Administrative and Finance Manager – P4  

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, sustenance.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens addressing inequity not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job:

As the manager and functional expert of administrative and financial management services in a large country, the incumbent is accountable for provision of managerial leadership and policy guidance for achievement of effective administrative and financial management and staff capacity development.  Ensures management of administrative staff for cost effective, quality and efficient administrative operations in support of office administration and the country programmes. Ensures that the office’s administrative operations and services follow the organization’s administrative policy, procedures, rules and regulations.   Further, the incumbent is responsible for provision of managerial leadership in managing, monitoring and overseeing the full range of financial services in support of program and operational activities (i.e. financial planning, disbursements of funds and payments, treasury and accounting, financial analysis and reporting of resources), ensuring compliance of all financial operations with organizational plans, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of performance, ethics, and integrity. The Administration/Finance Manager will be responsible for planning and guiding work in progress and for reviewing work completed by subordinate staff to verify accuracy and compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), UNICEF Financial Regulation and Rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of accountability, and ethics.

KEY END-RESULTS

1. Appropriate and consistent interpretation and application of administrative and Finance policy and procedures are timely implemented to support operations at the country and sub-country levels.
2. The budget preparation and implementation are properly administered, monitored and controlled in the area of administrative management and services.
3. Oversight on financial planning and management, control of accounts and effective management of treasury and cash management to support the running of the office and programme delivery.
4.  Oversight, management, and operations of administrative and finance support services are effectively provided for enhanced quality of service delivery, efficiency, productivity and cost effectiveness, and security arrangements are well established for enhanced safety and security. 
5. Property management of administrative supplies, office equipment, vehicles and other properties is effectively performed.
6.  All administrative transactions and arrangements of contracts satisfy the requirements as stipulated and are in compliance with the applicable policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
7.  Staff capacity is enhanced through innovative staff learning/development programmes in the area of administrative management and services.
8. Effective working relations are maintained with other agencies, local authorities and implementing partners.
9. Any other assigned administrative management responsibilities and services are effectively carried out and delivered.  

 Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1. Policy, procedures and strategies
2. Support to financial planning and management
3. Property management and administrative support and services
4. Control of accounts
5. Treasury and cash management  
6. Staff learning and development
7. Partnership, coordination and collaboration
8. Performs any other duties and responsibilities assigned as required.

JOB GRADE FACTORS P4

• Manages and supervises to ensure effective administrative and finance operations for a large country office with a large size total budget and with a relatively large number of staff members, engaging in all the areas of administrative and financial management.
• As head of Administrative and Finance function, oversees and manages the administrative and finance function of the Office by leading a team of administrative and finance staff of the Section.
• Provides global/regional perspective, sound recommendations on implementation/innovation of administrative and finance policy and procedures, and optimal utilization of UNICEF’s resources.
• As a professional expert as well as manager in the area of administrative and finance management, provides authoritative information and sound policy interpretation as well as application at the country level, based on the broad and thorough knowledge of UNICEF’s administrative and finance policy, procedures, rules and regulations. Provides substantive input to the development of administrative policies, systems and procedures.
• Plays a leading role in strategic planning in the area of administrative and finance management of the Office, taking an innovative approach in developing and implementing improved management systems.   

Please refer to the Job description for more details: Administrative and Finance Manager Level 4.doc:

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

Advance university degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Management/Administration, social sciences or equivalent or any other comparable   recognized professional qualification.

A valid professional certification (CA; CPA; etc.) from an internationally recognized, accredited chartered accountancy institution is required; or an advanced diploma qualification in CIPFA or its equivalent with other internationally recognized institutions.

Experience:

Eight years of relevant professional work experience.

Both national and international work experience in office management, administration, finance, accounting, ICT, human resources, supply or any other relevant function.

Work experience in emergency duty station.  

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Technical Knowledge

 a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required (for the job)

• Specialized knowledge to perform the administrative and Finance management functions of the job at competent level. (UNICEF administrative, accounts/finance, HR, budget, and supply manuals and instructions.) 

• Security Handbook.

• UNICEF Mid-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) as it relates to administrative service management.

b) Common Technical Knowledge Required (for the job group)

 • Principles of accounting and Financial Management, office management, operations management, programme management and administration.

• Administrative and Finance management’s goals, visions, positions, policies, and strategies 

• Information and Communication Technology administration.

• Supply operations, logistics and purchasing administration.

• Rights-based and Results-based management and programming approach in UNICEF.

• UNICEF emergency programme policies, goals, strategies, approaches and procedures.

• Gender equality and diversity awareness

c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job)

• UN policies and strategy to address issues in harmonization of administrative and Finance management and operations in the common system.

• UNICEF positions about UN common approaches to administrative service management and operations issues.

• UN security guidelines.

• Government regulations and laws in the locality pertinent to administrative service management and operations. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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