National Finance and Administration Officer/Head of Unit FT-NOB

The World Food Programme 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.

JOB TITLE:

Finance and Admin Officer

TYPE OF CONTRACT:

National Officer (NOB)

UNIT/DIVISION:

Head of Finance, Admin & ICT

DUTY STATION (City, Country):

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

BACKGROUND

Currently designing the next 5-year-plan, WFP contributes to the objectives of the UNDAF and the work of the United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic with its current Country Strategic Plan for 2018–2022, which focuses on five Strategic Outcomes:

1. Providing hot school meals for primary school-aged children (SO1);
2. Supporting vulnerable and food insecure smallholders to enhance their livelihoods (SO2);
3. Strengthening resilience to shocks and climate change for vulnerable communities (SO3);
4. Capacity-strengthening of government institutions for a comprehensive food security and nutrition management system (SO4);
5. Emergency support and early recovery (SO5).

The finance and admin unit in the Country Office, which includes services like ICT, travel and fleet management, continues to consolidate its role as a proactive, engaged partner, able to truly support and advise both the management and other functions. Corporate efforts in the area of capacity building help to ensure that WFP’s finance, admin and ICT staff are empowered and updated on new financial landscapes and latest technologies. The function adapts to emerging financial management practices and technologies with innovative projects and process re-engineering meant to maximise WFP’s efficiency in the use of resources. Similarly, to ensure travellers reach safely any destination, equipment is properly managed, the fleet is run effectively and the ICT infrastructure accessible and secure, up-to-date policies, trainings and guidance as well as digital innovation aim at strengthening the connection between resources and results, but also WFP’s contribution to the Disability Inclusion Road Map, Climate Crisis commitments and UN reform (incl. business operations strategies (BOS)). This focus on increased efficiency in the use of financial resources contributes to sustaining the reputation that WFP is as an accountable and reliable partner to all its stakeholders in its efforts towards achieving a world without hunger.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

As a Head of Unit, the national officer supervises support service staff in the office in Bishkek, coordinates with related staff in the sub-office in Osh, represents WFP in operational UN coordination meetings and contributes as an active member to various internal oversight and coordination committees.

In the area of Finance: support the stewardship of WFP’s resources, monitoring budgets, forecasting, analysing, reporting and providing core administrative support to enable effective management of funds, and ensure assistance to beneficiaries is undertaken in the most efficient and effective way possible.

In the area of Admin: contribute to daily planning and delivery of quality, customer-focused, value for money administrative services that enable staff in the Kyrgyz operations to deliver food assistance to beneficiaries, in line with WFP’s strategy.

As a compliance focal point: ensure application of controls and compliance with policies and procedures; and contribution to the overall effectiveness of operations and optimization of WFP resources by championing the mainstreaming of WFP’s risk and compliance framework.

Supervision received: The National Finance & Administration Officer is directly supervised by the Country Director.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

Within delegated authority, the Finance & Administration Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Manage Finance

1. Support corporate finance and resource management strategies and major ongoing programmatic initiatives, participating where appropriate using finance and resource management expertise.
2. Contribute towards the development of country specific plans and processes, aligned with Regional and wider WFP strategy, policies and processes to meet the food assistance needs of beneficiaries within the Country.
3. Analyze and report on key data for financial status and outcomes of projects in accordance with corporate governance requirements, ensuring accuracy, deadlines, and accounting processes are complied with.
4. Monitor and analyze budgets for new and ongoing projects according to established corporate procedures and requirements.
5. Perform bank reconciliations, disbursements, clearance of receivables, overall cash management and monthly financial closures on a regular basis in accordance with corporate requirements.
6. Collate and analyze data for the preparation of accurate and timely reporting, in order to provide management with financial, accounting and budgetary information to enable them to make informed decisions.
7. Track and analyze data to identify opportunities for improvements to policies, systems and procedures in order to minimize financial risks, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, and ensure services are aligned with business objectives.

Manage Admin

8. Contribute to and implement WFP country/regional plans, including administrative processes, aligned with regional and wider WFP strategies and policies to facilitate efficient and effective administration service including Fleet Management, Asset Management, Facilities management, ICT, Travel & Protocol.
9. Develop annual plans, contribute to longer term strategies and improvements to policies, systems and procedures to ensure services provided support WFP strategic objectives and are in compliance with corporate policies, standards, regulations and processes.
10. Where necessary, deliver core administrative services, working with contractors and following standard processes to provide cost-effective, quality and timely services to WFP staff.
11. Ensure implementation of WFP ICT related policies and procedures.
12. Act as the Asset Management Officer and Fleet Manager.
13. Ensure information in all Administration related WFP electronic systems is timely updated by the responsible staff.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

14. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy food and needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
15. Coordinate, support and respond to oversights and audit in the country and follow up on recommendations.
16. Deliver financial controls and insight into WFP performance, undertaking periodic risk and internal control assessments to identify areas which may present potential audit, compliance or financial risks.
17. Contribute to accountability across functional units, prepare comprehensive reports summarising the status of compliance of internal controls, key oversight themes, and using risk information (e.g. risk indicators, incidents) to highlight areas out of risk appetite and contribute ideas on required actions in areas of risk & compliance vulnerability.

Inter-agency work, staff supervision and capacity building

18. Support a culture of environmental sustainability, disability inclusion and value for money throughout WFP by role modelling actions that drive sustainability in all finance and administrative activities.
19. Represent the 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.
20. Participate in the OMT and OSH committees of the UNCT and enhance inter-agency tools and processes.
21. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
22. Support the capacity building of WFP staff and partners through trainings, workshops, daily interaction, etc. for efficient and effective delivery of food assistance to beneficiaries.
23. Other as required.

Education: Advanced University degree in a relevant subject Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with additional years of related work experience plus membership in an international recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ICPA) or equivalent.

Experience: 3 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in a finance role, proven experience also in overseeing admin staff or other support functions considered an asset.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Theoretical understanding of a broad range of finance, ICT and admin topics.

• Ability to analyze and review financial information, process records in SAP or comparable systems and guide colleagues in adhering to WFP (financial) rules and regulations.

• Technical knowledge in accounting and internal control processes.

• Has provided direction and instruction to more junior staff members within area of expertise.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English and Russian languages, knowledge of Kyrgyz considered an asset.

TALENTED WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

We look for applicants with the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian values. We commit to promote diversity, gender parity and equality between men and women.

WFP strives to build a work environment that is safe and respectful, and free of sexual harassment and abuse of authority. We believe in open communication, and every individual at WFP is treated with respect regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religious and political beliefs, etc.

Closing date: 15 February 2022

This position is open ONLY to Kyrgyz citizens or those authorized to live and work in the Kyrgyz Republic according to national regulations. Applicants who do not meet this criterion will not be considered for this position.

WFP does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment process.

Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.