Finance Assistant
- Post Date:November 4, 2024
- Views 68
- Career Level AssistantQualification DiplomaExperience 5-10 Years
- Industry Non Governmental
Job Description
Job Identification: 21753
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Apply Before: 11/13/2024, 06:59 AM
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: UNDP
Grade: NB2
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Health
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Contract Duration: 1 Year
Education & Work Experience: Bachelor’s Degree – 2 year(s) experience OR High School certificate- 5 year(s) experience
Required Languages: English
Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
In Zimbabwe, UNDP is the interim Principal Recipient (PR) for the HIV grant and is also providing Support Services Fund Administration (FA) Support Services to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) as the continuing PR for the tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria grants. UNDP-GF partnership under the 2021-2023 allocation aims to contribute towards the achievement of the vision and goals of Zimbabwe National HIV Strategic Plan, 2021-2025. For effective implementation of the Global Fund resources, UNDP Zimbabwe has established a Program Management Unit (PMU), which is responsible for the day-to-day overall programme management, risk management, policy guidance, financial accountability, procurement of goods, including health products and services, strengthening of the national pharmaceutical and laboratory supply chain systems, including the Solar for Health (S4H) initiative and monitoring and evaluation. The GF resources are implemented in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant confirmation, corporate agreements with the GF and in close coordination with the national partners, including the National AIDS Commission (NAC), MoHCC, national disease programmes, NatPharm, NGOs, CSOs, communities, technical partners, UN entities and the Global Fund (Local Fund Agent) and Country Coordinating Mechanism.
In order to provide strategic planning, programmatic and operational management and oversight to the GF portfolio to achieve the defined programme goals, targets and effective delivery, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established.
Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Finance Analyst, the Finance Assistant is responsible for effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilization of financial resources and management of projects finances to support the GF grants. This will be done in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant and corporate agreements with the GF, and working in partnership with national stakeholders, Sub-recipients (SRs) and Sub-sub-Recipients (SSRs) and close coordination with the GF (including Local Fund Agent), CCM technical partners and UN entities, the GF/HIST.
The Finance Assistant will promote a collaborative, client-oriented approach, ensuring close collaboration with the GF grants operations, programme in the Country Office and other UNDP units for resolving complex finance-related issues and information delivery.
Duties and Responsibilities
Support implementation of operational and financial management strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system; implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
Full compliance with Global Fund’s rules, regulations and policies for financial management and reporting.
Conduct financial verifictions and spot checks at the offices of SRs and SSRs to review internal controls, financial records and reports and issue communication detailing the findings and recommendations.
Contribute to the preparation of the quarterly and semesterly reports to the Global Fund. .
Facilitate audits by the Office of Audit and Investigations and External Sub Recipient Audits of SRs and SSRs in a timely and effective manner and to ensure audit findings and recommendations are properly addressed and documented for management and reflected in the implementation arrangements; and
Provide support in responding to inquiries on financial-related matters from the SRs,SSRs, the Global Fund, and the Local Fund Agent.
Assist in Ensuring the management of Programme budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Assist in preparing and monitoring projects’ budgets in Quantum and ensure that the budget in Power BI System is in line with the approved detailed budget.
- Assist in monitoring of budgets and reporting on the budget utilization.
- Timely review of cash position for SRs and SSRs to ensure sufficient funds for their implementation and appropriate disbursements.
- Timely review commitment control in Quantum to monitor budget availability and cash available in Quantum; and
- Monitoring and ensuring that contributions from the Global Fund are transferred to UNDP and applied in Quantum on a timely basis. Prepare budget revisions, as required, and maintain updated the projects information in Quantum
- Analyze and provide reasons for the budget variances between the actual and budgeted expenditures.
- Preparation of all types of vouchers for GF related projects and PO vouchers for GF programme along with supporting documents.
Ensures proper control of the Programme’s accounts focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for GF.
- Analysis and elaboration of proposals for the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Quantum; travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed and receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals are properly done in compliance with IPSAS and UNDP policies and procedures; and
- Timely take 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.
Supports capacity building and knowledge sharing knowledge sharing on financial matters focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Capacity building of SRs and SSRs on overall financial management.
- Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in finance and share corporately.
- Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice
Competencies
Core competences:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Development
- Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Business Management
- Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
- Working with Evidence and Data : Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
- Customer satisfaction/ Client Management :Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns covering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
Administration & Operations
- Documents and Records Management: Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving.
Finance
- Accounting (General): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
- Financial Reporting and Analysis: Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
- Audit: Ability to examine and verify accounts and records
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education with specialized certification in accounting and/or finance. A university degree in finance or accounting is desirable. Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
- Candidates with accountancy certification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage. Candidates without certification but with relevant experience must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years (with high school diploma) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience at the national or international level is required.
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages.
- Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is desired.
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets
- Web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages.
- Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is desired.
- Experience in management of budgets and administration and implementation of operational strategies.
- UN or NGO experience an asset.
- Strong knowledge of UN or UNDP financial rules, policies, and procedures, is an asset.
- Strong knowledge of Global Fund’s financial policies and procedures is an asset.
- Proven Knowledge of payment processing.
- Proven report writing experience
Required Language:
- Fluency in English is required
Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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