Finance Officer

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-8 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-8 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

Organizational Context The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging.

Located in Dakar, the UNOPS office in Senegal has developed a strong working relation with the Governments of West Africa and international partners over the years. It provides technical support in strategic development areas including elections; procurement and related capacity building; environmental protection, as well as infrastructure rehabilitation and development.

Under the overall guidance of the SNMC Finance Specialist, the Finance Officer provides a variety of specialized finance, accounting, and budget related activities ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Finance Officer promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach and works in close collaboration with the Projects’ and Operations personnel in the UNOPS office across the MCO , ensuring successful delivery of financial services.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

1. Ensures implementation of operational strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of the internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in UNOPS SNMC Office under the supervision of the Finance Specialist
• Full compliance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, the Finance Manual and Finance and Budget Technical Instructions in all financial transactions, recording, reporting, etc.
• Routine monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and analysis of anomalies or unusual transactions with further actions if required
• Analysis and implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies

2. Contribute to SNMC readiness to Audits and verification Missions

• Contribute to the smooth preparation of project verifications by ensuring that the required documents are prepared and shared on time
• Support implementation of audit and its recommendations, contribute to Office replies to internal and external audit queries
• Contribution to the implementation of internal control systems, report any identified weaknesses and suggest remedial action(s)

3. Ensures internal control of expenditures are done in accordance of UNOPS procedure and payments are done as per budgets approved

• Quality control of day to day transaction
• Quality review of account and budget and expenditures reconciliation, investigation on discrepencies and timely correctives actions
• Ensure proper control on on field financial records, statements and reports
• Proper control of supporting documents for payments

• Support the Finance Specialist in analyzing, developing and implementing the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in oneUNOPS; ; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed;

  3. Ensures internal control of expenditures are done in accordance of UNOPS procedure and payments are done as per budgets approved

• Quality control of day to day transaction

• Quality review of account and budget and expenditures reconciliation, investigation on discrepencies and timely correctives actions
• Ensure proper control on on field financial records, statements and reports
• Proper control of supporting documents for payments

• Support the Finance Specialist in analyzing, developing and implementing the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in oneUNOPS; ; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed

  4. Ensure proper internal control is in place and that projects finance are compliant

• Ensuring full compliance with Financial Rules and Regulations and UNOPS procedures with regard to financial processes, financial records, reports, and audit follow up

• Monitoring and ensuring validity of charges by verifying authorized amounts and ensuring availability of budget and funds
• Ensuring that authorized corrective actions are taken in a timely manner on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely responding to HQ and Regional office requests to resolve financial data issues
• Control of the Accounts Receivables for UNOPS projects
• Ensuring of proper maintenance of the Office financial accounts; preparation of financial records, periodic statements and reports as required
• Control and verifying of supporting documents for payments; preparation of all types of vouchers; execution of payments
• Preparation of periodic accounts closure
• Preparation of financial and statistical reports for internal use as required by management
• Reconciliation of expenditures recorded in oneUNOPS finance system
• Maintenance of financial filing system to ensure clear and auditable trail on all financial transactions
• Completion of Finance profile tasks in oneUNOPS

5. knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Provision support to the organization and conduct of training for the operations/ projects staff on Finance

• Filing of lessons learned and best practices in Finance

• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice

Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics or related field is required.

Experience:****- Minimum of two years of relevant working experience within the areas of financial management and accounting is required. - Experience with use of an ERP system is required. - Experience in the usage of MS Office and/or G Suite (Google Workplace) with advanced knowledge of spreadsheet packages is required

Language Requirements: Fluency in written and oral French and English are required

Certifications

• IPSAS and ACCA certificates would be an asset

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: LICA

Contract level: LICA 8

Contract duration:Ongoing

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Background Information - Senegal

Located in Dakar, the UNOPS office in Senegal has developed a strong working relation with the Governments of West Africa and international partners over the years. It provides technical support in strategic development areas including elections; procurement and related capacity building; environmental protection, as well as infrastructure rehabilitation and development.

A Partnerships Unit (PU) has been established to support the development of new engagement opportunities in the sub-region and increase CIOH’s project and programme portfolio. The Partnership Unit coordinates, supports and monitors the development of the portfolio. The Unit report directly to the Hub Director serving, as an interface between the project centers and the operational hub. The Partnership Advisor will work within the Partnership Unit.