Administrative and Finance Associate - Tenders Global

Administrative and Finance Associate

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

tendersglobal.net

JOB DESCRIPTION

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is in the fourth year of programme implementation of the 2021-2025 Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).  In line with the commitments under the UNSDCF, the United Nations in BiH, led by the Resident Coordinator, is supporting national efforts to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals while ensuring that no one is left behind. Under this objective, the promotion of social cohesion and constructive dialogue is recognized as a key priority for sustaining peace and nurturing sustainable development.

 

The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund was established by the UN Secretary General in October 2006, following a request from the General Assembly and the Security Council. With the primary goal of preventing relapse into violent conflict, the PBF provides fast, flexible, and relevant funding to UN entities, governments, regional organizations, multilateral banks, national multi-donor trust funds and civil society organizations. To date, PBF has allocated $1.67 billion to 65 recipient countries.

Following a request by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in November 2022 the United Nations Secretary-General granted the country eligibility to access funding to support the social cohesion priorities of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Agreement and the EU 14 priorities (notably Priority 5). The areas of focus of these funds are:

 

  1. Improving trust within and between communities to advance the wellbeing and prosperity of all people and contribute to long-term stability.
  2. Strengthening inter-community and inter-entity engagement for more responsive, inclusive, gender-sensitive and transparent delivery of services, notably in the areas of education, culture, and environment with the aim to bridge divisions.
  3. Dealing with the past through truth-seeking, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence with a focus on the dignity and rights of survivors of wartime violations.

To ensure high level oversight and accountability, the Government and the UN have established a joint steering committee, co-Chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the UN Resident Coordinator. To support this steering committee and the broader peacebuilding team in the RCO, the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office is establishing a PBF Secretariat. The PBF Secretariat will include 4 staff members: a PBF Secretariat Manager, a Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst, a Communication Analyst, and an Administrative and Finance Associate.

Under the overall guidance of the RC and direct supervision of the PBF Manager, the Admin/Finance Associate ensures effective execution of administrative and financial services and processes and transparent utilization of Project financial resources. The Admin/Finance Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Admin/Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the UNDP Operations teams and PBF Secretariat staff to exchange information and resolve admin and finance-related issues.

Duties and Responsibilities
1) Provides effective support to financial management of the project, administration of budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:
  • Carry out all day to day administrative, operational, budgetary and financial management functions of the PBF Secretariat;
  • Support to Programme Management for monitoring of budgets, financial management issues;
  • Assist the PBF Programme Manager and M&E Officer in liaising with different government agencies/UNDP/donor partners, NGOs and other key stakeholders;
  • Maintain inventory of project assets and provide logistic support to workshops/seminars and other project activities;
  • Provide assistance to prepare periodic accounting records, maintain delivery records, make project transactions in UNDP format, prepare draft budget revisions, shadow budgets, cost sharing and other financial and accounting reports;
  • Contribute to the financial aspects of the programme’s work plans, exercising due diligence in the development of budgets.
  • Entry of data of new projects funded by PBF in the existing financial system in the form of Annual Work Plans (AWPs), monitoring of the status of financial expenditures.
  • Provision of information for the audit of the project, implementation of audit recommendations, as needed.
  • Implementation of the control mechanism for development projects through monitoring of budgets preparation and provide recommendations to the PBF Secretariat management regarding approvals for modifications.
  • Sound tracking and reporting on expenditures, throughout the programme’s implementation.
  • Preparation of all relevant financial reports, as required by the PBF Manager
2)  Provide quality accounting and administrative support to PBF Projects focusing on achievement of the following results
  • Prepare budget analysis and projections as required.
  • Work with agencies to prepare periodic financial progress reports.
  • Prepare quarterly, semi-annual and annual progress reports.
  • Ensure full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations for financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up; implement sound internal control frameworks.
  • Ensure sound oversight of the supporting documents for payments, prepare documents for suppliers in Quantum.
  • Maintain financial records for PBF Secretariat counterparts, as required.
  • Maintain the internal expenditure control system, which ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in the existing financial system and that travel requests and claims and other entitlements are duly processed.
  • Timely undertake corrective actions on un-posted invoices, including invoices with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved invoices.
  • Ensure timely, accurate and relevant financial reports to management, UNDP, MPTFO/ donors, as well as the government as may be called for.
  • Prepare timely and accurate Monthly Fund Utilization Report by Donor and by Budget Lines.
  • Prepare timely and accurate Quarterly Expenditure Reports to be attached to Progress Reports for PBSO.
  • Enter accurately the AWP and subsequent Budget revisions along with Multi-year Budgets in the existing financial system for endorsement.
  • Ensure proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports, preparation of PO and non-PO invoices.
  • Organize travel, events management, administrative surveys, transportation services and insurance, space management, procurement of supplies.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core: 
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility  LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Management Customer Satisfaction/Client Management
  • Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns
Business Development Knowledge Generation
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Business Management Working with Evidence and Data
  • Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
Finance Accounting (General)
  • Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
Finance Budget Management
  • Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
Finance Financial Reporting and Analysis
  • Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector.
  • Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.

Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance

Finance Audit (General)
  • Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in the public services.
  • Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting.
  • Ability to examine and verify accounts and records.
  • Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny.
  • Understands the law and best practice relating to antibribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies.
Administration & Operations Documents and records management
  • Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Secondary Education with specialized certification in accounting and/or Finance. University degree in Finance or Accounting desirable. Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.  (The degree must state that the major is in accounting or finance. Degrees in Business Administration or Public Administration are not considered equivalent.)”
  • Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP). No UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
  • Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. However, no UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.

Candidate with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.

Experience:
  • Minimum 6 years (with Secondary education) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible accounting and administrative experience is required.
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required/
  • Experience in handling of web-based management systems is an asset
  • Track record experience in implementing streamlined processes and improving financial/administrative workflows.
  • Experience with identifying inefficiencies, proposing solutions, and executing changes to enhance efficiency.
  • Experience in developing and maintaining internal control procedures to mitigate financial risks.
  • Ability to assess risk factors, establish controls, and ensure compliance with policies to safeguard organizational assets.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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