Finance Officer

Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position

Hardship Level

A (least hardship)

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

PR3

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

• Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.

In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2024-04-01

Job Posting End Date

December 21, 2023

Standard Job Description

Finance Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Regional Controller or Senior Finance Officer and in functional coordination with DFAM’s Accounts and Financial Service (AFS). In the Country or Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent may be supervised by a Senior Finance Officer, Assistant Representative (Admin), Head of Sub-Office, or other senior positions as delegated by the Representative.

The incumbent is responsible for co-ordinating, guiding, monitoring, advising on, and supporting the financial operations in the area of responsibility (AoR). With the objective to safeguard and optimize the utilization of UNHCR’s monetary and physical resources, the incumbent contributes to the establishment of efficient and reliable mechanisms and processes to ensure compliance with UN financial regulations and UNHCR’s rules, policies and procedures including, and not limited to, accounts payable and treasury processes, accounting, and implementation of internal control mechanisms, including support to oversight and audit functions.

The incumbent also identifies and manages risks under their responsibility in close coordination with the Risk Management and Compliance Advisor. In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent supports the work of the Regional Controller with authority to discuss problems and seek common ground on which to recommend solutions based on predetermined guidelines provided by higher authority.

The incumbent may directly supervise professional and general service staff.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Oversee and guide integrated financial management and reporting for the area of responsibility (AoR).
• Assess, review, and ensure application of finance-related policies, instructions, procedures, etc.
• Provide advice to management regarding the application of financial policies and procedures and, when necessary, coordinate with the Regional Controller or Office of the Controller, as applicable, regarding the interpretation of such policies and procedures.
• Ensure accounting records are correct and reliable, including’ and not limited to timely bank reconciliations, maintenance of open items, timely processing of travel financial transactions, clearance of residual requisitions and purchase order balance.
• In close coordination with the AFS, support the preparation and review of donor financial reports, and endorse such reports before submission to donors.
• Ensure monthly and yearly closing as well as any other periodic accounting-related processes are executed in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensure the maintenance and on-going validity of the Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP).
• Ensure that payments made are timely and accurately, and all month-end and year-end cut-off processes are implemented in line with relevant guidance.
• Supervise the preparation of financial reports, monitoring and supervising expenditures with respect to approved budgets and work plans.
• Ensure that local bank account administration and associated cash management functions are performed in adherence to financial guidelines
• Perform financial management and control related to Cash-Based Interventions in adherence to financial guidelines.
• Review and certify vouchers, including ABOD and project disbursements;
• Perform project control functions for both directly and indirectly implemented activities, in the absence of a dedicated project control position
• Coordinate, review and endorse responses to audit queries from internal and external audits and ensure the implementation of accounting audit recommendations.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other relevant duties as required.

Regional financial services applicable to positions in the Regional Bureau only

• In coordination with relevant services in HQ, and to improve cost-effectiveness and process efficiency for operations, implement and manage regional finance-related services such as: vendor and other related master data management and maintenance, invoice posting, travel claim processing, payments, bank reconciliations, accounting housekeeping and period cut-off activities, donor financial reporting, etc.
• Make proposals for the continuous improvement of financial monitoring and control mechanisms, including the streamlining of financial systems and procedures.
• In coordination with DFAM’s Change Management and Field Support Section and the Global Learning and Development Centre, identify and provide training on accounting matters, and recommend or develop training modules as necessary, aiming at the development of financial management skills.
• In close liaison with DFAM’s System Administration Section and other divisions as necessary, provide and plan activities for rollout of new processes or systems; assist the Regional Controller in monitoring the implementing internal control mechanisms and compliance with UNHCR’s financial policies and procedures in the region.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Accounting; Finance; Public or Business Administration;

Economics; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Professional accounting, auditing or financial management designation (CPA/ACCA/CIA/CMA or equivalent)

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Work experience in the field of accounting/finance, project management, business analysis, quality assurance and/or risk management. Excellent knowledge of, and experience in working with, international accounting and auditing standards, with a minimum of two years of practical experience in the audit process and/or in financial statements preparation. Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS). Excellent understanding and/or experience of financial modules a major Enterprise Resource Planning system (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle). Good understanding of project and resource management. Excellent computer skills, in particular in MS Office applications, especially MS-excel. Excellent communication and negotiation skills. Experience of managing people in multinational/multicultural environments.

