Finance Senior Officer

Addis Ababa

Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
Location: Addis Ababa
Grade: Junior level - LICA-9, Local Individual Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Banking and Finance
Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Established in 2009, UNOPS Ethiopia Office has been providing services to various partners, including the government of Ethiopia, UN agencies such as WHO, UNHCR and WFP, and other international organizations. Since 2014, the UNOPS Ethiopia multi-country office manages and coordinates the UNOPS activities in Ethiopia, as well as Sudan and Djibouti. The UNOPS Ethiopia multi-country office team is composed of approximately 100 national and international women and men, and offers a broad range of services such as infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial and human resources management.

Local Country Context:

UNOPS strategy for Ethiopia Multi Country Office is aimed at providing support to the Government and people of Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti through the delivery of projects and services in line with the governments’ own priorities and also under the UN Delivery as One initiative. The UNOPS Ethiopia Multi Country Office (ETMCO) has been established as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been appointed as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS ETMC office is implementing and negotiating a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure development, Procurement Support to Government Ministries and other UN agencies and HR support to UN agencies. The functional objective of UNOPS ETMCO is to deliver projects in an efficient and effective manner, to achieve the development outcomes sought by the Government of Ethiopia and the donor community, where capacity building is always considered and encouraged.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Support Services, the contractor will be entrusted with the following duties and responsibilities:

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

1 Implementation of operational strategies

2 Budget preparation, monitoring and control

3 Reporting

4 Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1 Ensures implementation of operational strategies and adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

Full compliance with the provisions of the UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, the Finance Manual and Finance and Budget Technical Instructions in all financial transactions, recording, reporting, etc.

Country Offices business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in the Country Offices, control of the workflow in the Finance unit

Routinely monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions.

Proper management of the contributions management and accounting for contributions to ensure that funds due to UNOPS are properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation.

Operational efficiency of the managerial or accounting aspects of the areas managed.

2 Budget preparation, monitoring and control

Ensure that budgets are prepared in the right format with clearly written assumptions, within the required timeframe and with a high level of accuracy.

Coordination of the preparation of the field operating budget; review of budget submissions, regular analysis and reporting on the budget approvals and the delivery situation; monitoring of expenditures against budget allotments and reporting on variances

Coordination with the Hub Finance Officer to ensure compliance with UNOPS financial rules and regulations, financial policies and procedures and that project budgets and revisions are prepared in accordance with established procedures and budgetary guidelines of the funding agency; project budget re-phasing processed accurately and punctually

Identification of administrative budgetary requirements; guidance on guidelines for budget preparation, the format to be used in reflecting budget proposals and the procedures for submission to facilitate consolidation at the Multi-Country Office level, and ensure an optimal cost-recovery system is in place.

Review of budget proposals for reasonableness, consistency with the organizational goals and priorities.

Continuous monitoring of budgetary allocations and contact with clients to strengthen budget management and take corrective actions when required.

Maintenance of the UNOPS Project Budget formulation system, ensuring timely input and processing of data; proposals for update and change (with ICT unit) to ensure relevance of the system at all times in the financial management of projects and enhancement of financial reporting.

Establishment of the development projects’ budgets preparation/modification monitoring system, control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limits and budgets delivery levels.

Ensure full supporting documents are in place for all transactions (Payments, Journals, etc) under review.

3 Reporting

Ensure compliance with UNOPS Financial Regulations and Rules, Organizational Directive (ODs) and Administrative instructions, financial procedures, systems, policies and the donor’s requirements.

Assist the project team in reviewing and consolidation of Periodical expenditure/financial reports.

Prepare the financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of any anomalies and advice necessary adjustments to the Program team.

Provide responses to audit queries and ensure compliance and timely implementation of all audit recommendations related to financial reports.

Ensure timely book closure and actively coordinate the Quarter & Year end UNOPS books closure activities with the program team.

Ensure timely and proper financial and grant closure process of completed projects and review donor reports prepared by the program team.

Archive the hard and soft copies of financial reporting documents in appropriate manner.

4 Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Organization and conduct of training for the operations/ projects staff on Finance.

Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Finance.

Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

Master’s Degree in Accounting, Financial Management, Treasury Management, Business Administration or other related field relevant to the above duties is required.
A Bachelor's degree(a first university degree) in Accounting, Financial Management, Treasury Management, Business Administration or other related field in combination with additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s Degree.

Work Experience

Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience in the area of planning, budgeting and financial reporting in the public sector and/or development organizations is required.
Experience in using Accounting Software(Preferably ERP Systems) is an asset.
Ability to work with minimal supervision in a complex environment.
Previous successful involvement with, and good knowledge of Planning, Budgeting and Financial Reporting for a development project would be an asset.
Strong communication and facilitation skills, and ability to establish good working relations with national program, partners, colleagues and stakeholders in a sensitive environment;
Experience/knowledge of Google Suite products, especially google forms, sheets, docs and slides is an asset

Language

Fluency in written and oral English is required.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall efficiency of the Hub or Country Offices in financial resources management and success in implementation of operational strategies. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance UNOPS credibility in use of financial resources.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractual Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: LICA-9
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Background Information - UNOPS

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.

Additional Considerations

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.
UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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