Finance Accounts Officer

The position is in a Common Services Unit (CSU); serving operational support and back-office processes to East Asia and Pacific Regional Office as well as Thailand Country Office, while official reporting is under Thailand Country Office and supervision of Deputy Representative Operations (P-4) who is the head of CSU. Working as a back-office center for both offices, Finance team is required to understand and align objectives to those under both Regional Office Management Plan (ROMP) and Thailand Country Programme (CP), also their staff which are nearly 250 headcounts.

Considering an official reporting of the position is under UNICEF Thailand, outputs on financial -related support are assessed progress made against the CPD results framework and programme strategies especially for key emerging issues. Given Thailand is an Upper-Middle Income country where a set-up of CSU and the office’s hybrid structure are unique based on a combination of large fundraising component and regular UNICEF programmes focusing advocacy and development at scale, Finance Officer in CSU who serves as a Unit lead is accountable for overseeing all financial components including transaction, quality assurance and advisory to senior management on those which could be impacted by local administration and laws applicable. Those responsibilities include those relevant to Implementing Partners and Private Sector Fundraising activities.

The incumbent is required to have an extensive knowledge and direct practical experience in managing, developing and implementing financial plans, analyzing financial data, managing cash flow, preparing financial reports, and providing strategic financial advice to senior management to support informed decision-making to ensure financial health of the responsible offices.

The Finance Officer when supervising support staff 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 Regulations and Rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of accountability, and ethics.

The Finance Officer is responsible for providing support to the supervisors and colleagues in the office by overseeing, administering and executing a variety of professional and technical financial transactions and processes, applying theoretical skills and thorough knowledge of organizational goals, objectives, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to complete the tasks. The responsibilities include those relevant to Implementing Partners and Private Sector Fundraising activities.

Support to financial planning and management:

• – Provide technical support to the programme counterparts/committees, e.g. review budgets and financial plans of implementing partners; monitor compliance with HACT framework, including support to assessments, assurance and capacity development of implementing partners.
• – Support PSFR activities on budget preparation, strategic income projection/ reporting, setting and monitoring performance indicators, revenue and expense reporting, and provide technical advice during strategic planning exercises as well as addressing relevant issues.
• – Review budget expenditures according to allotment and codes and verify compliance with guidelines and procedures. Keep stakeholders informed for timely action.
• – Provide technical and operational support on the application, interpretation and implementation of operational policies, procedures and guidelines to the Representative and CO colleagues and stakeholders. Resolve routine financial operational issues and/or recommend (and record) deviation from policies and guidelines to meet objectives.
• – Working closely with Budget Officer and provide support to the financial planning process for CPMP by preparing/analyzing financial data/estimates and documentations verifying relevancy, accuracy and completeness to support budget planning. Provide financial operations support throughout the financial planning and implementation process.
• – Prepare and/or monitor financial exception reports to assess unusual activities and transactions, investigate anomalies, and keep supervisor informed for timely action.
• – Review financial and reputational risks in the transactions carried out by the office and raise flags when action is needed by management.

Control of accounts:

• – Review and advise (as per delegated authority) the accurate and timely processing submission of payments journal entries and other financial transactions within scope to the Global Shared Services Center (GSSC), ensuring compliance with budgetar y limits, IPSAS and organizational regulations, rules, policies, procedures, standards of accountability, and ethics. Take timely action on outstanding accounts to resolve pending issues. This includes dialogue and follow up with the GSSC to facilitate timely processing of financial transactions submitted to the center.
• – Oversight (as per delegated authority) the disbursement of payments when done locally via bank letters, checks, or petty cash.
• – Scrutinize cash receipts and reconcile income contributions to ensure their timely deposit and recording in UNICEF systems.
• – Monitor and analyze financial transactions, accounting reports and reconciliation of accounts to ensure accurate and current financial information for applicable compliance (e.g. IPSAS, donor reporting, internal policies) and management oversight, planning and/or action.
• – Prepare or contribute to mandated management/statutor y office financial and accounting reports to UNICEF Board/Bodies/Donors, verifying the reliability of data and compliance with organizational guidelines.
• – Collaborate with oversight bodies (e.g. UNBOA, OIAI, Evaluation Office, JIU, donors, etc.) to provide answers to requests; and engage with the appropriate colleagues to resolve financial observations and recommendations raised in a sustainable and efficient manner.
• – Complete applicable accounts closure activities (monthly, quarterly and yearly) on a timely basis and per closure instructions.
• – Examine HACT transactions (transfer, adjustments, reprogramming and liquidation) supporting documents to ensure FACE form has been properly entered into the system and the expenditure is broadly reasonable and in accordance with policy through working closely and building capacity of Implementing Partners.

Treasury and cash management:

• – Manage bank, petty and cash on hand accounts transactions and operations in accordance with UNICEF/UN financial regulations and rules, policies, procedures and local banking practices. Keep abreast of procedures and regulations regarding maintenance of bank accounts and exchange and interests rates. Keep supervisor and relevant colleagues informed for timely action.
• – Maintain contact with local bank management on routine operational matters.
• – Maintain a system to monitor and forecast periodic cash requirements. Provide current information on cash position/forecast to management and make recommendations or take action to ensure sufficient availability of resources for programmes and operations activities.
• – Oversight bank reconciliation and take appropriate corrective actions on findings identified.

 Knowledge and capacity building:

• – Promote a culture of highest ethical standards and behavior in management of UNICEF’s resources.
• – Support initiatives for management improvement by capturing, institutionalizing and sharing best practices and lessons learned. Recommend improvements in processes and procedures to enhance productivity and performance including implementation of cost saving strategies.
• – Lead capacity building on compliance of financial good governance to internal and external partners relevant to HACT.
• – Participate and/or organize training and learning events to build capacity of staff and stakeholders/partners.
• – Support operations of the office as required.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• A university degree in accounting, financial management or another related financial field is required.

Experience:

• – A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in financial management or audit is required.
• – Experience in managing partnerships and relationship for programme implementations.
• – Experience in managing incomes from Fundraising activities is preferred.
• – Collaboration experience in international organizations and/or large corporation is highly desirable.
• – Experience in a UN system agency or organization some of which served in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• – Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel required.
• – Experience in database packages, web-based management systems and ERP systems (preferably SAP financial modules) is considered as an asset.
• – Experience with IPSAS and/or IFRS is considered as an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/580689