UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Org. Setting and Reporting
These positions are located in the Operations and Advocacy Division (OAD), in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
This positions-specific job opening is being published for two (2) positions as Assistant Finance Officer /Pool Fund in Dnipro and Vinnytsia, Ukraine (the duty station may be subject to change, as the operational situation in the country evolves). Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Head of Office, the incumbents report to the Finance Officer.
Responsibilities
Within limits of delegated authority and depending on location, the Assistant Finance Officer /Pool Fund at this level may be responsible for the following duties:
Provides support in the allocation and financial management processes of the Humanitarian Fund
• Reviews and advises on the clearance of the project budgets and grant agreements.
• Reviews and advises on budget amendments or no-cost extension requests.
• Ensures regular follow-up with IP to obtain financial reports.
• Reviews interim and final financial reports and supporting documents to ensure compliance with the signed Humanitarian Financing agreements, budgets, and guidelines.
• Follows up on disbursement of funds and refund of balances from partners.
• Reviews grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency, reasonableness, compliance with the United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations (UNFRR) and the Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) Guidelines.
• Reviews receipt of audit reports from contractors and ensures projects records are updated as necessary.
Provides support in implementing the financial aspects of the Humanitarian Financing Accountability Framework
• Conducts financial spot-checks in line with the Humanitarian Financing operational modalities.
• Facilitates and provides support during audits, at the project and fund level, including assistance with vendor contracting, supporting the planning process, and assisting in the follow-up of critical audit findings.
• Liaises with partners, HFU staff and other third parties in verifying expenditure supporting documents during spot-checks, review of financial reports, capacity assessments and audits.
• Assists with the submission and return of Partners’ financial documentation for spot-checks in OCHA Sub-Offices.
Provides support to the implementation of the monitoring pillar of the Humanitarian Financing accountability framework.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of monitoring plans in line with allocation funding modalities.
• Participates in planning and actual field project monitoring.
• Participates in the request and reviews of partner capacity assessments and corresponding status update in Grant Management System (GMS).
• Assists with updating the project monitoring timelines, results, and recommendations in the GMS.
Facilitate knowledge building and sharing on financial monitoring within OCHA and the Humanitarian Financing implementing partners
• Identifies and synthesizes financial monitoring best practices, lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into fund management efforts and channeled into decision-making processes.
• Promotes awareness on Humanitarian Financing guidelines, and operational manuals.
• Plans and participates in trainings/workshops to implementing partners and other stakeholders.
Ensures proper monitoring and reporting:
• Supports the collection of field information to monitor and improve ongoing response, coordination activities and information products.
• Prepares succinct reports on the key humanitarian issues in the districts and workings with state level partners provide analysis on response gaps and advocacy issues.
Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. 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; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. 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.
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 client.
Education
A first-level university degree in finance, and accounting, business administration, public administration, or related field is required.
Work Experience
A minimum of two (2) year of progressively responsible experience in finance, political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, or a related field, is required
Relevant experience in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is desirable.
Relevant experience of internal control systems, accounting tools or related is desirable.
Experience in audit is desirable.
Relevant experience within the UN Common System or other comparable international organization is desirable.
Languages
French and English are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For these positions advertised, fluency in English and Ukrainian, (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of Russian is desirable.
Assessment
The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
These positions are funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointments is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds. The contracts will be administered by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of OCHA.
Appointment against these posts is on a local basis. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country, where these positions are located (limited to Ukrainian nationals)
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
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 NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.