Job Title: Finance Officer
Job ID: 7423
Location: Baghdad,
Iraq
APA Location: Amman,
Jordan
Salary Grade: P3
Hardship Level: E
Family Type Location: Non-Family
ORGANIZATIONAL
CONTEXT:
Finance Officers in the field typically report to Senior
Administrative Officers. This arrangement separates the administrative and
finance functions while providing mutual backup.
In operations that do not have a Project Control Officer and
are not covered by a Regional Project Control Officer, the Finance Officer must
also perform oversight responsibilities with regard to the execution of
projects.
A mix of Admin/Finance post in the field can be found at P3
or P4 level. Because of this mixed profile, it is unlikely that there would be
another post at the P level with a pure
finance function, and the expectation would be that such an office would also
have a finance staff at the NO or G level.
The incumbent directly supervises professional and general
service staff.
FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability:
* UNHCR's financial rules and regulations, policies and
procedures are adhered to by the country operation.
* UNHCR has a budget that provides a comprehensive and
consolidated picture of its operational, staffing and administrative
requirements at the country-level.
* UNHCR's local cash is safeguarded.
* Monthly accounts are correct and approved.
* The Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) is up-to-date and
reflects the necessary segregation of duties in the office.
* Senior management is promptly informed of major variances
in the execution of projects (budgets, finance, implementation or timeframe).
Responsibility:
* Assess budgetary needs for administrative budgets (ABOD)
for approval; monitor and control ABOD expenditure;
* Analyze expenditure variances against approved budgets,
and review vouchers, including ABOD and project disbursements.
* Establish monthly cash requirements for the office, and
maintain effective business relationships with local banks.
* Ensure compliance with UNHCR and UN Financial Regulations
and Rules, policies and procedures.
* Ensure that any changes to financial systems and
accounting procedures are implemented.
* Perform oversight responsibilities, when applicable, with
regard to the execution of projects, including (1) monitoring all financial
aspects of project management as well as operational risks at the country
level; (2) analyzing project expenditures levels and patterns in relation to
the operations plan and signed agreements with partners and implementation
rates to track project progress; and (3) monitoring that IPs meet UNHCR's
administrative, financial and procurement requirements in the execution of the
project.
* Identify potential risks in relation to the financial
management of the office, including effective internal controls, and propose
mitigating action to the programme team and senior management, when applicable.
* Perform project control functions, in the absence of a
dedicated project control position.
* Ensure that payments are effectuated by the monthly
deadline.
* Ensure that monthly accounts are correct and approved, and
ensure timely monthly bank reconciliations, including open items, review and
clearance of unwanted requisitions and PO
balances.
* Conduct regular checks of petty cash and cash accounts.
* Implement year-end instructions for the closure of
accounts.
* Review the periodic financial monitoring of implementing
partners, in coordination with programme and/or project control staff.
* Draft responses to audit queries from internal and
external audits and coordinate the implementation of audit recommendations.
* Provide advice to staff in the office on the practical
application of financial policies and procedures.
* Provide training on financial matters.
Authority:
* Ensure country-level compliance with applicable financial
rules, policies and procedures.
* Certify country-level financial expenditure reports
submitted to the regional office or Headquarters.
* Approve and certify local bank reconciliation and petty
cash accounts.
* Verify and certify submitted IP financial and operational
reports, when applicable.
* Have unlimited access to financial and operational records
relating to projects, when needed to perform oversight responsibilities.
* Approve vouchers, including ABOD and project
disbursements.
* Propose responses to audit queries and provide updates on
the status of implementation of audit recommendations.
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 eight years of previous job experience in the
field of accounting or finance, of which at least two years in an intergovernmental
organization (United Nations or similar).
* Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS
or IFRS).
* Working experience with PeopleSoft/Oracle Financial
modules.
* 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).
* Excellent knowledge of United Nations financial rules and
procedures.
Operational Context
UNHCR staff inside Iraq operates in a much volatile security
environment, living and working in secured compounds with limited access to the
exterior which has to be undertaken only under strict clearances and for the majority under police escort.
International staff operating in Iraq
should undertake a mandatory Security Induction Awareness Training (SAIT) prior
travel to Iraq.
UNHCR Iraq administration department is responsible for Iraq
Operations ABODs amounting $6,500,000 and staffing cost approximately
$11,000,000 (subject to increase) as per operation plan for 2011 ¿ 2012; the total personnel of UNHCR Iraq is more
than 209 (incl.approx.70 international staff) staff in 20 locations mainly
inside Iraq, and Amman (Jordan). At the moment, the banking system inside Iraq is limited (one in Baghdad and one in Erbil-Northern Iraq), this
means all other UNHCR locations uses cash system.
The services of Finance Officer is not limited to Baghdad
office per se but covers all locations inside Iraq and support office in Amman
and directly works with all Administrative, finance and human resources staff
of all location where UNHCR Iraq has a presence and over looks all financial
transactions/matters of Iraq wide in support of Assistant Representative
Administration who is overall responsible Admin and Finance matters of Iraq
operations.
It is important to note that most of the administrative,
finance and human resources activities are carried out in Amman (Iraq Operation
Unit in Amman) and Finance Officer may spend some of his/her time in Amman
while frequent travel will be carried out to Baghdad (central Iraq), Basra
(Southern Iraq) and Erbil (Northern Iraq). In additions, he/she will interact
with Admin and finance personnel of United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq
(UNAMI) as UNAMI provides to support services to UNCT members in Iraq on cost
sharing basis.
Due to the magnitude of this operation, the Finance Officer
is expected to have both technical and managerial skills in Finance, Human
resources and General administration as these functions interacts with finance
duties which Finance Officer is in charge.
Although working language is English, knowledge of Arabic is
very important language as most of the official, financial and administrative
documentation in Iraq and Jordan and Iraq are in Arabic.
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).
To apply for this position and others at UNHCR, click here
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