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Asscociate Admin/ Finance Officer - UNHCR - Maungdaw, Myanmar



Job Title: Asscociate Admin/ Finance Officer
Job ID: 7430
Location: Maungdaw, Myanmar
APA Location: Maungdaw, Myanmar
Salary Grade: P2
Hardship Level: E
Family Type Location: Family


ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:
Associate Admin/Finance Officers will establish and maintain efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UNHCR and UN administrative, human resources and financial rules and procedures.

Frequent external contacts with counterparts in other organizations or at working level in national Governments on issues of importance to Organization's programmes. He/she acts as adviser or representative of the Organization with authority to discuss problems and seek common ground on which to recommend solutions based on predetermined guidelines provided by higher authority.

The incumbent directly supervises general service staff.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability:
* UNHCR premises for the country operation are managed in an efficient and cost-effective manner, and provide a healthy, safe and respectful working environment.
* UNHCR's financial rules and regulations, policies and procedures are adhered to by the country operation.
* UNHCR's local cash is safeguarded.

Responsibility:
General Administration
* Assist in the day-to-day personnel and administrative operations of the office.
* Contribute to providing a healthy and respectful working environment, free from hazard or security risks.
* Assist with the implementation of processes and procedures to improve and strengthen internal controls in line with UNHCR rules and regulations.
* Participate in the physical verification of UNHCR property plant and equipment.

Human Resources
* Participate in the recruitment and appointment process, and assist with administrative formalities concerning local General Service staff.
* Coordinate training and capacity-building activities to staff in administrative related areas.

Finance/Budget
* Contribute to the process to determine the country's budget.
* Provide guidance and support on UNHCR's internal control framework, financial rules, policies and procedures.
* Identify potential risks in relation to the financial management of the office, and propose mitigating action to senior management, when applicable.
* Conduct regular checks of petty cash and cash accounts.
* Control and check the monthly accounts and various administrative activities, in order to verify and certify disbursements are in accordance with the administrative budget and UNHCR's Financial Rules.
* Provide training on financial matters.

Authority:
* Participate in the interview process for the recruitment of local staff.
* Certify that disbursements are in accordance with the administrative budget and UNHCR's Financial Rules.
* Approve vouchers, including ABOD and project disbursements.
* Prepare financial status reports.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
* University Degree in Accounting, Finance, Public or Business Administration, Economics or related field, OR university degree in another field combined with a professional qualification in accounting or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent).
* Minimum four years of previous job experience in the field of accounting or finance.
* Excellent computer skills, in particular in MS Office applications.
* Excellent communication skills.
* Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

***For National Officer positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essentials.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:
* Professional qualification in accounting or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent).
* Working experience of at least one year in an intergovernmental organization (United Nations or similar).
* Good knowledge of United Nations administrative, human resources and financial rules and procedures.
* Working experience with PeopleSoft/Oracle Financial and/or HR modules.
           
Operational Context
           
UNHCR is the lead humanitarian agency in northern Rakhine State (nRS) and is expected to be the liaison between the Government and all other UN agencies and I/NGOs operating there.

Despite a new openness towards the UN, the government continues for now to restrict the number of international staff permitted to be stationed in the NRS.  This requires that international staff appointed to Maungdaw must be well equipped and experienced to carry out their functions in  a highly complex, isolated and politically sensitive operation where local staff are routinely subject to external pressures.

The overall political, social and operational context has changed dramatically in June 2012 following an outbreak of violence between the two main ethnic and religious groups - the Rakhine and the Muslim residents (a.k.a. Rohingyas outside Myanmar, an ethnic term not recognized by the GoUM), resulting in widespread damage and internal displacement of some 45,000 persons, not only in nRS but in other parts of Rakhine State as well, most notably in and around the State capital, Sittwe. The focus of the programme in the immediate and mid-term will therefore be determined by the need for shelter, NFIs, and other emergency assistance, as well as reconstruction of houses and restoration of livelihoods.

As part of the Admin and Finance Unit that provides support services to the office in Maungdaw and Buthidaung, the Associate Admin and Finance Officer in Maungdaw at the P2 level reports directly to the Head of Field Office Maungdaw and in collaboration with Admin and Finance Officer at the P3 level in Yangon.  Main financial functions involve IPSAS implementation, training of UNHCR and IP staff, processing of payment, review of budget and internal controls in Maungdaw and supply chain management.

The candidate must have the capacity to review and evaluate applicants to national positions and draft recommendation to the relevant boards or committee.   Thus, it is essential that the candidate should have an experience in human resources management and is familiar with UNHCR Policy and Procedures on Locally Recruited Staff (PPAL).

Candidates for this position should have a solid technical knowledge of FOCUS and MSRP.

It is also important to note that Myanmar faces frequent small to medium scale emergencies, which would require capacity on the Admin and Finance unit to respond to these emergency providing logistical and administrative support. As there is no Field Safety Adviser, the Admin Unit is also accountable on security and safety of all staff.

Due to the R&R policy, the Associate Admin./Finance Officer will be assigned as Officer in Charge in rotation with other international staff in the field.

Excellent English drafting skills are important for this position as most national staff do not posses the required English language drafting skills.
           
Closing Date
           
Please note that the closing date for vacancies in Part I of the September 2012 Compendium is Thursday 27 September 2012 (midnight Geneva time).

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