UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Syria remains the largest humanitarian emergency in the world, and OCHA coordinates an increasingly complex humanitarian response in a challenging operating environment. OCHA is looking for an experienced Finance Officer for the Humanitarian Financing Unit.

OCHA Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF) is recruiting the staff necessary to run the Humanitarian Financing Unit. SHF is a Country Based Pooled Fund (CBPF) established in 2014.  Given the ongoing country conflict, it is of utmost importance that the current staffing gaps are filled in order to support CBPF funding requirements to humanitarian operators in-country. Expectations by stakeholders of the CBPF funding in terms of timelines and institutional capacity are high. 

The Finance Officer is expected to help strengthen OCHA’s humanitarian financing, programmatic and reporting quality and follow-up, and support the HFU’s senior management in the same.  Main duties will include supporting the correct running of the Grant Management System-based allocation and reporting timelines, sensitization and awareness-raising among NGOs and Participating United Nations Organizations of them CBPF’s work, and supporting reporting and monitoring activities, or other functions as required.

 

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Humanitarian Financing Unit/Syrian Humanitarian Fund and under the direct supervision of the Finance Officer/Pooled Fund Manager, the incumbent will be expected to be able to perform the following, prioritized according to operational requirements:

Summary of key functions:

  • Financial Review
  • Financial Management
  • Administration

Financial Review:

Facilitate the review and revision process of project proposals in consultation with, sector leads and other technical partners and advise organizations on recommended revisions, assisting them in revision drafting if required.

  • Support the Finance Officer in the review of grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency, reasonableness and compliance with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR) and the Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) Guidelines.
  • Review project budgets to determine “normal costs and variations” in project expenditure areas to be determined.
  • Review of budget amendments, reprogramming or No-Cost Extension requests.
  • Conduct market cost survey for items commonly purchased under CBPF projects and maintain a database to support cost effectiveness analysis of proposals to CBPF.
  • Reconcile advisory reports from HQ with CBPF records on project performance status and financial statements.
  • Communicate concerns about proposals, project documents, or implementing partners to the relevant HFU Manager.
  • Assist in the preparation of financial analyses for the CBPF Annual Reports and other progress or ad-hoc reports.
  • Support the Finance Officer/Pooled Fund Manager in drafting budgets for services to be contracted to outside entities.
  • Verify Implementing Partners (IP) financial documentation as required.

Financial Management:

  • Conduct partner sensitization on CBPF procedures and guidelines for accessing grants, as well as regarding compliance with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR) and the Guidelines for Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) through participation in meetings and workshops.
  • Support preparation of paperwork related to Humanitarian Coordinator project approval and disbursement actions (Fund Transfer Requests, agreements, MoU, etc.).
  • Support preparation of and execution of transfer agreements to be signed by NGO and HC, following up on requests to the HFU to arrange for fund transfers to partners and notifies payees of status of payments.
  • Assist HFU staff and CBPF stakeholders regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.
  • Track, collect and review financial reports from CBPF partners to ensure accuracy and compliance with CBPF guidelines and provides feedback to partner as necessary.
  • Assist in tracking project spending and ensure that future payments are approved based on satisfactory financial reporting and justification of previous advances.
  • Support the preparation and take part in periodic financial spot-check visits to partner offices, in line with operational modalities and guidelines.
  • Participate in drafting financial spot-check monitoring reports and recommendations to partners following visits to partners.
  • Liaise with companies carrying out financial audit of partners and financial spot-checks ensuring compliance with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR).
  • Supporting the process of recovery of funds if necessary.
  • Maintain complete, accurate and updated detailed list of disbursements to IP.
  • Support Fund analysis for informing future allocations.

Administration:

  • Support the Fund Manager in liaising with companies carrying out contractual services on behalf of the HFU, and provide support and information as and when required.
  • Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to program budgets and the CBPF in general.
  • Prepare documentation and reports for country-level coordination forums.
  • Perform other duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

  • The Fund Manager
  • National and International HAOs
  • National and International NGOs
  • United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programs
  • CBPF contracted entities providing capacity assessment, monitoring and audit services.
  • Provincial authorities.

Impact of Results:

Develop well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to problem resolution in dealing with complex financial/budget issues. Assist in the management of funding programming projects and partners, ensuring timely delivery of outputs. Help meet organizational objectives and provide sound analytical inputs and advice with respect to coordination of humanitarian financing and monitoring.

Core:

Innovation:

  • Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

  • Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication:

  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery:

  • Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Technical/Functional:

Professionalism:

  • Proven analytical skills: ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, and recommend appropriate solutions.  Very good knowledge of the program of assignment, including the cultural, political and economic dimensions.  Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender, social-economic issues, Strong negotiation skills: ability to lead and gain assistance of others in a team endeavor, and to articulate coherent arguments to reach agreement. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment.  Very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system.

Planning and Organizing:

  • Proven ability to plan and organize, establish priorities, manage and monitor work plans, coordinate competing demands, and work to tight deadlines.

Communication:

  • Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations, articulating options concisely, conveying maximum information, making and defending recommendations.

Teamwork:

  • Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Technological Awareness:

  • Solid computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet applications, and relevant software packages, including e-mail.

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, Business Administration & Economics, Finance, Accounting, Law, International Relations, or other related fields.
  • 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:

  • Two (2) years of relevant progressively responsible professional in finance and accounting/administration crisis/emergency program management or other related area, or other related area is required. Minimum two (2) years of relevant professional experience in analytical and writing skills, and experience with project budgeting and proposal writing are required. Experience working with ERP systems is required. Five years of experience in financial audit is required. Two (2) years of experience in the UN Common System or comparable international organization is desirable.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in oral and written Arabic and English is required.

Other:

  • Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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Contract Duration: untill 31 December 2021

This vacancy is archived.

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