Background
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates effective and principled humanitarian response and ensures that relief assistance reaches the people in need in a timely manner.
The Regional Humanitarian Fund for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAHF) was established to strengthen timely response to affected communities. A Country Envelope was opened in Mozambique. Management of the Regional Fund and its accompanying Country Envelopes falls under the Regional Humanitarian Financing Unit (HFU) based in OCHAโs Regional Office in Nairobi.
The Finance and Compliance Officer will thus form part of the Regional HFU under the leadership of the Regional Fund manager.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the guidance of the Regional Fund Manager the Finance and Compliance Officer will participate in the overall implementation of the Fundโs Accountability Framework and work in close collaboration with the HFU and other OCHA programme staff in countries with Country Envelopes, as well as in the Regional Office. He/she is expected to travel to the Fundโs project locations including in Countries with operational Country Envelopes to assist with the implementation of the Fundโs Accountability Framework as well as provide support in communications and external relations activities of the ESAHF.
Provide support in the allocation and financial management processes of the Regional Pooled Fund for Eastern and Southern
Review and advise on the clearance of the project budgets and grant agreements. Review and advise on budget amendments or no-cost extension requests. Regular follow-up with IP to obtain financial reports. Review of interim and final financial reports and supporting documents to ensure compliance with the signed grant agreements, budgets and guidelines. Follow up on disbursement of funds and refund of balances from partners.ย Review of grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency, reasonableness, compliance with the United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations (UNFRR) and the Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) Guidelines. Receipt & review of audit reports from contractors and ensure projects records are updated as necessary.Provide support in implementing the financial aspects of the Pooled Fundโs Accountability Framework
Conduct financial spot-checks in line with the Pooled Fundโs operational modalities. Facilitate and provide support during audits, at the project and fund level, as requested, including assistance with vendor contracting, supporting the planning process and assisting in the follow-up of critical audit findings. Liaise with partners, staff in Country Offices, HFU staff and other third parties in verifying expenditure supporting documents during spot-checks, review of financial reports, capacity assessments and audits. Assist with the submission and return of Partnersโ financial documentation for spot-checks in OCHA Country offices.Provide support to the implementation of the monitoring pillar of the Fundโs accountability framework
Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring plans in line with allocation funding modalities. Participate in planning and actual field project monitoring together with other OCHA staff in countries with ESAHF project implementation. Participate in the request and review of partner due diligence information/document submissions and corresponding status update in Grant Management System (GMS). Assist with updating the project monitoring timelines, results and recommendations in the GMS.Facilitate knowledge-building and knowledge-sharing on finance, monitoring & evaluation within the fundโs implementing partners
Identify and synthesize finance, monitoring and evaluation best practices, lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into fund management efforts and channeled into decision-making processes. Promote awareness of guidelines, operational manuals, clauses in partner agreements, UNFRR and best practices. Plan and participate in trainings to implementing partners and other stakeholders.Oversee Compliance activities in the Fund
Serves as the primary focal point on compliance for the fund. Keeps abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, etc., ensures appropriate financial monitoring and reporting mechanisms in line with global country-based pooled fund guidelines. Manages the response to cases of alleged fraud or misuse of funding by implementing partners in the fund. Provides appropriate follow-up to suspected and confirmed cases of fraud in liaison with the OCHA Oversight and Compliance Unit.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
Achieve Results:ย LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work Think Innovatively:ย LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking Learn Continuously:ย LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning Adapt with Agility:ย LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process Act with Determination:ย LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously Engage and Partner:ย LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships Enable Diversity and Inclusion:ย LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision makingยPeople Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicatedย site.ยCross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the systemBusiness Management โ Portfolio Management
Ability to select, prioritize and control the organizationโs programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance theย implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investmentBusiness Management โ Customer Satisfaction/ Client Management
Finance โ Accounting (General)
Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.Finance โ Financialย Planning and Budgeting
Ability to create and manage processes to achieve long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.Finance โ Audit Risk Management
Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.Finance โ Financial Risk Management
Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls, and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects. Ensures a culture of positive risk management.Required Skills and Experience
Education:
An advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field is required.ย A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
A minimum of 2 years (with masterโs degree) or 4 years (with bachelorโs degree) of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.ย Two (2) years of experience working with a Humanitarian Pooled Fund and performing financial management tasks is required. Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or in a comparable international organization is desirable.ย Experience working in Eastern Africa is desirable.Language:
Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirableEqual Opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNOCHA values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNOCHA is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNOCHA does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Probation
For all new UNOCHA fixed-term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNOCHA under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNOCHA reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNOCHA at the same grade level and with a similar job description, experience, and educational requirements.
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