UNDP Rwanda Finance Specialist Job Vacancy in Rwanda

Finance Specialist at UNDP Rwanda, Kigali – DEADLINE:
10/07/2014

Location: Kigali, RWANDA

Application Deadline: 10-Jul-14

Type of Contract: FTA Local

Post Level: NO-C

Languages Required: English

Starting Date: (date when the selected candidate is
expected to
start)
01-Sep-2014

Duration of Initial Contract: One year renewable

Background

Under the overall guidance of the DCD/DRR, 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, and
transparent utilization of financial resources and management of the CO Finance
Unit in a medium size Country Office. He/she analyzes and interprets the
financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of
complex financial issues. The Finance 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 Management Support , Programme,
Operations, and project teams in the CO, UNDP HQ staff and Government officials
ensuring successful CO performance in Finance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Effective and accurate financial resources
management and oversight;

Implementation of operational strategies and
procedures;

Management 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 including contributions for general services
and provision of high-quality professional advice to the CO management;

Proper planning and expenditure tracking of
management projects’ resources 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 impress
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;

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 workflows in the Finance Unit;

Continuous analysis and monitoring of the
financial situation, presentation of forecasts for management projects;

Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and
reduction strategies (including introduction and development of e-banking
and continuous monitoring of costs associated with banking services);

Routinely monitors financial exception reports
for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual
transactions. Informs supervisors and other UNDP staff at Headquarters of
the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not
obtained;

Routinely monitor compliance with IPSAS rules and
guidelines in financial transactions conducted at the Country Office;

Coordinates with the Management Support Unit in
monitoring the IPSAS Revenue Management module;

Participated actively as member of the finance
working group in the implementation of the Business Operations Strategy
for the One UN in Rwanda.

Manage the budget of management projects and organize
an optimal cost-recovery system, focusing on achievement of the following
results:

Management of management projects financial
resources through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling of the
resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;

Preparation and monitoring of management
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
into the Atlas system on a timely basis;

Review of financial reports before their
submission to donors.

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;

Control of accounts closure;

Approval of vendors;

Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers,
including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions,
unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial
data issues.

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 of 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 on internet
banking system;

Approval and submission 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;

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 of 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;

Mentor and develop the capacities of supervisees
on financial management and reporting;

Develop ‘Twinning’/ ‘Back-Stopping framework
within the finance unit.

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;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals
of UNDP;

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race,
nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a
learning environment in the office through leadership and personal
example;

Actively works towards continuing personal
learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning
plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based
management and reporting;

Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage
contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial
analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;

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 feedback;

Consistently approaches work with energy and a
positive, constructive attitude;

Demonstrates good oral and written communication
skills;

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to
manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Finance,
Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics or related
field;

Professional certification from an international
accounting body such as ACCA, ICMA ACA, and CPA would be desirable;

Candidates without certification/membership from
a recognized international accounting body ( such as ACCA, ICMA, ACA,CPA
etc. would be required to take the UNDP Accounting and Finance Test to be
considered for an interview;

Enrolment to the UNDP Finance Training and
Certification will as well be mandatory to the successful candidate
(without certification) within six months from the entry on duty.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience at the national or
international level in providing financial management advisory services
and/or managing staff and operational systems;

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.

Language:

Fluency in English required;

Knowledge of French and Kinyarwanda, added
advantage.

How To Apply

Interested candidates are invited to read the full job
description and apply online via https://jobs.undp.org. The required
documents include the candidate’s Personal History Form (P11), a resume and
academic certificates (uploaded as one file)

Deadline for submission of applications: 10th July
2014.

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.