Finance Coordination Officer

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 with family (KINSHASA)

Under the direct supervision of the UNV Programme Manager, and in close cooperation with the UNV Finance Officer, the duties of the UN Volunteers will include but are not limited to the following:

• Coordination of Monusco UNVs payroll with UNV HQ ensuring that new volunteers are hired, entry and travel lumpsums are processed and those that have completed their assignments are timely terminated and their entitlements are processed, as required; • Focal point for all Monusco volunteers financial queries and advice. Maintain a database of volunteers unresolved financial issues and coordinate with UNV H/Q for timely resolutions; • Ensure that volunteers provide the required support documents for their payments such as monthly residential security receipts, learning allowance forms, leave forms form home visit lumpsums and FSS checkout forms for final payments; • Ensure that UMOJA travel requests on behalf of UNVs for R&R lumpsum are disbursed timely by receiving UNV FSS leave requests, process UMOJA travel request and confirm UNV R&R lumpsums for all entitled volunteers. Follow up on RSCE delays in UNV R&R disbursement; • Lead the establishment of updated financial procedures to improve client satisfaction; • Ensure that the UNV DRC Field Unit complies with obligations under rules and regulations as relevant for all financial operations; • Coordinate the assembling, review, certification and payment of one-time and monthly UNV entitlements as per the contract terms and in accordance with UN and UNV financial regulations and rules; • Coordinate with MONUSCO and UNDP Finance Section the timely creation and approval of vendors; • Day to day monitor the deadlines of payments and instruct relevant colleagues to take appropriate action; • Record and archive, in soft and hard copy, all correspondence and supporting documents related to UNV Financial entitlements operations and disbursements. • Support the monitoring and analysis of financial performances of the UNV Field Unit and advise the PM on necessary correction measures; • Create and maintain tracking systems and databases related to UNV DRC financial operations; Draft official interoffice memorandum and communications related to financial matters to be sent to UN Volunteers and stakeholders; • Prepare monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) and Payroll related calculations in collaboration with the Programme Officer, the Coordination Officer and Programme Assistants of the Integrated UNV Field Unit (UNV IFU); • Coordinate with the relevant mission self-accounting units (e.g. telephone billing unit, transport section, facilities management section and security claims unit) regarding monthly deductions and earnings, to be recorded in payroll; • Coordinate with global shared service center (GSSC), based in Malaysia, regarding timely approval of voucher and purchase order (PO) for processing of Volunteer entitlements; • When working with national staff or (non-)governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs), the incumbent is strongly encouraged to set aside dedicated time for capacity development through coaching, mentoring and formal and on-the-job training; • Any other related duties as may be required.

Client Orientation, Communication, Creativity, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Finance and administration

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second largest country in Africa, and as a result is quite diverse.

Living conditions therefore vary between MONUSCO duty stations, with all usual amenities present in the capital Kinshasa, but only very basic conditions in remote duty stations in the provinces, where, for instance, there may be no guarantee of public power supply nor running water. The ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions of developing countries is essential.

Accommodation can be expensive in both Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. Supermarkets exist in the large towns (e.g. Bukavu, Kisangani), but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative.

All MONUSCO duty stations are considered non-family duty stations, except for Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Entebbe which are now considered family duty stations, and most are currently under UN Security Phase III (“relocation phase”: internationally-recruited staff are temporarily concentrated or relocated to specified sites/locations). In addition to insecurity related to the relatively volatile political situation as well as various conflict situations, certain places are subject to increasing street and residential crime, including in Kinshasa and Goma.

Some degree of medical service is provided in all MONUSCO duty stations. Certain vaccinations are mandatory for MONUSCO personnel to enter the DRC, while others are compulsory for all other incoming persons. It is possible for incoming MONUSCO personnel, including UN Volunteers, to be asked to provide proof of some or all vaccinations, though this is unlikely. All UN Volunteers must ensure that they are up-to-date with all appropriate vaccinations, which should be clearly and properly endorsed in the International Certificate of Vaccination (“carte jaune”). Malaria is present virtually throughout the DRC, and it is therefore recommended to take prophylaxis.

The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc. The US dollar is the other preferred currency. It may be impossible to exchange traveller’s checks away from the capital city. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels only in Kinshasa. In larger towns and cities (e.g. Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, Kisangani), UN Volunteers are recommended to open US Dollar bank accounts, while in other places, banks may be absent (including ATMs) and VLA payments will be processed in cash. UN Volunteers have the possibility to send part of their allowances to a bank account abroad.

In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili.