Finance Specialiste

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.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative, the Finance Specialist is responsible for effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilization of financial resources and management of the CO Finance Unit. He/she analyzes and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues. The Finance Specialist promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Finance Specialist supervises and leads the staff of the Finance Unit. The Finance Specialist work in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the CO, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials ensuring successful CO performance in Finance.

The Finance Specialist ensures functions on Finance Analyst and acts as certifying Officer.

1. Ensures implementation of operational strategies focusing on achievement of the following results: • Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system. • CO Finance business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance, control of the workflows in the Finance Unit. • Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for development and management projects. • Elaboration of the framework and conditions of contributions within the CO resources mobilization efforts. • Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies. • Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and other UNDP staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

2. Manages the budget of development and management projects and organizes an optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results: • Financial resources management through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. • Preparation and monitoring of budgets of management projects. • Establishment of the development projects’ budgets preparation/modification monitoring system, control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limits (ASL) and budgets delivery levels. • management. • Preparation of cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UNDP.

3. Ensures proper control of CO accounts focusing on achievement of the following results: • Elaboration of the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared; MPOs, travel claim and other entitlements are duly processed. • Control of accounts closure • Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues. • Control of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and follow up with partners on contributions, maintenance of the General Ledger.

4. Ensures proper CO cash management focusing on achievement of the following results: • Timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application. • Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to supervisors and other UNDP staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained. • Daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in Atlas to monitor imprest level; identification and record of contributions. • Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments. • Transaction and stop payment approval on internet banking systems • Approval and submission of monthly UN exchange rate reports to Treasury • Timely and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including documented review of exceptions. • Initiation of bank transfers and deals, selecting bank transfers and deals for approval and settlement. • Performing Paycycle manager role in Atlas • Timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Operations Manager. Liaison with UN Agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirements. • Role as cashier for cash disbursements made on site.

5. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results: • Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Finance. • Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in Finance. • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Should read, write and communicate in English or French. Reading, writing and communicating effectively in Portuguese.

3 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

[Provide brief description of relevant living conditions in duty station – e.g. security situation, access and air travel, climate, alcohol use, cost of living, accommodation options, availability of food/water/electricity, medical facilities, banking facilities, communications infrastructure, etc.]

Officially, the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is a Portuguese-speaking island country located in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two archipelagos around the two main islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from each other and about 250 and 225 kilometers (155 and 140 miles), respectively, at off the northwest coast of Gabon.

Since the 19th century, the economy of São Tomé and Príncipe has been based on plantation agriculture. At the time of independence, Portuguese plantations occupied 90% of the cultivated area. After independence, control of these plantations was transferred to various state agricultural enterprises. The main crop in São Tomé is cocoa, which accounts for about 95% of agricultural exports. Other export crops include copra, palm kernel and coffee.

The islands of São Tomé and Principe are the second smallest country in Africa. Both are part of Cameroon's volcanic mountain line, which also includes the Annobón islands in the southwest, Bioko in the northeast (both part of Equatorial Guinea), and Mount Cameroon on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea.

At sea level, the climate is tropical, hot and humid with average annual temperatures of about 27 ° C (80.6 ° F) and small daily variations. The temperature rarely exceeds 32 ° C (89.6 ° F). At higher altitudes in the interior, the average annual temperature is 20 ° C (68 ° F), and the nights are generally cool. Annual precipitation ranges from 5,000 mm (196.9 in.) On the southwest slopes to 1,000 mm (39.4 in.) In the northern lowlands. The rainy season runs from October to May.

The total population of São Tomé and Principe is approximately 194,000 and the majority live on Sao Tome Island. About São Tomé, the city and capital, the population is about 53,300 inhabitants.

The inhabitants of Sao Tome and Principe descend from various ethnic groups who have migrated to the islands since 1485.

Sao Tome and Principe is a country in the same time zone as GMT and a duty station with family. The Dobra (STD) is the local currency and according to the UN exchange rate system, 1 USD equals 21.52 STD and 1 Euro at 24.50 STD in August 2019. Some commercial banks are active in the country and Visa cards are accepted in a very limited number of hotels.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.