Assistant Project Control Officer

B

Family

Family

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2024-05-01

April 11, 2024

Assistant Project Control Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Project Control Officer is part of the multi-functional team. In coordination with DFAM’s Implementing Partnership Management Service, s/he is responsible and accountable for providing substantive support, guidance, and oversight on the effective management of the Enhanced Framework for Implementing with Partners (the Framework) as well as oversight on the effective management of Direct Implementation.

Complementary to programme management, s/he will support and conduct analysis and assessment of risks associated with partnerships and direct implementation, policy compliance, operational practices, mitigation measures and gaps and make technical recommendations or decisions in line with the principles of the Framework, of UN/UNHCR’s financial rules, policies and regulations and operational context.

The incumbent prompts partnership integrity and other safeguarding mechanisms for ensuring sound stewardship and accountability of funds entrusted to partners or through direct implementation arrangements (e.g. contracts for the procurement of goods and/or services) to ensure resources are used in the most efficient and effective manner to attain the best results for persons of concern.

The Assistant Project Control Officer will promote dialogue and consultations for strengthening partnerships and have frequent contacts with UNHCR colleagues, particularly project control and programme staff. S/he may have contact with external stakeholders, such as UNHCR-funded partners, auditors, oversight bodies, and host governments on matters related to partnerships. The incumbent will be mindful of all dimensions of partnerships in accordance with the Principles of Partnership, the Code of Conduct, UN/UNHCR’s financial rules, policies and regulations and other relevant documents.

In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the supervision of the Regional Controller. In the Country and Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent normally works under the direct supervision of the Representative or Deputy Representative, Head of Office or (Senior) Project Control Officer, as applicable.

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
– Participate in the annual assessment and planning cycle.
– Assist with the review of project agreements, ensuring that they are in conformity with Country Operation Plans and UNHCR’s rules, policies and procedures.
– Assist with the formulation and implementation of a performance project monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and MFT.
– Assist with the development of the direct implementation monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and other relevant functions.
– Assist with the support of Programme and other relevant functions in the selection of implementation modalities.
– Contribute to tracking the management of project and direct implementation risks in collaboration with the Programme Unit, and report major risks to senior management.
– Contribute to reviewing, analysing and verifying Financial and Performance Partner Reports (PFR and -PPR), and to checking accuracy and consistency between PFR and PPR, in accordance with partnership agreements.
– Monitor, track and verify that expenditure for direct implementation by UNHCR is in line with the approved budget.
– Conduct reviews of the internal control systems of partners implementing projects and provide advice as required.
– Provide input on identified variants, risks and issues to partners, Programme Unit and escalate to management as required.
– Support timely project closure in coordination with the Programme Unit.
– Provide input to the mid- and end-year programme review process on issues related to project control.
– Maintain professional relationships with partners implementing projects and UNHCR’s contractors.
– Keep up-to-date with all UNHCR rules, regulations and procedures necessary to perform these duties.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration;
Economics;
Management;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Accounting;
Auditing;
Finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent);
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Good knowledge of international auditing standards.

Desirable:
Good understanding of the workflows of major Enterprise Resource Planning financial modules (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle). Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS).

Functional Skills
FI-Financial auditing
PM-Project Monitoring
FI-International Auditing Standards
DM-Data Collection and Analysis
CO-Reporting skills
EL-Monitoring and Evaluation
(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.

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

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.

Experience in financial management, accounting, project management, internal control assessment, internal audit and/or external audit, and risk management. Demonstrated experience in effective partnership management and multi-stakeholder coordination in humanitarian, emergency or development contexts. Knowledge and understanding of UNHCR/UN rules, policies, and regulations regarding partnership and financial management, oversight and compliance. Proven analytical skills, and abilities for identification of gaps and finding solutions. Computer literacy, in particular management of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, etc.), tools for data management such as Power BIe. Experience in communicating, building capacities, coordinating consultative processes, and building consensus. Ability to contribute to policy and process reviews. Professional qualification in accounting (CPA, CMA or CA, CFE, ERM, or equivalent).

Language requirement: Spanish C2 and English B2.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Eligibility:

This position is advertised to internal applicants and UNHCR experience applicants. Candidates must be legally present in Honduras at the time of application, recruitment and hire. Only Honduran citizens or candidates legally present in Honduras will be considered eligible.

Internal Candidates:

Current NPO staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy at the grade of the position or one grade below or above.

UNHCR experience candidates:

Current NPO staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment applying to two grades above their own, current UNHCR staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment in other categories (P/FS/GS), staff loaned/seconded from another UN organization/international organization/government entity, staff members on temporary appointment, affiliate workforce, interns, as well as former UNHCR locally recruited staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment (within 2 years of separation for males and 5 years for females).

