Finance Officer-UNOCHA-(Nationals Only)

This position is open to Yemen Nationals Only

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen facilitates humanitarian action across the country. OCHA mobilizes and coordinates principled humanitarian response in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies, advocates the rights of people in need, supports emergency preparedness and response, and facilitates sustainable solutions for vulnerable people adversely affected by conflict and natural disasters. OCHA supports the work of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), the Inter-Cluster Coordination Mechanism (ICCM) national authorities, and other humanitarian partners including NGOs in Yemen.

The National Finance Officer will be based in Sana’a with frequent visit to OCHA hubs. S/he will be a member of the Humanitarian Financing team with the role of supporting humanitarian partners (UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and other stakeholders) working with the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF). Under the overall supervision of the Fund Manager/Head of the Humanitarian Financing Unit, the Finance Officer, reports directly to the Finance Officer (P3) and indirectly to the OCHA YHF P3 Programme officer in Sana’a.

Position Purpose: 

The Finance Officer is required to review budgets, budget amendments, grant agreements, and relevant documents submitted by YHF partners. Monitor project implementation through spot checks, periodic financial reporting, and audits; obtain outstanding reports and assess them in line with grant agreements. Provide guidance and training on budget preparation, financial reporting, and budget changes for implementing partners.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1)- Ensure effective financial review and advise on project and budget agreements.

• Verify Implementing Partners (IP) financial documentation as required.
• Review grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency, reasonableness, and compliance with the UNFRR and Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) Guidelines
• Review and advise on project budget and grant agreements.
• Review and advise on budget amendments and no-cost extension requests.
• Review audit financial reports ensuring compliance with the signed agreement and project budget.
• Maintain a complete, accurate, and updated detailed list of disbursements to IPs.
• Regular follow-up with IPs 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 operational modalities.
• Prepare financial analysis for standard and ad-hoc reporting requirements.
• Ensure timely financial reporting in compliance with donor requirements.
• Conduct the 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 a review of the partner’s systems, practices, and documentations.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned by the Head of the Humanitarian Finance Unit and by the Finance Officer.
• Maintain complete and current cash flow records for the Fund.

2)- Ensure implementation of financial management strategies and adapt processes and procedures.

• Liaise with the Administration Unit on tracking of expenses processed by the Administration Unit and regularly produce and monitor the expenditure reports to inform further decision-making related to cost plan.
• In close coordination with the Finance Manager, prepare a financial analysis of the fund allocations for donor reporting, YHF annual report, and the fund dashboards.
• Conduct partner sensitization on YHF procedures and guidelines for accessing grants, working with the Grant Management System (GMS), and complying with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR) and the Guidelines for Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) through participation in meetings and workshops.
• Maintain the HFU petty cash, record all expenses in UMOJA, and ensure reconciliation of the cashbook with the physical cash in the safe.
• Work closely with the Funding Coordination Section (FCS) Finance in New York on financial reports, budget reviews, payments, and refunds.
• Assist HFU staff and YHF stakeholders regarding queries on budget, financial reports, payments, refund and deposit-related issues;
• Provide guidance and advice on finance-related CBPFs guidelines, internally (HFU, FCS, etc.) and externally.
• Liaise with relevant OCHA sections at HQ.

Provide effective administrative services

• Support the Pooled Fund Manager and Head of the Unit in liaising with companies carrying out contractual services on behalf of the HFU, and provide support and information as and when required.
• Keep up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to program budgets and the YHF in general.
• Document and file all financial documents like spot-check reports, audit reports, refund payments, and financial authorization for recording purposes and future reference.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Competencies

Core Competencies: 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is a pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in the face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Management-Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programs and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Business Management-Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Digital & Innovation-Data analysis

• Ability to extract, analyze, and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision-making

Finance -Accounting

• Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies, and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Finance-Budget Management

• Ability to support budgetary aspects of the work planning process, drawing, and management of team budgets

Finance-Financial Risk Management

• Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls, and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects. Ensures a culture of positive risk management”

Audit & Investigation – General – Financial and Managerial Accounting and Finance key concepts    

• Key concepts and principles of financial accounting, interpret financial analysis, managerial accounting, etc.

Qualifications:

Education:  

• A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, and/or Advanced (Master’s) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting is required.
• Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Up to two (2) years (with a master’s degree) or two (2) years (with a bachelor’s degree) of experience in finance and accounting/administration, crisis/emergency program management, Humanitarian Affairs, grant management or another related area is required.
• At least two years of experience with a UN organization or an NGO is preferred,
• Experience in project budgeting and proposal writing is desired.
• Experience with auditing and/or financial spot-checking of partners is an advantage.
• Experience and knowledge of accounting systems, procurement, and grants management is desirable.
• Excellent command of Office suite applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) is required.
• Proven abilities in data collection, compilation, analysis, and reporting with the ability to write in a clear and concise manner and effective oral communication is desired.
• Experience and Knowledge of project cycle management is desirable.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English and Arabic Languages (Oral and Written) is required.

Note:

• Candidates found suitable and not selected for the announced duty station, may be selected for other similar positions at the same level grade and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements in any of the following duty stations: Sana’a, Aden, Hodeida, Ibb, Saada, Marib, Mukalla Hajjah, Al Jowf, Al Baida, Tiaz, Al Turbah and Mukha.
• “Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest Performance Evaluations (if applicable)”

Applicant information about rosters

UNOCHA reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNOCHA at the same grade level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

• UNOCHA has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
• UNOCHA is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status.

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