Finance and Budget Officer

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MINUSCA - Mission intégrée pour la stabilisation en République centrafricaine

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Friday 11 Nov 2022 at 00:00 UTC

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Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Assignment is renewable on an annual basis (1 July - 30 June) up to a maximum of 4 years. There is no expectation of automatic renewal. Contract renewals are granted based on Mission mandate, availability of budget, operational necessity and satisfactory performance.

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Duty station can change in the course of an assignment based on operational necessity; UN Volunteers may be required to work and travel anywhere in the area of operations of the host organization, including in remote locations.

Within delegated authority, and under the supervision of the Chief Conduct and Discipline Team (CDT), the Associate Finance and budget officer will be responsible for all financial, accounting, and general administrative matters for Conduct and Discipline Team (CDT). The Finance & Budget Officer will execute the following duties:

• Reviews, analyses data with respect to the preparation, finalization and implementation of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and Consultant requirements from the CDT office in Bangui and in its field offices, including programmatic aspects and monitor of project financing structure. • Provides support to the Chief and the project manager with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget and project proposal submissions and ensures that financial resources are provided and utilized to implement activities in accordance with project budget plans and allotments issued. • Reviews, analyses, and provides input into finalization of programme budget and/or programme budget implications considering additional mandates. • Provides support in Field coordinators officers in their budget review; • Issues allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures. • Monitors and reviews budget and project implementation by conducting regular and special reviews to assess progress of actual work versus the programme and project plans and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when necessary. • Prepare forecasts necessary to support disbursements requests to the trust Fund; • Conduct verification and posting of disbursement requests, expenditure reports, and supporting documentation and submit timely and accurate required financial reports to the Chief CDT. • Reviews all requisitions for sensitization and outreach material to ensure correct objects of expenditure have been charged, ensuring availability of funds. This includes overseeing work related to procurement, supply and receipt of income from various services, operational travel programme, procurement monitoring and evaluation of vendor contracts/payments to vendors and individual contractors for services. • Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Prepares relevant documentation with respect to budget performance submissions and project implementation, definition of requirements, and cost-effective utilization of programme and project resources in coordination with relevant partners. • Reviews and makes appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures. • Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets and projects, ensuring compliance with United Nations policies and procedures; • Liaise with CDT staff who are monitoring projects • Performs other related duties, as assigned.

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality, and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately, and confidentially; responsive and client oriented.

• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts, and local interlocutors coming from diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups.

• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote, and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within area of operations as may be necessary.

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum 3 years’ experience in post-conflict environment and field experience.

The Central African Republic is a non-family duty station with a difficult security and working environment. Security instructions from the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) need to be strictly complied with in all duty stations. The country security level is 4, restricting movement to official travel only. Currently a curfew applies from 10 pm to 5 am.

The country is landlocked, with very limited travel possibilities, and surrounded by countries with volatile and security problems (Cameroon, Chad, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan). There is an unstable socio-political situation and social unrest and grievance, in particular in the capital city Bangui, with frequent civil servant strikes causing interruption of health, education and civil service, due to years of unpaid salaries. Power cuts are a norm, causing insecurity in the city. The population in Bangui, including the expatriates, is concerned about increasing crime as a direct result of the March 2013 coup by the SELEKA, a coalition of rebel groups, and events in December 2013 that carried the country into chaos. The country is entirely dependent on the Cameroon seaport, situated 1500 km away, causing regular shortage of basic domestic goods. Travel time for a truck from Douala in Cameroon to Bangui averages a week because of bad roads and roadblocks along the way.

This situation puts tremendous stress on personnel. There are very limited medical infrastructures and services do not function properly. Living conditions are difficult due to the high cost of living and the scarcity of basic products and food. Supermarkets having a variety of food and consumer goods are available but are costly. Fresh vegetables and fruits are available in the market.

There is no MINUSCA guesthouse in Bangui. Private accommodation possibilities are limited and getting a house that is compliant with UN security measures can take several weeks. UN personnel in Bangui live on the local economy by renting apartments and houses. In comparison to a few years ago, more accommodation is available now, but at high cost. Sharing accommodation is recommended. Currently all serving UN Volunteers have access to decent accommodation ensuring minimum standards of comfort. The average monthly cost for accommodation varies from around 1000 USD for a small apartment with basic furniture, but no power generator and interrupted running water supply, to 2,000+ USD with all commodities.

A UN dispensary provides basic medical care for UN personnel and a UN hospital has been operational since August 2014. A Level II Hospital run by a military medical team exists as well.

Only four airlines officially recognized by the UN System serve the country: Air France (twice a week), Royal Air Maroc (twice a week), Kenya Airways (three flights per week) and Asky (three flights per week). Flights are sometimes subject to cancellation when security situation volatility increases.

A Rest & Recuperation (R&R) scheme has been re-established since August 2013 and maintained for all CAR duty stations at a 6-week frequency.

The Central African Republic is a unique country and MINUSCA is a unique operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural and security awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org