Operations Associate

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.

UNICEF – the United Nations Children’s Fund – created in 1946, is one of the worlds most trusted and respected organizations – and the leading organization for children.

Since 1975, UNICEF has worked for the children of Cameroon to accelerate the realization of child rights for all children including the most deprived and vulnerable.

Working closely with the Government of Cameroon, civil society, the private sector and communities, UNICEF Cameroon Country Office aims to sustain results achieved for children to date, and strive to further improve policies, national institutions and programmes, for the well-being of every child in Cameroon, in line with Cameroon's National Development Strategy 2030 towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Our programmes focus on improving the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or background. Our main pillars include: Child Protection; Education; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; Adolescent and Youth Engagement; HIV and Health; Nutrition; Social Policy; and Operations.

The UNV Programme offers qualified and eligible candidates at both Headquarters (HQ) and Country Offices (CO) the unique opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work and the United Nations system under the direct supervision of experienced UNICEF staff. With the increasing demands due to different requirements in the Operations Section, UNICEF Cameroon is seeking to enhance its intervention with a focus on strengthening its effectiveness and efficiency. A passionate and dedicated UN Volunteer Operations Associate will significantly contribute to maximizing efficiencies in supporting administrative and finance services in Operations section in Yaounde. The UN Volunteer Operation associate is to be used in the UNICEF Yaounde, Cameroon country office and is responsible for providing a variety of specialized tasks in Administrative and Finance functions, ensuring accurate and timely delivery that is in compliance with UNICEF financial and administrative rules and regulations, whilst demonstrating the capacity to research, adapt and evaluate irregular cases, and also to recommend improvements to process delivery and design.

Under the Deputy Representative Operations guidance, UNV Operation Associate is charge to :

BUDGET • Assess budget expenditures to verify compliance to allotment, codes, guidelines, and procedures. • Prepare regular analysis, modification, and reports on the budget situation for higher management oversight and action.

HARMONIZED APPROACH TO CASH TRANSFERS (HACT) • Support the monitoring of HACT assurance activities and compliance with HACT framework. • Support the monitoring of implementation of action points issued on IP audits, micro-assessment and spot checks;

COORDINATION • Support coordination process of payments submission (e.g. MIP, travel claims, pension fund, advances to governments, service contracts etc), journal entries and other financial transactions within scope on a timely basis to the Global Shared Services Center (GSSC), and 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. • To monitor operations indicators on a weekly basis, and keep abreast of arisen gaps for management oversight and anticipated solutions;
• To prepare briefing notes/bullet points for the Deputy Representative Operations on key documents pertaining to country office and operations; • Promote culture of highest ethical standards and behavior in management of UNICEF’s resources. • Support initiatives for management improvement by capturing, institutionalizing, and sharing best practices and lessons learned. Recommend improvements in processes and procedures 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 Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Travel • Advice and ensure that staff know travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaises with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best service and price for all travel. • Organize, facilitate and follow up the travels of Staff • Extracts, inputs, maintains and verifies correctness of travel records in the organization’s travel system to ensure accurate transactions related to travel costs and staff travel. • Prepares budgets on travel costs and maintain travel budgetary control records. • Ensure travel plan consolidation, Travel Authorization (TA) creation and Trip certification on behalf

General Administrative Duties

• Maintain hard and electronic files and update data base systems ensuring timely and appropriate recording, safekeeping and disposal of confidential information. • Ensure matters relating to field office premises, utilities and services with vendors and agencies, transport services, vehicle use and maintenance, equipment, management of drivers including the movements.

13. Results/expected outputs:

• Support contracts monitoring and raise alerts as required: • Maintain attendance records for administrative and financial files. • Conduct quarter inventory of material/equipment. • Perform other administrative and financial assignments as required. • Result 1: Effective implementation of HACT assurance activities and management of HACT/FACE/Direct cash transfers (DCT); • Result 2: Improvement in Finance/Admin process and Innovation; • Result 3: Capacity building and knowledge sharing; • Result 4: Continuous improvement of contract monitoring and operations business process; • Result 5: Operations Budget and accounts Management and Reporting. • Result 6: Effective use of resources and efficient administrative and financial recording

• Professionalism: • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning: • Communication: • Flexibility:

• administrative and finance • Have computer skills (word; Excel, Power Point); • Have knowledge of accounting management; • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer
work, internship) would be highly regarded; • Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others).

Yaounde is the political capital of Cameroon and the second most populous city in the country after Douala. It is the headquarters of UN agencies, several international organizations and embassies Yaoundé is characterized by a humid and dry tropical climate with moderate temperatures during the year, high temperatures ranging from 27 to 29 degrees C. Yaoundé is also characterized by a long-wet season covering a period of 10 months between February and November. The official languages of Cameroon are English and French.

Cameroon is a unique country and Cameroon is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

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