluations, and other reviews pertaining to partnership and direct implementation management, and assist in gap analysis, establishing measuring and taking appropriate actions for addressing queries, recurrent weaknesses and other findings.
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Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD - 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 and Business Administration;
External Audit; Programme/Risk Management; or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
IPSAS or lFRS;
CPA,CA;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 6 years of relevant professional and in-depth experience in the areas of finance, risk management and audit, of which at least 3 years of service in field operations at the professional level. Strong experience in setting standard operating procedures and internal control design and implementation. Strong analytical skills in data and financial review. Solid knowledge of accounting including IPSAS or lFRS. Command of financial management systems. Experience in coaching and mentoring staff.
Desirable
Professional qualification in external audit (CPA,CA or equivalent). Grant Management and Project Management, including related software. Experience in developing and delivering training in the fields of finance, valuations, risk or programme management. Fair knowledge of reporting requirement within the UN/UNHCR system. Ability to formulate innovative and creative technical, financial. audit and system solutions.

Functional Skills
PM-Project Assurance;
FI-Financial auditing;
RM-Risk Management;
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate);
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards);
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.


This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. 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
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3

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.

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

Please note that the closing date for vacancies in this addendum is Monday 7 December 2020 (midnight Geneva time).

This vacancy is now closed.
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