Rotation
This post is non-rotational
Closing Date: 17 June 2020
Duration: One Year (*)
Post Type: Fixed-Term Appointment
Please note that this vacancy is open to nationals of South Africa, permanent residence or holders of valid work permits.
*No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulation 4.5
Organizational Setting
The Finance Specialist is responsible for ensuring the highest efficiency in financial management services and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, effective delivery of financial management services, and transparent utilization and management of financial resources of the Regional Office Shared Service Centre (ROSSC) and Country Offices (COs). 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 service approach consistent with UNFPA rules and regulations.
The Finance Specialist supervises and leads professional and support staff of the ROSSC Finance Unit. The Finance Specialist works in close collaboration with the Management Support, Programme, Operations, and project teams in the respective COs, UNFPA HQ staff, Implementing Partners (IPs) and Government officials ensuring effective and efficient financial management and performance.
External partners include other UN agencies, the UN Country Team, vendors, and other non-UN partners that are essential to the work of the Operations Office.
The Finance Specialist will report directly to the International Operations Manager.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
Within the context of declining financial resources, increasingly complex political, economic and humanitarian challenges, and the need to deliver high quality rights-based results within the Agenda 2030 environment, the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office has developed a framework for strengthening UNFPA’s efficiency, effectiveness and presence in the region. The framework sets out a new structure to ensure more effective support country offices (COs) in the region, increased operational efficiency throughout the region, strengthened coordination and support for preparedness and resilience-building in humanitarian contexts, and enhanced resource mobilization capacities. The structure will be operationalized through the Regional Operations Shared Service Centre (ROSSC) which will consolidate core operational functions in procurement, finance, ICT and administration including human resources. It is intended that COs will obtain operations service support from the ROSSC. The Service Centre will have the capacity to provide services across all four functions to COs in the region in varying degrees based on the operational capacities that exist in each office.
The ROSSC will be responsible for financial management services including procure-to-pay services, vendor management, assigned balance sheet account reconciliations, cash transfer transactions (cash advances, expense reports and direct payments) to IPs as per Funding Authorization and Certificate of Expenditure (FACE), value added tax (VAT) management, accounts receivable application, Atlas data quality maintenance and year-end closure activities.
The ROSSC will be responsible for procurement management services including solicitation, contract award and management. It will provide support to COs on Contract Review committee (CRC) submissions and provide oversight on local procurement activities.
The ROSSC will also provide oversight and support to Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) quality control on assurance activities and IP capacity building and support audit preparations. The ROSSC will also provide software and corporate systems management support as well as asset, inventory, human resources and travel management services.
Given the exceptional complexity, breadth, reach and volume of the ROSSC portfolio in the area of finance and the challenges inherent in operational support both for middle income countries and the Eastern and South Africa Region as a whole, UNFPA has established the position of Finance Specialist at NOC level to reinforce the leadership and direction of the ROSSC's Finance Team with a focus on COs with limited staff capacities.
Main Tasks & Responsibilities
You will be responsible to:
A. Ensure implementation of ROSSC operational strategies and procedures by timely and efficient provision of financial management services to FOs including the following:
Provide regular services and support to COs on financial management, policy and procedures, facilitating adherence to UNFPA Financial Regulations and Rules and effective programme implementation;
Oversee and ensure effective workflow of communication and documentation between ROSSC and respective COs;
Manage procure-to-pay services to COs including supervision of staff entering Accounts Payable (AP) vouchers, confirmation the correct transaction coding, approval of transactions in UNFPA ERP system and resolution of matching, budget checking and other voucher-related issues;
Manage timely and accurate processing of cash transfer transactions (cash advances, expense reports and direct payments) to IPs as per Funding Authorization and Certificate of Expenditure (FACE) and ensure the correct use and recording of FACE form by monitoring, supporting and providing guidance to COs; provide support on HACT assurance activities;
Review and reconcile the assigned balance sheet accounts on a periodic basis and resolve identified issues;
Act as approver for vendor creation and modification requests and perform regular reviews and analysis of vendor database in Atlas for respective COs ensuring that duplicate or redundant vendors are promptly inactivated in Atlas;
Manage the preparation and value added tax claim submissions to local tax authorities as well as close follow-up;
Monitor Atlas data quality maintenance and provide guidance, support and instructions to COs;
Actively participate in the year-end closure process by ensuring all finance-related activities are accurately and timely completed in accordance with the Accounts Closure Instructions;
Prepare for audit visits, coordinate and respond to audit enquiries and support the implementation of audit recommendations.
B. Play an active role in the ROSCC governance framework, including the following:
Develop and continuously refine mapping of finance-related processes, standard operating procedures and document management system;
Prepare periodic progress reports of ROSSC activities, perform continuous analysis and draw lessons learnt. Collect information on CO clients’ satisfaction for continuous service improvement;
Elaborate and implement cost saving and reduction strategies;
Supervise team modeling a professionally rigorous environment while supporting financial skills acquisition and promoting continuous learning. Organize, prepare materials and facilitate training and knowledge sharing sessions for operations and programme staff.
C. Facilitate effective programme budgeting of core and non-core resources, continuous monitoring and accurate financial reporting to donors including the following:
Participate and contribute to the workplan process including proper costing (the accuracy of the detailed budgeting template), validation of allocations to ensure that the aggregate of workplans are within authorized spending limits;
Continuously analyze and monitor the financial situation and implementation, and advise on the required workplan and budget revisions;
Monitor non-core fund contribution receivables as scheduled in the co-financing agreements and alert respective programme staff if any delays; request distributions of spending limits for regional co-financing programmes;
Review of interim financial reports before their submission to donors.
Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree in Accounting, Financial Management or related discipline. A relevant first level university degree combined with a recognized accounting designation (CA, CPA, ACCA) may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced university degree;
Professional certification from an international accounting body such as ACCA, ICMA ACA, and CPA is desirable.
Qualifications and Experience
At least 5 years of experience at the national or international level in financial management, accounting and/or related area with minimum 3 years of supervisory experience;
Excellent Excel skills; experience with ERP (PeopleSoft) and database systems is desirable.
United Nations experience is mandatory.
Languages:
Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French or Portuguese is an advantage.
Required Competencies
Values:
Exemplifying integrity
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
Embracing diversity in all its forms
Embracing change
Core Competencies:
Achieving Results
Being Accountable
Developing and Applying Professional Expertise/Business Acumen
Thinking analytically and Strategically
Working in Teams/Managing Ourselves and our Relationships
Communicating for Impact
Managerial Competencies:
Providing strategic focus;
Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders;
Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance;
Making decisions and exercising judgment.
Functional Competencies:
Providing financial support
Business acumen
Innovation and marketing of new approaches
Client orientation
Organizational awareness
Job knowledge/technical expertise
Required Skillset:
Facilitating quality programmatic results;
Managing the organization’s financial resources;
Ensuring compliance with Organization’s Policies and Procedures;
Attract and develop the regional/country workforce.
UNFPA Work Environment
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.
Disclaimer
WARNING TO APPLICANTS:
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter or offer that makes use of the name or logo of UNFPA, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
HOW TO APPLY:
UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy. Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA at http://www.unfpa.org/employment. Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process. You can click here to apply directly: https://bit.ly/2Y0BXFm
Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
