Associate Finance Officer -Gambella, Ethiopia

Organization: UNHCR

Location: Gambella, Ethiopia

Deadline: December 15, 2022

Job Description

Hardship Level

E (most hardship)

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Residential location (if applicable)

Addis Ababa, Eth Fed Dem Rep

Grade

PR2

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

 

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2022-11-24-08:00

 

Job Posting End Date

December 15, 2022

 

Standard Job Description

Associate 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 may support the supervisor with the identification and management of 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 national 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

– Contribute to the assessment of budgetary needs for administrative budgets (ABOD); monitor and control ABOD expenditure.

– Analyse, evaluate and control disbursements/receipts, as well as expenditure variances against approved budgets;

– Review and approve vouchers, including ABOD and project disbursements.

– Propose monthly cash requirements for the Office, and ensure adequate and timely replenishments of funds.

– Contribute to the preparation and processing of monthly accounts.

– Provide financial status reports to supervisors.

– Analyse and evaluate all financial reports produced on a regular basis.

– Maintain effective business relationships with local banks.

– Assist in ensuring compliance with UNHCR and UN Financial Regulations and Rules, policies and procedures.

– Ensure that payments are effectuated by the monthly deadline.

– Ensure that monthly accounts are correct and approved, and ensure timely monthly bank reconciliations, including open items, review and clearance of unwanted requisitions and PO balances.

– Conduct regular checks of petty cash and cash accounts.

– Perform project control functions, in the absence of a dedicated project control position.

– Participate in the physical verification of UNHCR¿s local property, plant and equipment (PPE) and inventories.

– Verify that all financial transactions are correct and in accordance with UNHCR rules and procedures.

– In the absence of a senior finance position, ensure compliance with applicable financial rules, policies and procedures.

– In the absence of a senior finance position, certify country-level financial expenditure reports submitted to the regional office or Headquarters.

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, assist with the implementation and management of 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, assist the provision and planning of 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.

– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience /

Degree Level For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year 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.

Good knowledge of, and experience in working with, international accounting and auditing standards, with a minimum of 1 year of practical experience in the audit process and/or in financial statements preparation.

Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS).

Experience with financial modules of a major Enterprise Resource Planning system (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle).

Good understanding of project and resource management.

Desirable: Good knowledge of UNHCR systems (such as Focus and MSRP).

Excellent knowledge of United Nations financial rules and procedures.

Functional Skills

FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other)

FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc) PM-Project Monitoring

DM-Data Collection and Analysis

EL-Monitoring and Evaluation

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

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

,

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:

UNHCR provides key protection services to asylum seekers and refugees in the 7 Camps spread within the wider Gambella region of Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, namely Gambella, Pugnido and Dimma. With a population of 348,193 persons of Concern in the region, the current office workforce is 148 comprising of 113 under UNHCR contract, 29 under UNOPS contract, 4 under UNV contract and 2 ICMC deployees.

The role of the Administration Unit within UNHCR structure is to support other units involved with direct implementation of Protection services to the persons of concern to UNHCR. Finance is a subunit of the General Administration Unit that is mandated to oversee all the financial transactions within the operation and report directly to the Admin Officer. The Incumbent will closely supervise the Admin and Finance National staff comprising of 1G6 Admin Associate, 1 G5 Senior Finance Assistant and 1 G5 Admin Assistant. The Associate Finance Officer will also work closely with the Finance team at the Country Office in Addis Ababa, to ensure uniformity within Finance units across all the other UNHCR Operation in Ethiopia.

Key skills and competencies required for the position:

The incumbent is expected to conduct analysis of budgets, expenditure and any earmarked donor funding dynamics and high rates of global inflation.

The successful candidate would be one with strong analytical skills and have a mastery of MSRP and COMPASS and very proficient in excel. UNHCR being an organization with a dynamic workforce from all walks of life, the incumbent should be one who respectfully embraces and encourages different views and opinions from team members which in turn brings a team synergy and collaboration.

Due to the complexity of the operation, the incumbent should be one able to work under extreme pressure whether internal or external and remain focus on successfully achieving set goals.

The candidate should also have the ability to prioritize tasks ensuring timely good service delivery to all clients and be capable to adapt to evolving Operation/Office dynamics.

Living and Working Conditions:

Gambella is a non-family duty station. UNHCR provides guesthouses for staff. There are limited banking facilities and limited medical facilities. There are daily commercial flights between Addis Ababa and Gambella. Ethiopia’s topography diversity has resulted in a wide variety of climates in the country. The climate in Gambella is classified as tropical. The hottest season of the region is in March/April; the temperature may rise to 45 °C, followed by a long rainy season. The road network within the region is often affected by heavy rainfall during the rainy season. The average annual temperature in Gambella is 27.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1148 mm. Due to its conditions, Gambella is a malaria-prone area amongst other tropical diseases. Internet and communications networks are available at the UNHCR compound. Remoteness, isolation and lack of entertainment in social life are factors to be considered before applying.

Gambella is classified as security level phase 3. The security situation in the Gambella region has seen a significant deterioration in early 2016, with clashes among ethnic groups. These types of tensions remain up to date, the most recent in January 2022 when armed separatist groups fought with government forces in Gambella town and resulted in heavy casualties. Armed bandits operating in border districts bordering South Sudan pose security challenges to the local communities and refugees. In addition to the mentioned threat, the newly emerged armed opposition group called Gambella Liberation Front (GLF) poses a high-security threat to the region. GLF is allied to Oromo Liberation Front (OLF shen) and has perpetrated several attacks in and around Gambella town. The rebel group does not target humanitarian workers but poses a high threat as it targets government security forces which always work together with Humanitarian organizations, including the UN and NGOs. Therefore, the current security situation in the entire Gambella region remains tense and unpredictable.  The increase of criminality in Gambella town linked to unemployment and associated violent crime is a constant factor. Police have been reporting housebreaking, violent street robbery and incendiarism-related criminal activities. Restrictions of movement are imposed on the movement of the staff members and the activities in the field, depending on the development of the security situation. The security setting is expected to remain the same with no major changes according to the current reading of the situation. Curfew time is from 19:00 to 06:00hrs in Gambella. Road accidents are very common in Ethiopia due to dangerous driving, drivers’ skills, and non-enforcement of traffic laws.

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Data Collection and Analysis, EL-Monitoring and Evaluation, FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other), FI-Financial Accounting – Modified cash-based accounting as per international standards, FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc), PM-Project Monitoring

 

Education

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

 

Certifications

Accounting – Other, Auditing – Other, Financial Management – Other

 

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Bi-annual Compendium 2022 Part B – November 2022

 

Functional clearance

This position requires Functional Clearance

 

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