Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer/ Pooled Fund will be responsible for the following duties: • Verify Implementing Partners (IP) financial documentation as required; • Liaise with companies carrying out financial audit of partners and financial spot-checks ensuring compliance with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR); • Review grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency, reasonableness, compliance with the UNFRR and the Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) Guidelines; • Review and advise on the clearance of the project budget and grant agreements; • Review and advise on budget amendments or cost/no-cost extension requests; • Review audit financial report to make sure that it is in line with the signed agreement and project budget. • Maintain complete, accurate and updated detailed list of disbursements to IP; • 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; • Conduct financial spot-checks in line with the operational modalities; • Oversee 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; • Support IP regarding compliance with the UNFRR and the Guidelines for CBPF; • Ensure compliance with any other requirements stemming from the UNFRR, grant agreements and guidelines; • Maintain complete and updated cash flows for the Fund, and inform the HoO on a regular basis and upon request on the available cash balance; • Support Fund analysis for informing future allocations; • 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; • 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. • Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian, emergency relief assistance and related humanitarian issues. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to develop sources for data collection. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, work under pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g., civil strife, natural disasters, and human misery). Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • 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. • 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.
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 an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required. Experience working with a country-based pooled fund is desirable. Experience in humanitarian financing, e.g., grant management and performing capacity assessment and financial monitoring is desirable. Humanitarian experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is desirable. Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or in a comparable international organization is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.