Finance Officer

Volunteering Admin Finance & Economy

Overview

Ensure high-quality support for financial management activities.

You have:

• Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in finance and accounting.
• Experience in project or programme management is desirable.
• Knowledge of Quantum /or IFRS is advantageous.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is required.
• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling web-based management systems and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and financials would be an added advantage.
• Prior experience with UN and donor-funded projects would be an added advantage.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) program in Ethiopia was initiated as a pivotal step towards implementing the peace agreement signed between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on November 2, 2022, in South Africa. This agreement marked the end of a long-standing conflict that resulted in widespread violence and displacement. The primary objective of the DDR program is to facilitate the disarmament of former combatants from Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and Afar, followed by their demobilization and eventual reintegration into civilian life. The program aims to restore peace, promote reconciliation, and create a conducive environment for sustainable development across Ethiopia.

The Government of Ethiopia has established the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC), which is responsible for designing, planning, implementing, and monitoring the DDR program nationwide. The program targets 371,971 beneficiaries, with Phase 1 focusing on demobilizing 75,000 combatants. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting the NRC in close coordination with national and international partners, including the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. This collaborative effort aims to provide opportunities for combatants in North Ethiopia to engage in peaceful and productive activities, contributing to regional stability and development.

The DDR program has close linkages with the National Dialogue, Transitional Justice, and Peace Support programme. The DDR programme is anchored in the Governance Unit. The aim is to build trust, foster reconciliation, and ensure sustainable peace in Ethiopia. The successful implementation of the DDR program is expected to promote peace and stability by disarming and reintegrating former combatants, foster economic development by engaging ex-combatants in productive activities, and enhance social cohesion by supporting reconciliation efforts and improving social connection among communities affected by the conflict.

Under the direct supervision of the Director -DDR Unit, the Finance Officer will expect to ensure the provision of high-quality support for the overall financial management activities.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities

I. Ensure Effective Project Planning & Budgeting • Prepare and maintain the project budget in collaboration with the project team and partners • Monitor and track project expenditures against the approved budget. • Provide forecast cash flow needs to Director DDR and manage project funds accordingly. • Advise the Director DDR in identifying and addressing any financial deficiency and issues, if any. • Produce a monthly summary report on the budget against the AWP for review by the Director DDR • Guide Implementing Partners in preparing budgets that are compliant with UNDP’s financial rules and regulations. • Ensure proper documentation and filing of Implementing Partner documents (forms, signed contracts, work plans, budgets, grants assessment reports, M&E frameworks, correspondences, etc.); • Provide financial information on Implementing Partners for audit purposes.

II. Provide Financial Management Services • Prepare accurate and timely financial reports based on compliance with donor requirements and UNDP organizational standards. • Analyze financial data to identify trends, areas of improvement, and potential challenges. • Provide the project team with regular financial updates and insights to inform decision-making. • Perform regular monitoring of the project budget/delivery and review for correctness and alert Finance for any deficiency, wrong entry, insufficient funds, etc., before quarterly financial closures by UNDP HQ; • Regularly monitor and track disbursements/advances to Implementing Partner every month; • Review NEX advance requests/Direct Payment/Reimbursements sent from the RP for compliance with the standard template, accuracy of amounts/exchange rates, etc. in collaboration with the M&E Officer and the Project Manager and provide technical advice to the IP. • Jointly with the PDRM Unit, undertake regular spot checks as per HACT guidelines to ensure that all expenditures/payments by Implementing Partners are adequately documented and adhere to established guidelines; • Generate Quarterly and Annual financial reports for the UNDP CO review and assist in their analysis; • In liaison with the Director DDR, UNDP Operations Managers, and PDRM Unit, assist in coordinating the provision of information and documents for the project’s audits/ verifications as and when appropriate; • Provide regular budget/resource/Delivery updates to the Unit when requested • Ensure adequate supporting documents for all payments as per the POPPs and maintain an organized, well-documented, and sequential filing system for finance records and documents. • Produce a monthly summary spreadsheet per Implementing Partner on the financial status of the project for review by the CO; • Ensure that LOA for Support to NEX is prepared/Updated and sent to Min. of Finance and uploaded in the HACT share drive.

III. Provide General Administrative Services

  •    Handle and follow-up procurement of services and goods in consultation with the project team, procurement and operations team, and the Director DDR. Critically 
    follow up on the proper Transfer of Title, inventory, and Registration of Capital Assets procured for the IP using the UNDP’s POPPs guidelines. Ensure that the 
    Implementing Partner adheres to the UNDP’s standards of procurement when Support to NEX is preferred.
  •    Facilitate the Travel inland and outside of Ethiopia for the DDR Team and partners as deemed necessary
  •    Facilitate the logistics for workshops/meetings/Seminar etc. as and when required 

IV. Ensure Integrated Programme Implementation & Capacity Building:

  •    Contributing to project work planning and reporting exercises, participating in the process to collect inputs from various teams (programme, operations, country offices) 
    and consolidate them into a holistic plan;
  •    Identifying synergies and collaborative areas of work between the programme and operations teams, to maximize the project’s overall impact by working together with 
    the Director DDR;
  •    Collects and provides necessary data, statistics, and information to support integrated work planning and reporting.
  •    Guide/share knowledge and information with Implementing Partners on acceptable accounting principles and procedures.

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

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 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 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

  •    Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in finance and accounting.
  •    Experience in project or programme management is desirable.
  •    Knowledge of Quantum /or IFRS is advantageous.
  •    Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is required.
  •    Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling web-based management systems and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and 
    financials would be an added advantage.
  •    Prior experience with UN and donor-funded projects would be an added advantage.

Addis Ababa is the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The population is estimated at about 5.7 million or so and located in the Ethiopian highlands at an altitude of 2,500-2,700 meters. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold at night, with freezing temperature at times. It is therefore advisable to bring warm clothing and foresee using heaters and/or log fires when necessary. Addis Ababa is the headquarters for the UN Economic Commission for Africa as well as the African Union (ex-OAU). Thus, there is a very large community of expatriates from all over the world. There are some 80 embassies/diplomatic missions. Housing is most of the time readily available and the rents are, on average, reasonable. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture and clothing, mostly imported from the Middle/Far East, South Africa and Europe, or local brands, can be found, although they can be expensive. Meat, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables are cheap and abundantly available.

The basic infrastructures - roads, utilities, and telecommunications - are below standard, as are medical facilities, which are still largely inadequate, although a few private clinics and hospitals provide reasonably good routine care. There are lots of tourist attractions to visit around the country, although the amenities are often poor to average. Several restaurants around the city serve local or international cuisine and there are numerous social and cultural events throughout the year organized by the international and local communities. Sports facilities (fitness, tennis, swimming, riding, golf, etc.) exist in the major hotels or in different establishments around the city.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”

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Potential interview questions

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