Senior Operations Associate, Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), G-7, London, UK, REQ

Contract

This is a G-7 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-7 contracts.

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.

Applicants for this position must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom (UK)

For every child, education...

The Education Commission and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment came together to create the Education Outcomes Fund for Africa and the Middle East (EOF), an initiative to improve the education of 10 million children and young people. EOF aims to pool $1 billion in aid and philanthropic funds, to support governments to pay for results in education and youth employment over the next decade. It will partner with governments across the MEA region to strengthen education systems, harnessing the capacity and capability of partners to improve the effectiveness of expenditure and help deliver on the promise of quality education for all.

EOF is hosted by UNICEF. The Fund is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources and administrative rules and regulations, while operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance structure that provides strategic guidance and oversight to its investments. EOF’s day-to-day activities are carried out by a Secretariat under the direction of the EOF CEO.

The Sr. Operations Associate will be reporting to the Operation Specialist at the Education Outcomes Fund.

How can you make a difference?

The Operations function in EOF will ensure efficient and cost-effective administrative and financial support services, working closely with operations colleagues in UNICEF HQ to ensure that the Secretariat’s administrative and financial operations and services follow the organization's administrative policy, procedures, rules and regulations. Operations staff are accountable for budget and expenditure monitoring, operations, procedural administrative services and specialized functions related to donor and financial reporting.

As part of the Operations team, and under the direct Supervision of the Operation Specialist, the Senior Operations Associate will perform a variety of specialized operational tasks which will service the Education Outcomes fund Secretariat activities.

These responsibilities include reviewing and processing contractual obligations, verification and submission of documents for payments, analyzing and preparation of reports for DFAM (Division of Finance and Administrative Management), controlling assets, budget monitoring and will be expected to provide high-quality administrative support to the Secretariat.

Provide Support in procurement of services

• Provide support in the preparation of contractual documentation for engaging consultants and institutional contractors to ensure proper compliance with pertinent administrative instructions/ directives, organizational rules and procedures and the Standard Operating Procedures for the EOF Secretariat.
• Collect required documents in order to be able to process the contracts.
• Create in SAP/ VISION procurement documents like: purchase orders for consultants, requests for proposals, LTAs
• Provide support to oversight of contract management
• Process requests for creation/ updates for vendors

Provide administrative support for agreements with implementing partners and for the EOF Secretariat

• Ensure proper compliance with pertinent administrative instructions/ directives with regards to various documents and agreements
• Process transactions in SAP/ VISION and liaise with DFAM/ FSO (Funds Support Office for transfers and payments of implementing partners
• Work closely with the Chief of Staff to coordinate meetings of the Secretariat, including collating background papers and presentations, logistic support, reporting on outcomes and ensuring follow-up of actions.
• Support the implementation of risk management policy and procedures, to increase organizational performance and strengthen internal controls.
• Support the development of EOF institutional assets, such as standard operating procedures and processes.

Control and process documents for payment (invoices, low value procurement)

• Control that documents are accurate, complete and meet the signatory standards (certifying/ authorizing), ensure supporting documentation follows prescribed procedures
• Enter requests in the case management tool for payment processing and ensure the information is accurately coded per GL standards and timely processed by GSSC (Global Shared Services Centre)
• Follow up and answer questions related to payments (from GSSC or vendors)

Analyze and prepare reports, budget monitoring

• Analyze financial and budget reports, including DFAM related
• Prepare reports for financial yearly reporting,
• Prepare financial reports for donors and compile narrative reports with input from program team
• Prepare periodic and ad hoc management reports to provide information on financial transactions and contractual obligations
• Support the preparation of the budget and cash flow for the Secretariat, ensures that budget estimates and allocations follow budget guidelines.
• Produce periodic reports and analysis of budget performance and enters data from a wide variety of documents, verifying and ensuring accuracy by checking sources, making necessary calculations and assuring inclusion of all relevant data.
• Support for the analysis and preparation of the budget plans and revisions.

Control of assets

• Maintain assets records in VISION
• Follow up on transactions related to assets
• Request corrections from GSSC/ DFAM, as necessary
• Support office accommodation, movement/installation of office furniture and equipment;
• Procure computer hardware/software as recommended by ICTD and approved by the Director.

Performs other duties as assigned

The efficiency and efficacy of the Sr. Operations Associate will directly impact on the optimum, appropriate and effective use of resources and efficient financial recording, accounting and reporting, which in turn facilitates management oversight, decision making and quality control. This contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility EOF and the effective delivery of our programs.

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

• Secondary education is required, along with formal training in a financial management discipline (e.g. accounting, audit and/or budget management);
• Knowledge of IPSAS and ERP/SAP highly desirable;
• At least 7 years of experience in finance, accounting, office management, administration, human resources, supply or other relevant function is required and
• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

▪ 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)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

Remarks:

Applicants for this position must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom (UK)

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

Your appointment is limited to EOF, a UNICEF hosted fund. While UN staff regulations and rules, as well as UNICEF policies and procedures, apply to you during your appointment, certain provisions therein may apply to you differently due to the limited scope of your appointment. In particular, you will not be subject to rotation exercise as per the Executive Directive on Staff mobility and rotation (CF/EXD/2015-002) or any revision thereof. In addition, during your appointment in EOF, you will not be considered eligible for conversion to a Continuing Appointment as per UNICEF Administrative Instruction on Continuing Appointment (CF/AI/2017-002) or any revision thereof. In the event that your post is abolished, the priority granted and other support provided to staff on abolished posts in staff selection processes will only be extended to posts within EOF and not to other posts in UNICEF.

To secure a UNICEF appointment outside EOF, you will need to be selected in a competitive recruitment exercise. Upon selection for a UNICEF post outside of UNICEF hosted funds, the period you have served with the UNICEF hosted fund will count towards the calculation of the tour of duty in your duty station and eligibility for a continuing appointment.

To return to a UNICEF appointment outside EOF, you will need to be selected in a competitive recruitment exercise. Upon selection for a UNICEF post outside of UNICEF hosted funds, the period you have served with the UNICEF hosted fund will count towards the calculation of the tour of duty in your duty station and eligibility for a continuing appointment.