UNDP Finance Specialist Job Vacancy in Monrovia, Liberia

Languages Required : English Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Mar-2012
Duration of Initial Contract : One year

Background
Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director/Operations, the Finance Specialist is responsible for ensuring the highest efficiency in financial resources management and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilization of the financial resources of the office, as well as the management of the Country Office (CO) Finance Unit in Liberia. He/she analyses and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues and advises Management and staff on DEX, NEX and HACT related matters. The Financial Specialist promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations .

The Finance Specialist supervises and leads professional and support staff of the Finance Unit. The Finance Specialist works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in the CO, UNDP HQ staff, Government Officials and other UN agencies, ensuring successful CO performance in the finance area.

Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:
• Effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight;
• Implementation of operational strategies and procedures (under DEX, NEX and HACT environment);
• Projects’ budgets management and organization of an optimal cost-recovery system;
• Control of CO accounts;
• Control of CO cash management ;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing.

Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Financial analysis and oversight for all resources managed by the CO and provision of high-quality professional advice to the CO management;
• Proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources , including extra-budgetary income in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations ;
• Organization and oversight of CO cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommendation of imprest level, risk assessment , bank relationship management, timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site;
• Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to supervisors and other UNDP staff at HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained;
• Monitoring the overall position of the Finance Dash Board;
• Member of bank signatory panel.

Ensure implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system;
• CO finance business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal standard operating procedures in the Finance Unit; control of the work flows in the Finance Unit;
• Continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for the development and management projects;
• Elaboration of the framework and conditions of contribution within the CO resource mobilization efforts;
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies (including introduction and development of e-banking);
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual transactions, informs supervisors and other UNDP staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Ensure efficient management of the budget of the development and management projects and organize an optimal cost-recovery system, focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Management of all financial resources through planning, guiding and monitoring and controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations ;
• Management of all the common services budgets to ensuring timely and quality reports to UN agencies

Preparation and monitoring of projects’ budgets in Atlas;
• Regular analysis and reporting on the budget approvals and the delivery situation of management projects;
• Elaboration of proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management;
• Organization of cost-recovery mechanisms for services provided by UNDP ensuring the preparation of pro-forma invoices for UN Agencies and monitoring through the Atlas tracking system;
• Collection of information on internal and external clients’ satisfaction and needs in order to develop improvements to services;
• Ensuring that advance payments and direct payments for NEX projects are properly reviewed and made on a timely basis, as well as ensuring that payment information is properly recorded in to the Atlas system on a timely basis;
• Ensuring that cost- sharing contributions are properly transferred to UNDP on a timely basis.;
• Submission of financial reports to donors on a timely and quality basis.

Ensure proper control of CO accounts, focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Elaboration of the internal expenditures’ control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared; monthly payment orders (MPOs), travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed;
• Manager level 2 for transactions approval;
• Control of accounts closure;
• Approval of vendors;
• Timely corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues;
• Control of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and follow up with partners on contributions, maintenance of the General Ledger.

Ensure proper CO cash management , focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application;
• Daily review zero- balance account bank statements in Atlas to monitor imprest level; identification and recording of contributions;
• Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments;
• Transaction and stop payment approval of monthly UN exchange rate reports to HQ Treasury;
• Timely and accurate approval of bank reconciliation, including documented review of exceptions;
• Initiation of bank transfers and deals, selecting bank transfers and deals for approval and settlement;
• Effective application and management of Electronic Fund Transfer;
• Performing pay cycle manager role in Atlas;
• Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast for use by the Operations Manager;
• Liaison with other UN Agencies to obtain estimate for their cash requirements.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and sharing in the CO, focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Organization of training for the operations/projects staff on Finance;
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Finance;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice .

Impact of results:
The key results have an impact on the overall CO efficiency in financial resources management and success in introduction and implementation of operational strategies. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensure client satisfaction and enhance UNDP credibility in use of financial resources .

Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• An excellent sense of judgment;
• Creativity and innovation for coordination and management activities;
• Strategic vision: strong technical and analytical capacities, sound judgment. Demonstrated ability to respond quickly to evolving client needs and to manage several complex activities in parallel;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks effectively;
• Dependability, reliability and initiative;
• Sense of confidentiality.

Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Works actively towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, act on learning plans and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness
• Plans strategically, ability to lead results-based management and reporting;
• Formulates and manages budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
• Devises new systems and processes, and modifies existing ones, to support innovative behaviors;
• Generates creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
• Conceptualizes and analysis problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
• Good knowledge of accounting;
• Ability to successfully lead the Finance team;
• Excellent IT skills, knowledge of Atlas;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feed back;
• Approaches work consistently with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

People Skills and Team Working:
• Recognizes and respond appropriately to the ideas, interests and concerns of others;
• Works as a team member, ability to be a good listener, well organized, pay attention to details, and meet deadlines;
• Builds trust and engender morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
• Respects individual/cultural differences; utilize diversity to foster teamwork;
• Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, adaptation to a change process;
• Sets clear performance goals and standards;
• Executes responsibilities accordingly; provide and respond constructively to feedback (correction or recognition);
• Self analyzes performance problems seeking appropriate direction and support.

Communication Skills:
• Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
• Demonstrates excellent written, oral communication and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
• Master’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics or related field;
• A professional certification in finance or accounting is desirable.

Experience:
• Minimum 7 years relevant experience at the national or international level in providing financial management advisory services;
• Experience in managing staff and operational systems is a necessary requirement;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems is also a necessary requirement;
• Familiarity with ERP (ATLAS) operations will be an added advantage.

Language Requirements:
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English.

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.

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Closing Date: Saturday, 28 January 2012