Finance Analyst

Background

UNOCHA is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNOCHA 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.

Background and Organizational Context:

This position is located in the Operations and Advocacy Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.

This job is being advertised for the position of Finance Analyst, NOB in Port Sudan, with the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Section (HFRMS) in OCHA Sudan. The Finance Analyst reports to the Finance Officer of HFRMS, OCHA Sudan.

The HFRMS manages, among others, the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF), which is a multi-donor country-based pooled fund managed by OCHA Sudan under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator. It receives unearmarked contributions from donors into a single fund. The funds are used for ongoing humanitarian operations and to respond to new emergencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Position Purpose:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of the section, the National Finance Officer is expected to:

• Provide substantial finance support and finance oversight to the overall project cycle management, administration, and execution of varied and inter-related operational activities.
• Ensure high quality, accuracy and accountability of the work performed.
• Promote a client, quality, and results-oriented approach.
• Work in close collaboration with colleagues in various units and sub-offices of OCHA Sudan, as well as in other UN agencies staff to exchange information and ensure consistent and quality service delivery.

Key Duties and Accountabilities:

1- Ensure administration and implementation of operational strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance with UN/UNOCHA rules, regulations, and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations; implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
• Provide support in maintaining complete and updated cash flows for the Fund.
• Support IP regarding compliance with the UNFRR and the Guidelines for CBPF.
• Stay up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have bearing on matters related to programme and/or OCHA budgets, ensuring compliance with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Prepare financial analysis for standard and ad-hoc reporting requirements.
• Provide input for the preparation of CBPF Annual Reports.
• Ensure timely financial reporting in compliance with donors’ requirements.
• Liaise with relevant OCHA sections at HQ.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

2- Ensure proper portfolio management in adherence with SHF procedures and protocol;

• Review and advise on the clearance of the project budgets.
• Review and advise on budget amendments or no-cost extension requests.
• Review grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency reasonableness, compliance with the UNFRR and the Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) Guidelines.
• Maintain complete, accurate and updated detailed list of disbursements to Implementing Partners.
• Regular follow-up with IP to obtain financial reports.
• Review of interim and final financial reports and confirm the amount for additional disbursements.
• Initiate the process to ensure disbursements as required and follow-up on any reimbursements.

3- Provide management support for SHF partner assurance, risk management and monitoring processes;

• Liaise with companies carrying out financial audit of partners and financial spot-checks ensuring compliance with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR);
• Provide support in the audit process – including facilitation of the contracting of external auditing companies, supporting the planning, advise on the clearance of audit reports and ensuring follow-up of critical audit findings.
• Review draft audit report to make sure that it is in line with the signed agreement and project budget.
• Conduct financial spot-checks in line with the operational modalities.
• Conduct capacity assessment of partners who passed the first step of the Eligibility process (Due Diligence) to gauge their capacity and assign them with an appropriate risk profile backed up by a comprehensive report based on review of partner’s systems, practices, and documentations.

4- Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing;

• Provide financial training to the Implementing partners.
• Provide technical support for IPs required assistance on GMS related issues.
• Conduct partner sensitization on SHF procedures and guidelines for accessing grants, working with the Grant Management System (GMS) and the Guidelines for Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) through participation in meetings and workshops.

5- Contracting management and other activities;

• Ensure the grant Agreement/amendment is processed on time and signed by relevant signatories.
• Any other tasks as assigned by Supervisor.

Competencies

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

Professionalism

• Ability to apply financial rules, regulations, and procedures in the UN environment. Ability to maintain accurate records, review and interpret a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. Shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Proven analytical skills: ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, and recommend appropriate solutions. Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political economic, social, and human rights programs. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g., armed conflict, civil strife, natural disasters, and human misery).
• Judgment and Decision-making: regarding exposing staff to risk. Apply sound judgment to resolve a range of issues/problems. Will abide by security guidelines.
• Technological Awareness: Solid computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet applications, and relevant software packages, including e-mail.

Communication

• Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations, articulating options concisely, conveying maximum information, making, and defending recommendations.

Accountability

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Teamwork

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

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.

Effective Decision Making

• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.

Advocacy strategy and implementation

• Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

Writing and editing

• Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.

 

Keywords

• Provides technical support to sectors as requested.
• Assists in the establishment and maintenance of contacts with other UN agencies, NGOs, other humanitarian actors, and relevant government counterparts.
• Supports sectors to improve the efficiency of the humanitarian response through effective analyses to improve humanitarian access.
• Keywords: Communication, negotiation, and coordination.

Required Skills and Experience

Communication:

• Professional fluency in oral and written English and Arabic is required.

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• Minimum 2 years with a Master’s degree or 4 years with Bachelor’s degree of relevant experience in finance and accounting/administration, crisis/emergency program management or other related area, preferably with at least two years with a UN organization or an NGO.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills are required.
• Experience with project budgeting and proposal writing is required.
• Experience with auditing and/or financial spot-check of partners is desirable.
• Experience and knowledge of accounting system, procurement, human resources management is desirable.
• Fluency in English and Arabic.