FINANCE ASSISTANT

Contract

This is a G-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 1,587 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting In February 2013, 11 nations signed the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region, in a renewed drive to end the recurring cycles of devastating conflict in eastern DRC which impacts stability and development in the Great Lakes area of Africa. On 31 January 2014, two more countries, Kenya and Sudan, became signatories of the PSC Framework. The Framework aims to help "address the root causes of conflict and put an end to recurring cycles of violence" in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes Region. In its Resolution 2098 (2013), the Security Council welcomed the signing of the PSC Framework. It called on the Special Envoy, in coordination with the Special Representative for the DRC to "lead, coordinate and assess the implementation of national and regional commitments under the PSC Framework, including through the establishment of benchmarks and appropriate follow-up measures".

The Security Council further encouraged the Special Envoy to "lead a comprehensive political process that includes all relevant stakeholders to address the underlying root causes of the conflict".

This position is located in the of the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region in Nairobi. Under the direct supervision of the Budget and Finance Officer, and with reporting lines to the Senior Programme Management Officer, the incumbent will perform the following.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Finance Assistant will carry out the following duties:

Finance and Budget Management

1. Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on achievement of the following results: •Supports financial analysis and oversight for all resources managed by the O/SESG-GL and the provision of high-quality technical financial advice to the Programme Coordinator and other Senior Management Members; •Supports the planning, expenditure tracking of financial resources in accordance with United Nations rules and regulations, policies and procedures, donor agreements following best practices in financial management; •Supports the maintenance of robust internal financial management controls over all financial processes; •Maintains adequate financial management arrangements, including reviews and reconciliations, to support the deployment of grant resources in an economic, efficient and effective manner to achieve the desired objectives, ensuring expenditures incurred are reasonable and allowable against budgetary allocations and that inappropriate payments and non-compliant expenditures are prevented; •Ensures an efficient financial flow process is implemented and amended to reflect programme financial management requirements, which are guided by risk assessments; •Supports the maintenance of a reporting system for internal and external needs, including contractors, service providers, and technical assistance providers; •Prepares cost estimates for different activities according to the needs of programme management; •Supports the development, tracking and reporting of key financial performance indicators to Senior Management; and •Supports the development and maintenance of a document management system for OSESG-GL Nairobi, ncluding contractors, service providers, and technical assistance providers records.

2. Ensures implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results: •Establishes and/or ensures robust financial procedures: e.g. receipts, payments, disbursements and bookkeeping, filing procedures for the all funds and projects; •Ensures that financial procedures in place comply with the financial/accounting and procurement requirement of the United Nations; •Preforms a continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for the mission; •Ensures the timely closure of programmes and compliance with United Nations regulations and rules, policies, and procedures, including the transfer of assets; •Ensures oversight for the transparency of the financial processes and use of funds and compliance with missions' financial guidelines; •Prepares reports on monthly Cash Flow and annual Cash Flow Forecasts, statement of sources and uses of funds in compliance with the missions requirements; •Supports in the preparation of other financial reports to be submitted to UNHQ; •Elaborates and implements cost savings and reduction strategies under the guidance of the Budget/Finance Officer and Senior Management Programme Officer; •Under the guidance of Budget/Finance Officer facilitates audits in line with donor agreements ensuring timely implementation of audit recommendations and findings related to financial, asset and management; •Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transaction and informs supervisors of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Programme Management Support

•Ensures effective programmatic management of the grants for the achievement of the following results: •Supports the preparation of annual and quarterly workplans and budgets; •Ensures that project monitoring arrangements comply with donor agreements/guidelines •Reviews the quality of existing financial data, ensuring completeness and timeliness, and identify areas for strengthening •In coordination with the Administrative Officer and Finance and Budget Officer, assists in the identification of potential implementation problems and bottlenecks and recommend appropriate strategies to address them. - Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies - Professionalism: Provides support and technical financial advice for all financial resources managed by the O/SESG-GL to the Programme Coordinator and other Senior Management Members. 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.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

  Education High school diploma or recognized equivalent is required. An additional qualification in finance, accounting or audit is desirable.

  Job - Specific Qualification Knowledge of Microsoft Excel is required .

  Formal training with certification in financial management is desirable.

  Work Experience A minimum of five (5) years progressively responsible professional experience in programme or project administration, accounting, finance, budget and general administration is required.

  Experience in the administration of a broad range Financial Management Rules, Regulations, Policies, Practices and Procedures is required.

  Working experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as Oracle or SAP is required.

  Experience working with Trust Funds or donor funding is desirable.

  Experience with data analysis and reconciliations is desirable.

  Experience in an international organization such as the United Nations is desirable.

  Knowledge of UN financial rules and regulations, procedures, and oversight of internal operations is desirable.

  Experience with client relationship in international organizations, national governments and civil society is desirable.

  Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency English Language (Oral and Written) is required.

Knowledge of French Language is desirable.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice - This post is financed by the Trust Fund in support of the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region. Appointment against this position is subject to budgetary approval and funding availability. - This position is temporarily available for an initial duration of one year and further extension is subject to availability of funding. - While this appointment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. - This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to of Staff Rule 4.4 (a) which provides that "All staff in the General Service and related categories, except as stipulated in staff rule 4.5 (c) below, shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country."

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) has clarified that this provision requires only that such staff be in the country or within commuting distance at the time of appointment. based on the listed clarification: i. They will be considered locally recruited for purposes of SR 4.4; ii. They will not be eligible for any international allowances or benefits; iii. They will be responsible for any costs related to their travel and relocation in the context or on-boarding; iv. If they do not already have the right to work in the duty station, appointment is contingent on issuance of a visa from the local authorities; v. Candidates are advised to be particularly mindful of the local conditions and visa requirements, as these may differ considerably depending on the duty station.

• Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment. Test [in English] at the United Nations headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International criminal tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

• At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.
• The United Nations is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and communities, including but not limited to persons with disabilities.

• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

  United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.