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Finance Officer

Gbadolite

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Gbadolite
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Banking and Finance
  • Closing Date: Closed

Hardship Level

E (most hardship)

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Residential location (if applicable)

Nairobi (CO), Kenya

Grade

PR3

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2023-01-27-08:00

Job Posting End Date

February 16, 2023

Standard Job Description

Finance Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Regional Controller or Senior Finance Officer and in functional coordination with DFAM¿s Accounts and Financial Service (AFS). In the Country or Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent may be supervised by a Senior Finance Officer, Assistant Representative (Admin), Head of Sub-Office, 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 contributes to the establishment of efficient and reliable mechanisms and 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. In the Regional Bureaux, 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 may directly supervise 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 area of responsibility (AoR). - 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). - 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. - 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; assist the Regional Controller in monitoring the implementing internal control mechanisms and compliance with UNHCR's financial policies and procedures in the region. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Accounting; Finance; Public or Business Administration; Economics; or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Professional accounting, auditing or financial management designation (CPA/ACCA/CIA/CMA or equivalent) (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) 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 Good knowledge of UNHCR systems (such as Focus and MSRP). Excellent knowledge of United Nations financial rules and procedures. Functional Skills FI-General Financial Management FI-Financial auditing FI-International Auditing Standards FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc) FI-Financial Accounting - Modified cash-based accounting as per international 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. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. 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.

Desired Candidate Profile

The applicant should be knowledgeable of financial and administrative rules and procedures. He should also be familiar with technical tools such as MSRP, COMPASS, Workday the new UNHCR’ software. He/She should be skilled in tailoring, timely implementing and managing administrative and staffing budgets as well as carrying broad financial analysis.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

French

,

Desired languages

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Nature of the position

Repeated cycles of violence and conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) have had spill over effects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the two countries sharing a 1,500km border. In 2021, UNHCR biometrically registered 73,645 CAR refugees and asylum-seekers who had fled violence and insecurity following the 2020 presidential election, seeking safety in northern DRC. Small population movements involving people fleeing ongoing disarmament operations by the CAR government and its allies, or inter-ethnic conflicts in some prefectures of CAR causing forced displacements continue to be reported by local authorities.

As of 31 May 2022, about 209,495 CAR refugees have found refuge in the DRC. About 25 per cent of all CAR refugees live in five camps, while 75 per cent are spread across remote and hard-to-reach border villages in the provinces of North Ubangi (114,792), Bas Uele (49,305) and South Ubangi (44,910), while about 400 others are in the capital - Kinshasa and a couple of other provinces.

 In 2021, UNHCR and partners began implementing the alternative to camps policy that aligns with the Global Compact on Refugees. This policy seeks to strengthen protection and assistance to refugees as well as support the communities hosting them through a series of activities aimed at improving access to social and economic services. In line with this policy, UNHCR has identified 10 villages in North and South Ubangi provinces to serve as development hubs. Four of these hubs are progressively being operationalized. They are Sidi, Nzakara, Wenze and Modale to which a total of about 16,404 refugees have already been relocated by UNHC or self-relocated.

UNHCR and partners have also continued to pursue durable solutions for CAR refugees in northern DRC, notably through voluntary repatriations since 2019. As of 30 June, about 14 038 persons have been repatriated from Inke, Mole and Boyabu camps in North Ubangi and South Ubangi to parts of CAR where the security situation has been confirmed as stable. UNHCR plans to facilitate returns for 20,000 persons in 2022. About 3,304 refugees have already gone back home since the relaunch of the operation in May 2022.

The Sub-Office manages one Field Office in Libenge, one Field Office in Yakoma et one Field Office in Bili with approximatively 80 workforces.

The Admin/Finance Officer is part of the Senior Management of the office. He/she will be under the direct supervision of Head of Sub-Office. The Admin/Finance Officer is responsible for managing day to day personnel and administrative operations of the office and staff on personnel and administrative policies and procedures. He/she will oversee recruitment and administrative formalities concerning General Service Staff, review and approve the settlement of employee entitlements, ensuring compliance with the organization’s internal control framework, financial rules, policies and procedures, while identifying potential risks in relation to the financial management of the office and proposing mitigating action to senior management when applicable.

The Admin/Finance Officer will be responsible for the ABOD.  He/she will ensure timely and accurate monthly and year-end closure of accounts, including bank reconciliation, and submit reports to headquarters as per prescribed deadlines. He/she will prepare a consolidated budget for the Sub Office for approval at the Regional Office level. He/she will also ensure timely and effective follow-up to audit observations and recommendations and providing training on financial matters.

Living and Working Conditions:

Staff members may either live at UNHCR Guesthouse or in town where limited accommodation may be found.  Gbadolite has a population of about some 159,000 inhabitants (latest data recorded in 2014 ) and is located 25 kilometers south from Mobayi which is a town established at the Ubangi River . The Ubangi which is the border with the Central African Republic and Gbadolite is situated at some 1,150 kilometers northeast of Kinshasa.  Gbadolite was the native village (home and residence) of Joseph-Desire Mobutu (former President of Zaire from 1965 to 1997) but also the area of Bemba an important political figure in DRC. There is electricity thanks to the dam at Mobayi but sometimes the town experiences power failure for several days depending of the availability of the required spare parts and the use of generator as back up is required. The quality of the water is poor and most of the time is not available at nighttime. Decent housing opportunities are also very poor and expensive for rather low quality. The climate for most of the year is characterized by humid and hot temperatures while the rainy season brings into surface crawling reptiles and insects.  There are very limited medical facilities in Gbadolite that are not equipped to deal with serious medical conditions.  Evacuation opportunities are limited since there are only 2 flights per week. However, air ambulance evacuation can be organized for life threatening emergencies during daytime.  Candidates with conditions requiring regular treatment or medical supervision should be appropriately advised. Malaria is the most common disease. As a general advice, applicants for the post should be psychologically prepared for the aforementioned context.  There is an R & R cycle of 8 weeks.

There are no good banking facilities at Gbadolite. Telephone networks are not very reliable, but the Office has effective PAMA and Wifi

Languages:

French: Mandatory

ENG: Desirable

Additional Qualifications

Skills

FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other), FI-Financial auditing, FI-General Financial Management, HR-Administration of Staff Contracts and Benefits, HR-Vacancy Management, PG-Resource planning

Education

BA: Accounting (Required), BA: Business Administration (Required), BA: Economics (Required), BA: Finance (Required), BA: Public Administration (Required)

Certifications

Accounting - Other, Auditing - Other, Financial Management - Other

Work Experience

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add.2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2022 - Part B

Functional clearance

This position requires Functional Clearance
This vacancy is now closed.
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