Finance Officer Jobs in Uganda, at United Nations - 2015

Employment Type:Full Time Permanent

Reports to:Service Delivery Manager

Department/ Office:Regional Service Centre at Entebbe

Application Deadline:17 December 2014

Job Opening number:14-FIN-RSCE-38900-R-ENTEBBE (M)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

- Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

- An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. All staff of the Ethics Office are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter.

- This vacancy is subject to availability of post. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

- These posts are financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. Extension of appointment will be subject to budgetary approval.

- This position is vacant due to the temporary assignment/secondment of the regular incumbent to another office/organization. The selection and extension of appointment of the selected candidate will be contingent on the return of the incumbent who maintains a lien against this post. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment.

-The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) is an independent inter-agency body established by the United Nations General Assembly. The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fund and the UN Secretariat. On the basis of that MoU and in light of the status of the UNJSPF, it was decided that staff members applying to posts at the P-5 level in the UNJSPF are exceptionally not subject to the lateral move requirement for purposes of eligibility.

However, selected candidates who do not meet the lateral move requirements will be granted appointments strictly limited to service with the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located at the Regional Services Centre, Entebbe. The Finance Officer at this level will report to the Service Delivery Manager.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer will carry out the following duties:

Accounts:

• Reviews and verifies the closing of monthly accounts and preparation of financial statements for submission to Headquarters.

• Verifies the data reported in the financial statements.

• Scrutinizes source documents for completeness, accuracy and validity of charges.

• Reviews and approves various vouchers and accounting transactions, e.g., payroll, payment of staff entitlements, final payments, travel claims, vendor invoices, agencies, field missions, etc., to ensure adherence to relevant staff rules, financial regulations and rules, guidelines or practices.

• Maintains internal control procedures to ensure vouchers are processed and correctly posted (in SunSystems).

• Investigates erroneous charges and takes appropriate corrective accounting actions.

• Reviews and reconciles suspense accounts and ensure proper clearance procedures have been followed.

• Reviews and verifies bank reconciliations on a monthly basis.

• Examines details of income, expenditure, assets and liability from accounting system in order to analyze and verify accuracy and validity.

• Examines the validity of requests for increases in petty cash levels; approve disbursement vouchers to replenish petty cash accounts.

• Approves the recording of obligations (in the SunSystems).

• Serves as Approving Officer for the Finance Section.

• Supervises other General Service or Field Service staff as required.

• Responds to queries from staff members and third parties.

Treasury/Cashier:

• Monitors/reviews methods used to remit payments and supervises investigation of non-receipt of payments.

• Responsible for monitoring the transmittal of payments worldwide.

• Reviews incoming payment instructions with regard to banking details and sources of funds.

• Prepares payments for final disbursement by Cashier.

• Monitors the dispatch of payment instructions and cheques to banks.

• Verifies receipts and deposit slips for all incoming funds.

• Assists staff members regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.

• Identifies and annotate bank account movements.

• Assists the Chief of Unit/Section in cash management, including preparing cash flow forecasts.

• Investigates complaints of non-receipt.

• Monitors cheque stock and cash receipt vouchers and requests for new stock as required.

• Ensures that cash in the vault are accounted for on a daily basis.

• In the absence of a Chief Cashier, oversee the daily operation of the Cashier’s Unit including the transmittal of payments.

General:

• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.

• Provides guidance and training (including preparation of training materials) to junior staff with respect to transaction processing and the use of various systems such as Funds Management Tools (FMT), SUN and PROGEN.

• Drafts/verifies memoranda and/or cables relevant to financial and budget matters to various offices, departments and missions.

• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism:

·Knowledge in the use and application of the Organization’s financial regulations and rules as well as accounting policies and practices.

·Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and apply data across the full range of finance, accounting, treasury and budget functions.

·Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work processes and anticipate next steps showing skills and ability to analyse and interpret financial data.

·Ability to plan and achieve the unit’s operations and objectives.

·Shows pride in work and in achievements;

·demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;

·is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;

·is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

·Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Teamwork:

-Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals

-Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others

-Places team agenda before personal agenda

-Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position

-Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

Planning & Organizing:

-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies

-Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required

-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work

-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning

-Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary

-Uses time efficiently

Accountability:

-Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments

-Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards

-Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules

-Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments

-Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Client Orientation:

-Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view

-Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect

-Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions

-Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems

-Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects

-Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients.

Managing Performance:

-Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority

-Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member

-Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills

-Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines

-Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff

-Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative

-Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff

-Appraises performance fairly

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Technical or vocational certificate in accounting, finance, budget or related fields is required. Candidates may be required to take basic accounting and mathematical tests to determine their eligibility for this position.

Work Experience

·At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience within the United Nations system or in the private sector at the national or international level in accounting, budgeting or financial management.

·The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to 5 years for candidates who possess a first level University Degree.

·At least 5 years experience approving education grant advances and claims, is required.

Languages

Fluency in English(both oral and written) is required.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and / or a competency – based interview.

Mode of application:

Apply Online:

To apply to this position please click the link below and follow the application instructions below.

United Nations Considerations

NOTE:

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED