Internal/External VA: Programme Specialist (Budget and Finance) P-3, Fixed Term- Juba South Sudan, Open for Non- South Sudanese Only

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 116,975 USD and 153,170 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, FUTURE

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Job organizational context:

The Finance Specialist GJP can be used in either a regional or country office, reporting to the regional chief/chief of operations.

The Programme Specialist (Budget and Finance) reports to the Senior Programme Specialist P-5 for general direction and guidance. The specialist is responsible for providing support in managing, monitoring and overseeing the full range of budget and financial services in support of program and operational activities (i.e. financial planning, disbursements of funds and payments, treasury and accounting, financial analysis and reporting of resources), ensuring compliance of all financial operations with organizational plans, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of performance, ethics, and integrity. The position will directly manage all finance and budget processes for the new national health sector transformation project managed by UNICEF 2024-2026. The position will help manage finance and budget-related reputational risks. The position will supervise a team of senior programme associates who will serve as processing hub and use UNICEF internal systems.

The Programme Specialist, when supervising support staff, will be responsible for planning and guiding work in progress and for reviewing work completed by subordinate staff to verify accuracy and compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), UNICEF Financial Regulation and Rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of accountability, and ethics.

III. Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to budget and financial planning and management
2. Control of accounts
3. Treasury and cash management
4. Knowledge and capacity building

1. Support to budget and financial planning and management

• Prepare/analyze financial data/estimates and documentations, verifying relevancy, accuracy and completeness to facilitate financial planning for CPMP and regular management advice (including review of financial figures in PCAs). Provide technical and operational support throughout the financial planning and implementation process.
• Review budget implementation according to allotment, codes and certify compliance with guidelines and procedures. Keep stakeholders informed for timely action.
• Provide technical and operational support on the application, interpretation and implementation of financial policies, procedures and guidelines to the Representative and CO colleagues and stakeholders. Resolve routine financial issues and/or recommend (and record) deviation from procedures and guidelines to meet objectives.
• Evaluate financial and reputational risk in transactions carried out by the office and raise flags when actions are needed by management.
• Prepare and/or monitor financial exception reports to assess unusual activities and transactions, investigate anomalies, and keep supervisor informed for timely action.
• Provide technical support to the programme counterparts/committees, e.g. review budgets and financial plans of implementing partners; monitor compliance with HACT framework, including support to assessments, assurance and capacity development of implementing partners.
• Prepare work plans for supervisee/s, provide timely technical guidance, monitor work in progress and review work completed to approve transactions and/or certify/verify accuracy of work and compliance with IPSAS and UNICEF Regulations and Rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Where applicable, advise and support PSFR activities on budget preparation, strategic income projection/ reporting, setting and monitoring performance indicators, revenue and expense reporting, and provide technical advice during strategic planning exercises.

2. Control of accounts

• Process and/or review (as per delegated authority) the accurate and timely submission of payments (e.g. payroll, MIP, travel claims, pension fund, advances to governments etc), journal entries and other financial transactions within scope to the Global Shared Services Center (GSSC), ensuring compliance with budgetary limits, IPSAS and organizational regulations, rules, policies, procedures, standards of accountability, and ethics. Take timely action on outstanding accounts to resolve pending issues. This includes dialogue and follow up with the GSSC to facilitate timely processing of financial transactions submitted to the center.
• Process/supervise (as per delegated authority) the disbursement of payments when done locally via bank letters, checks, or petty cash.
• Process/supervise cash receipts and reconcile income contributions to ensure their timely deposit and recording in UNICEF systems.
• Monitor and analyze financial transactions, accounting reports and reconciliation of accounts to ensure accurate and current financial information for applicable compliance (e.g. IPSAS, donor reporting, internal policies) and management oversight, planning and/or action.
• Prepare or contribute to mandated management/statutory office financial and accounting reports to UNICEF Board/Bodies/Donors, verifying the reliability of data and compliance with organizational guidelines.
• Collaborate with oversight bodies (e.g. UNBOA, OIAI, Evaluation Office, JIU, donors, etc.) to provide answers and to follow to resolution of financial observations and recommendations.
• Assure proper and timely completion of accounts closure activities (monthly, quarterly and yearly)
• Examine DCT transactions (transfer, adjustments, reprogramming and liquidation) supporting documents to ensure FACE form has been properly entered into the system and the expenditure is broadly reasonable and in accordance with policy.

3. Treasury and cash management

• Manage bank, petty and cash on hand accounts transactions and operations in accordance with UNICEF/UN financial regulations and rules, policies, procedures and local banking practices. Keep abreast of procedures and regulations regarding maintenance of bank accounts and exchange and interests rates. Keep supervisor and relevant colleagues informed for timely action.
• Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments.
• Maintain a system to monitor and forecast periodic cash requirements. Provide current information on cash position/forecast to management and make recommendation or take action to ensure sufficient availability of resources for programmes and operations activities.
• Review monthly bank reconciliation and take appropriate corrective actions on findings identified by the GSSC.

4.Knowledge and capacity building

• Promote culture of highest ethical standards and behavior in management of UNICEF’s resources.
• Contribute to initiatives for management improvement by capturing, institutionalizing and sharing best practices and lessons learned. Implement and/or recommend management improvements to enhance productivity and performance including implementation of cost saving strategies.
• Participate and/or organize training and learning events to build capacity of staff and stakeholders/partners.
• Support operations of the office as required.

5. Supports the formulation of strategies and concepts

• Align contribution management with programme strategies and develop medium to long-term plans for effective budget management contributing to the overall governance of the office
• Develop capacity building plans for strengthening the overall budget management of the office
• Develop and revise the CO office budget, contribution and financial strategies with programme’s vision and staffing structure ensuring it is coherent and meaningful
• Influence the Resource Mobilization strategies based on budget trend analysis for the country programme

6. Support Budget analysis focusing on achieving results

• Integrate and analyze potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a wide variety of sources.
• Identify key, high level trends across data sets.
• Recognize subtle inter-relationships among multiple issues and sees the potential effects on the overall system or process.
• Make logical, rational, well-reasoned and defensible judgment from the analyses
• Liaise with RO/HQ and technical colleagues to dialogue and constantly inform the CO on policies and guidelines on budget management
• Use integrated knowledge to discuss at partnership level and within UNICEF; able to not just solve immediate problems but also place them into a wider context to come up with recommendations for not just one issue but whole system.

7. Contribution management (budget planning allocation, monitoring)

• Participate in the development of the budget-related components of the office work plan, annual management plan, Resource mobilization and Partnership Strategy, including donor proposals.
• Monitor compliance and inform relevant sections to ensure that fund management objectives and targets are on track, and that staff is aware of donor conditions.
• Ensure timely allocation of new grants to respective programmes in line with approved budget breakdown and donor conditions
• Monitor grants expiry dates and in dialogue with the programmes find solutions for proper utilization aligned with results,
• Monitor the utilization of regular Resources and Other Resources and produces regular updates for the Country Office Management.
• Support the capacity development of programme staff to improve the description of expenditures that appear in financial reports
• Retrieve information on costs of programme elements, such as staff and related costs from automated files and complies them in standardized and customized reports.
• Enable an institutional memory within the office through development and maintenance of record keeping of OR allocations forms and emails related to RR allocation;
• Collect and analyze budget and financial data for programme/project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Review the accuracy of VISION/SAP generated data.
• Generate the financial data and information and coordinate with programme sections on incoming funds, grant creation, extension and adjustments as well as reallocations; monitoring conditionality and deviations; and coordinate responses to financial queries and enquiries from donors, Regional Office and headquarters. This includes managing forecasting and budget allocations for payroll.

IV. Impact of Results

The ability of the Programme Specialist (Budget and Finance) to effectively manage and supervise the full range of budget and financial services directly impacts on meeting organizational/staff needs and program delivery of goals and objectives. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility of UNICEF as an effective and responsible manager of resources entrusted to the organization and to furthering UNICEF image as a competent organization for delivering cost effective and sustainable program results.

How can you make a difference?

V. UNICEF values and competency Required (based on the updated Framework)

i) Core Values

• • Care
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Trust
  • Accountability
  • Sustainability

ii) Core Competencies (For Staff with Supervisory Responsibilities) *

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

or

• Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities) *
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

*The 7 core competencies are applicable to all employees. However, the competency Nurtures, Leads and Managers people is only applicable to staff who supervise others.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• VI. Recruitment Qualifications

  Education:

  Advance university degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration or equivalent or any other comparable recognized professional qualification.

  A valid professional certification (CA; CPA; etc.) from an internationally recognized, accredited chartered accountancy institution is required; or an advanced diploma qualification in CIPFA or its equivalent with other internationally recognized institutions along with an Advanced university degree.

  * *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

  Experience:

  A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in financial management or audits in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.

  Experience in a UN system agency or organization some of which served in a developing country is considered as an asset.

  Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel required.

  Experience in database packages, web based management systems and ERP systems (preferably SAP financial modules) is considered as an asset.

  Experience with IPSAS and/or IFRS is considered as an asset.

  Language Requirements:

  Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.