Only candidates who pass the functional test can continue with the next steps of the process.

Remuneration:
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission and please refer to the relevant category / grade level at: http://icsc.un.org

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview /meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).

Applications:

All applications must be submitted online in Workday. Email applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org or throughthe online complainform at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern, is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide the proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.

Spanish

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English

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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:

Honduras is facing increasing multidimensional risks associated with displacement. Insecurity and violence exerted by criminal gangs is exacerbated by the negative impacts of climate change and disasters, increasing levels of poverty and gender inequality. Internal displacement is projected to persist in 2024 and numbers of people in mixed movements to increase, putting pressure on the response capacities of host communities.

With the support of UNHCR, the Honduran National Congress adopted a comprehensive legal framework for the prevention and care of and attention to internal displacement. The law was sanctioned by the President of Honduras and entered into force in April 2023. The law’s regulations must then be concluded in the following six months. The needs identified by the Government are focused on building or strengthening the institutional response architecture and developing the implementation of the law, a process that will be conducted during the next years. UNHCR will support the Honduran state during this entire process.

In line with the commitments made by the State in the framework of the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework (MIRPS), UNHCR will continue to work in close collaboration with the Government in establishing a favourable protection environment to respond to the increased needs of internally displaced people and of those in need of international protection. Similarly, UNHCR will strengthen its support and engagement with multi-agency efforts to respond to these needs.

UNHCR will promote the consolidation of institutional networks that implement protection responses for displaced populations. These initiatives entail the implementation of the bill on internal displacement and amendments to the migration legal framework to enhance the protection of refugees and access to asylum in Honduras. UNHCR will also provide technical support and capacity building to assure that the Government’s policy is in line with international standards. The asylum system will be strengthened to meet possible increasing demands despite handling relatively small numbers.

The response will also entail a national system to identify specific needs of forcibly displaced population and appropriately refer cases for assistance. While this is being set-up and as a last resort, UNHCR will continue to act as a direct provider of services, including life-saving protection measures, through its protection network. Cash assistance will be used as a modality in this regard. UNHCR will empower local communities and grassroot organizations to prevent forced displacement and establish response mechanisms to tackle the effects of generalized violence. UNHCR´s presence in the field will ensure coverage in strategic locations enabling monitoring of the context and engagement with the communities.

Aligned with the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, UNHCR will work to attain durable solutions for those forcibly displaced and in need of international protection. Furthermore, UNHCR will work with authorities to establish effective land recovery mechanisms for internally displaced people. Livelihood and economic inclusion programmes will be implemented, and for the most vulnerable cases that cannot achieve a durable solution in Honduras, UNHCR will provide alternative pathways, such as participating in third country solutions and resettlement options.

The Assistant Project Control (PC) Officer reports directly to the Representative and works along with the Programme unit and provide support to the oversight of the agreements. The Assistant Project Control Officer will be responsible for the unit, which is comprised by two people – supervising role for one colleague (G6 – PC Associate). The main duties of the incumbent of the position will be to review and give reasonable assurance to the projects and their financial records, without neglecting the performance and results achieved by the partners (IP); to review and give quality assurance, and support in the risk assessment to the projects approved by the operation and implemented by partners. A key component in the responsibilities of the incumbent of the position is the ability to build capacity and support partners to strength and/or develop their capacities, internal control mechanisms, as well as UNHCR’s staff in Project control topics. The position will be based in Tegucigalpa, with some travelling within the country to conduct the visits and verifications of the projects.

Living and Working Conditions:

Family duty station B
•    Limited access to infrastructure (health, housing, banking, transportation, telecommunications) and limited access to leisure and recreational facilities due to security restrictions. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, limitations in many aspects of daily life for staff (leisure, cultural activities, attractions) have increased and the levels of insecurity, as well as basic development indicators (poverty, food security, etc.) have worsened. The possibility of walking in the main cities is non-existent due to lack of security (assault, robbery) and lack of sidewalks or sidewalks in poor conditions, lack of lighting.
•    There is no lack of private schools, although the number of bilingual or bicultural schools is not so high.
•    Security: high level of violent crime, including murder, robbery and threats of kidnapping, a growing number of femicides, lack of safe and reliable public transportation and of safe public spaces for socializing and deficiency off health services. It is strongly advised to exercise extreme caution and maintain a high level of personal security awareness.
•    Due to the number of robberies and armed assaults suffered by UN staff and some visitors, it is discouraged to walk alone at all times in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba, personal or official movements should be done in a vehicle. 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Accounting, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Finance, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Public Administration

Certifications

Accounting – Other, Association of Chartered Certified Accountant – ACCA, Auditing – Other, Certif. Practicing Accountant – Other, Chartered Accountant (CA) – Other, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants – CIMA, Institute of Management Accountants – Other

Competencies

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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance