Finance Officer (Cash Based Transfer) SC8 Kampala

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NOTE: WFP DOES NOT SOLICIT FOR FEES OR ANY FORM OF PAYMENT FROM JOB APPLICANTS

WFP is looking for talented people who are committed to joining our efforts to eradicate hunger. It offers unlimited opportunities to grow your professionalism, talent and expertise. Start your journey to be a member of the world-wide effort to eradicate hunger. WFP has a policy of affirmative action for women.

ABOUT WFP

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their lives. On average, WFP reaches more than 80 million people with food assistance in 80 countries each year. The organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to food and contribute to lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas.

Brief description of WFP in Uganda

WFP delivers food assistance in emergencies and work with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. WFP provides life-saving food assistance and livelihood opportunities to refugees in Uganda. In addition, WFP assists the most vulnerable people in Karamoja with food and nutrition assistance. Finally, WFP works with smallholder farmers and links them to markets.

As Uganda strives to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 and become a middle-income country by 2040, WFP is also assessing its relevance and repositioning its role in Uganda.

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

We are seeking qualified individual for the position of Finance Officer (Cash Based Transfer) SC8 to be based in Kampala . Selected candidate will be employed on Service Contract.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

These jobs are found in Country Offices (COs), Regional Bureaux (RBs), and Headquarters (HQ). Job holders typically report to a more senior Finance Officer. They operate as part of a finance team in a CO or RB, providing general financial support. In HQ, the job holders operate within a narrower finance specialism. Depending on the size and needs of the office or unit, the job may cover all aspects of finance, budget, and administration, or it may emphasize finance or more of these aspects. Job holders at this level are likely to be working under the supervision of a more experienced staff member, receiving guidance and regular feedback on work performed. They support the collation, maintenance, analysis and reporting of information to maximise the effectiveness of financial services.

JOB PURPOSE

To act as the Cash Based Transfers (CBT) focal point in the WFP UGCO Finance Unit, supporting the CBT Interventions in all aspects relating to finance in accordance with finance and accounting principles, and WFP rules and guidelines. The Finance Officer CBT will also support the management accounting process in the finance unit to provide both routine and adhoc financial and analytical reports to support management decision making and will provide a backup role for the staff and vendor payments processing.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Perform all routine monthly CBT reconciliations including reconciliation of the Cash Release Note (CRN) vs Bank Upload, reconciliation of the CRN to the MNO (Mobile Network Operator) uploads and transfer reports, the routine monthly CBT bank account reconciliations, etc. This includes the follow-up and timely resolution of all exceptions arising with the various stakeholders (programmes, financial service providers (FSPs), etc.).

2. Monitor the CBT compliance to the WFP corporate policies and guidelines and ensure that effective and efficient internal controls are in place to mitigate the various financial and operational risks arising in the CBT process. This will involve the validation and follow-up of all CBT transfer requests from the programmes unit to ensure that they comply with WFP guidelines and that they are done timely. It will also include periodic interactions with the WFP Regional Office and Head Quarters CBT focal points on new CBT process requirements, CBT tools and templates, internal controls etc and the follow-up and resolution of any CBT issues or internal control weakness raised during internal/external audits and the routine regional office oversight visits.

3. Support the periodic CBT procurement process for new FSPs, MNOs, other CBT service providers and monitor the performance of the procured FSPs, MNOs versus the agreed contractual terms. This will include participation in the CBT Due Diligence processes, completion of the required corporate templates, requesting and reviewing FSP and MNO financial reports and information.

4. Represent the Finance Unit in the CBT Working Group meetings to ensure effective coordination of all CBT activities that ensures timely and effective delivery of services to the beneficiaries.

5. Prepare/Support in the preparation of routine and adhoc financial reports and analysis to both internal and external stakeholders to support decision making and to comply with donor, partner, or otherstakeholder requirements. This will include supporting the preparation and presentation of the quarterly country program budget versus expenditure analysis, resource management committee financial analysis, etc.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES CONTINUED

6.Support the routine payments processes, internal funds transfers, monthly financial closures as an alternate to the Finance Officer NOA. This will include preparation of the payment proposals and payment runs in the ERP system and the appropriate validation and review of these payments for tax, WFP financial guidelines compliance before processing and performing the routine month end financial closure process when required.

7. Maintain appropriate physical and electronic documentation of all reconciliations, financial analysis reports and transactions done and manage all required data uploads, reviews and processing in the approved WFP corporate CBT reconciliation tool and ERP system.

8. Contribute to the delivery of financial controls and insight into WFP performance, supporting periodic risk and internal control assessments to identify areas which may present potential audit, compliance, or financial risks.

9. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.

10. Represent unit/CO at internal meetings, external meetings and events with other UN agencies, banks and other financial institutions, or other partners and entities as required.

11. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP can quickly respond and deploy food and needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.

12. Perform other general financial and administrative duties as assigned by the supervisor e.g. facilitation and support to visiting oversight and audit teams, training/preparation of training materials for staff and other stakeholders, etc

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Internal Controls & Compliance Utilizes understanding of risk management approaches and internal controls to monitor projects and programmes to confirm regulatory compliance and ensure data integrity. Performance Budgeting, Reporting & Analysis Analyzes budgets and forecasts to support the development of recommendations for senior leadership on financial and business planning matters in accordance with Value for Money principles. Resources Management (People, time, assets, etc.) Monitors trends in staffing and resource usage to anticipate and escalate potential issues to programme leaders. Financial Management & Accounting Principles Applies knowledge of financial and accounting principles and practices to ensure compliance with WFP policies, applicable procedures and accounting standards. Supply Chain and Operations Knowledge Applies working knowledge of WFP programme and supply chain principles to develop and/or review project budget plans.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Advanced University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with additional years of related work experience.

• Full or final stage professional qualifications in an internationally recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPA) or their equivalent.

• At least 5 years relevant professional experience in performing basic financial analysis and financial reporting at a national and/or field operational level.

Experience in reviewing and analysing financial statements.

• Experience in the use of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) like SAP.

• Very good working knowledge of the complete Microsoft Office suite, proficient in MS Excel. Ability to analyze, interpret and summarize large amounts of data and the capacity to identify process improvements.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across one or more dispersed and diverse teams is desirable.

• Proven professional commitment to professionalism, punctuality, accuracy, confidentiality, integrity and flexibility, and proven experience in introducing new and more effective ways of working.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Thursday 29th April 2021

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.