Desirable

Good knowledge of UNHCR systems (such as Focus and MSRP). Excellent knowledge of United Nations financial rules and procedures.

Functional Skills

FI-General Financial Management

FI-Financial auditing

FI-International Auditing Standards

FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc)

FI-Financial Accounting – Modified cash-based accounting as per international standards

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Experience with operations that have expanded Field locations/offices
• Ability to train junior staff under his/her supervision
• Training and capacity building of UNHCR staff in relevant Finance processes
• Experience in managing teams and supervising local staff.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Spanish

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Mixed movements in NCA are expected to continue as a widespread phenomenon and Guatemala will continue experiencing the dimensions of asylum, origin, transit and return country.

Guatemala continues to position itself as a country of asylum mainly for Hondurans, Salvadorians and Nicaraguans, among others. Improvements in the protection and inclusion prospective triggered by the MIRPS has generated a momentum for an increase of asylum seekers.

Vulnerable groups and persons with protection needs in areas at risk, face exploitation, abuse, persecution and, in the absence of prevention and response mechanisms are very likely to experience forced displacement. Deportation from US and MEX to GUA and related circular movements will also continue, alternatives are needed to the ones unable to return to their communities of origin to find safer alternatives in the country.

The operation has been going through significant scale up from 2021 to date which have positioned UNHCR as a relevant actor in the humanitarian and protection landscape of the country. The CO located in Guatemala City is complemented by 5 Field Units and one Field Office. Currently the office has 165 personnel on board, out of which more than one half based in field.

The incumbent will supervise Admin/Finance/ICT units while reporting directly to the Representative. S/he will provide technical support to admin Focal Points in field and will play a crucial oversight role of administrative and finance matters.

Living and Working Conditions:

Guatemala City is a Family duty station rated as A.

Very good infrastructure (health, housing, banking, transportation, telecommunications and recreational facilities).

Adequate schools. There is no lack of private or international schools, although the number of bilingual or bicultural schools is not so high.

Climate in the Capital City is very pleasant all year around, with temperature ranging from 20 to 27 degrees Celsius during the day time.

Accommodation in zones where most of expats live may be expensive (1,200-2,000 USD for an apartment, 1,500-2,500 USD for a house per month).

Recreational activities are limited due to CODIV-19, considering the situation remain still not very controlled and vaccination rate at the time of preparation of this document is still limited.

Most newly arriving expatriates are faced with the challenges of overcoming cultural and language barriers.

Guatemala city is rated as security level 3 Moderate

The main threat is common crime. Crimes range from armed robberies, drug trafficking-related crimes, rape, muggings and purse-snatching to petty theft.

The statistics of crime and violence in Guatemala are among the highest in the region. Guatemala has a well-established culture of juvenile gangs known as Maras, involved in drug trafficking, murder, extortion, kidnapping and smuggling activities.

Guatemala offers the most favorable conditions for committing illegal acts, basically due to its poor rate of impunity, the great numbers of illegal weapons in circulation, and the lack of opportunities for the youth.

Events related to natural phenomena in Guatemala, such as seismic events, intense rainfall, landslides, forest fires, volcanic eruptions and are regularly reported all over the country.

For Central America it is strongly advised to exercise extreme caution, and maintain a high level of personal security awareness.

Security training is provided by UNHCR Field Safety Service and UNDSS.

Skills

Additional Qualifications

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Accounting, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Finance, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Public Administration

Certifications

Accounting – Other, Auditing – Other, Financial Management – Other

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add. 2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2023 – Part B

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position requires Functional Clearance