Finance Officer, P3 at United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - UNOCHA

Job Opening Number: 20-Finance-OCHA-141701-R- (X)
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Department / Office: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Org. Setting and Reporting

• This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Maiduguri, Nigeria. OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies.
• OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts.
• OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
• The Finance Officer reports to the Pooled Fund Manager.

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Verify Implementing Partners (IP) financial documentation as required;
• Liaise with companies carrying out partner capacity assessments ensuring compliance with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR);
• Review grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency, reasonableness, compliance with the UNFRR and the Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) Guidelines;
• Review and advise on the clearance of the project budget and grant agreements;
• Review and advise on budget amendments or no-cost extension requests;
• Review audit financial report to make sure that it is in line with the signed agreement and project budget.
• Maintain complete, accurate and updated detailed list of disbursements to IP;
• Regular follow-up with IP to obtain financial reports;
• Review of interim and final financial reports and confirm the amount for additional disbursements;
• Initiate the process to ensure disbursements as required and follow-up on any reimbursements;
• Conduct financial spot-checks in line with the operational modalities;
• Oversee the audit process including facilitation of the contracting of external auditing companies, supporting the planning, advise on the clearance of audit reports and ensuring follow-up of critical audit findings;
• Support IP regarding compliance with the UNFRR and the Guidelines for CBPF;
• Ensure compliance with any other requirements stemming from the UNFRR, grant agreements and guidelines;
• Maintain complete and updated cash flows for the Fund, and inform the HoU on a regular basis and upon request on the available cash balance;
• Support Fund analysis for informing future allocations;
• Prepare financial analysis for standard and ad-hoc reporting requirements;
• Provide input for the preparation of CBPF Annual Reports;
• Ensure timely financial reporting in compliance with donors requirements;
• Liaise with relevant OCHA sections at HQ;
• Stay up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have bearing on matters related to programme and/or OCHA budgets, ensuring compliance with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Qualifications
Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area.
• Prior experience training National NGOs, managing audits, and performing capacity assessments is desirable.

Competencies:

• Professionalism: Thorough knowledge of Funds management, related budgetary procedures and UN Financial Rules and Regulations; understanding of OCHA's programmes, policies, funding and coordination mechanisms; knowledge of financial principles and practices; ability to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Languages:

• English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.

Assessment:

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.