JOB VACANCY IN LIBERIA FOR ADMIN/FINANCE ASSISTANT (NATIONAL POSITION)

Background
A capacity building support project titled “Mainstreaming Environment and Climate Change in National Development Policies and Strategies ” to be signed between the Liberian Government and the UNDP seeks to increase resilience to climate change and enhance adaptive capacity to address the additional risks posed by climate change in Liberia.

Climate change has emerged as a critical development issue as it threatens to reverse advances made towards achieving sustainable development goals. African countries are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and climate variability due to limited financial, institutional and technological capacities to adapt. Poverty, low levels of literacy, lack of skills, weak economies, limited infrastructure, weak institutions, lack of technology and information, poor access to resources, low management capacities and armed conflicts all combine to constrain the continent’s capacity to adapt (UNFCCC, 2006).

The links between climate change and its socio-economic impacts render adaptation critical at various levels of society. The poor and poor countries will disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change impacts due lack of adaptive capacity. Available evidence suggests that the impacts of climate change on African economies will be severe.

Agriculture is perhaps one of the most sensitive and vulnerable sectors to climate change, and accounts for about 51% of Liberia’s GDP. In West Africa generally, climate change will reduce the land suitable for agriculture by 6% and the total agricultural GDP will decline by 9%. Another distinctive feature of Liberia is the long coastline. Coastal towns are by far the most developed of the country’s urban areas and by implication, have a high concentration of residential, industrial, commercial including tourism, educational and military facilities. Sea-level rise will have significant impacts on the coastal areas because of the concentration of poor populations in areas that are vulnerable to such changes. Rural livelihoods will be the hardest hit by climate change. Declining economic growth in the wake of global warming will result in reduced income for the rural poor, worsen poverty and directly undermine the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Yet there are glaring gaps in integrating climate change adaptation within the national development planning frameworks as well as addressing key vulnerabilities.

To operationalize the ‘new’ strategic focus areas, the 2011 AWP will focus on the principal areas set out above. The AWP is also aligned to the UNDAF in focusing broadly on the UN system’s strategic interventions in the environment and natural resource sector in Liberia. The AWP also builds on the Liberia’s National Environmental Policy (2003) which sets out government’s priority interventions in the environmental sector inter alia: ‘building a prosperous and peaceful Liberia through sustainable management and socially equitable benefits sharing for development’.

A Finance and Administrative Assistant is needed to effectively implement the AWP.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Programme Specialist, Energy and Environment, the Finance and Admin Assistant will perform the following tasks.
• Maintain the project accounts and prepare monthly and annual financial statements with supporting schedules.
• Monitor the project’s cash flow regularly and prepare monthly cash flow statements
• Conduct review and analysis of accounts payable, and initiate appropriate action for adjustments.
• Accurately record and file all financial transactions on the project’s operations
• Establish or fine tune financial procedures: e.g. receipts, payments, disbursements and bookkeeping, filing procedures within the Environment section.
• Ensure that financial procedures in place comply with the financial/accounting and procurement requirements of the UNDP systems.
• Ensure an efficient financial flow process and timely payments for the goods and services required for the implementation of project activities
• Prepare project financial reports in compliance with UNDP rules and regulations and the periodic Disbursements Requests to be submitted for the replenishment of any advances to projects.
• Analyse and provide reasons for budget variances between actual and budgeted expenditures.
• Monitor the financial performance of the supply management systems/procurement
• Provide support in the procurement and administration of the Project logistics and supplies; follow-up with vendors for speedy delivery, and ensure that goods are received in good condition, properly maintained and accounted for.
• Coordinate the financial aspects and help build the capacity of Implementing Partners on project financial reporting in line with UNDP policies and practices.
• In coordination with Country Office Transport Assistant, manage the fleet of vehicles for the Unit.
• In accordance with work plans, liaise with key Partners in organizing and implementing project activities.
• Timely and duly preparation of procurement plans for the unit and projects and monitoring of their implementation.
• Preparation of requisition in Atlas for procurement services provided by UNDP to unit and other projects.
Timely corrective actions on vouchers with budget check errors and other problems.
• Provide support in the maintenance of the installations, equipment, premises and furniture of the Office that host the project, including assessing their cost effectiveness to advise management of their replacement and maintain updated inventory of office equipment, furniture, vehicles and supplies. Identify obsolete items in the inventory and advise Project Manager on appropriate administrative action.
• Attend all internal administrative, finance and procurement related meetings.
• Ensure availability, efficient deployment and regular maintenance of project equipment, including vehicle (s), computers, and other equipment for operational purposes.
• In line with approved workplans and specific request of the Project Manager, liaise with UNDP and other development partners on administrative, financial and procurement issues and ensure timely payment of salaries and the processing of travel documents for coastal project consultants (both national and international as well as project staff).
• Responsible for the overall year-end closure of the project’s accounts
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Programme Specialist
• Knowledge in the usage of ATLAS is an added advantage.

Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies
• Knowledge Management and Learning
• Shares knowledge and experience
• 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 perform a variety of standard tasks related to financial resources management, including screening and collecting documentation, financial data processing, filing, provision of information
• Good knowledge of financial rules and regulations
• Strong IT skills
• Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system

Leadership and Self-Management
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure

Required Skills and Experience
Secondary Education. Bachelor Degree or its equivalent in Accounting, Economics, Public Administration, Management is desirable, but not a requirement
Computer literacy and good writing skills are requirements.
5 to 7 years of relevant finance and administrative experience at the national level is required. Experience in the usage of computers and Microsoft Office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc).

Language Requirements: Fluency in English (both written and spoken)

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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