Description of assignment title: Finance Officer

Assignment country: Yemen

Expected start date: 14/09/2022

Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Host entity: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen

Type: Onsite

Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Aden

Details

Mission and objectives

OCHA's mission is to coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. OCHA advocates for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.

Context
This UNV assignment is part of UNOCHA's efforts to support the humanitarian community's response in Yemen, which is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world

Task description
This position is located in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Aden with missions to OCHA hubs in Yemen. Under the overall supervision of the Fund Manager/Head of Humanitarian Financing Unit, the Finance Officer, reports directly to the Finance Manager.

The Finance Associate will be expected to be able to perform the following, prioritized according to operational requirements:

Summary of key functions:

► Financial Review
► Financial Management
► Administration

Financial Review:

• -Perform a thorough review of the project proposal budgets as per fund operational guidelines and allocation strategy, and ensure cost effectiveness analysis of proposals by cross-checking of items commonly purchased under YHF;
• -Support the Finance Manager and Program Staffs in the review of budget revisions, reprogramming or Cost/No-Cost Extension requests from implementing partners;
• -Ensure on time submission of interim and final financial reports by implementing partners, review and clear the reports in due time as per CBPF Operational guidelines;
• -Support the Finance Manager on audit process including facilitation of contracting external auditing companies, support the planning, advise on the review/clearance of audit reports and ensure follow-up of critical audit findings;
• -Review the partner's due diligence application to ensure accuracy of their banking information
• and documentations;
• -In line with the CBPF accountability framework, conduct the capacity assessment of partners who passed the first step of the Eligibility process (Due Diligence) to gauge their capacity and assign them with an appropriate risk profile backed up by a comprehensive report based on review of partner's systems, practices and documentations;
• -Conduct periodic financial spot-check visits to partner offices, prepare the spot-check report and ensure visit findings are thoroughly discussed with the partner and recommendations are understood and followed.

Financial Management:

• -Liaise with Administration Unit on tracking of expenses processed by Administration Unit and regularly produce and monitor the expenditure reports to inform further decision-making related to cost plan;
• -In close coordination with Finance Manager, prepare financial analysis of the fund allocations for donor reporting, YHF annual report and the fund dashboards;
• -Conduct partner sensitization on YHF procedures and guidelines for accessing grants, working with the Grant Management System (GMS), complying with the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules (UNFRR) and the Guidelines for Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) through participation in meetings and workshops;
• -Track, collect and review financial reports, installment requests, and projects refund on YHF financial tracking sheet from YHF partners to ensure accuracy and compliance with YHF guidelines and provide feedback to colleagues and partners as necessary;
• -Maintain the HFU petty cash, record all expenses in UMOJA and ensure reconciliation of cashbook with the physical cash in the safe;
• -Work closely with Funding Coordination Section (FCS) Finance in New York on financial reports, budget reviews, payments, and refunds;
• -Assist HFU staff and YHF stakeholders regarding queries on budget, financial reports, payments, refund and deposit-related issues;
• -Provide guidance and advice on CBPFs guidelines, internally (HFU, FCS, etc.) and externally.

Administration:

• -Support the Pooled Fund Manager and Head of the Unit in liaising with companies carrying out contractual services on behalf of the HFU, and provide support and information as and when required;
• -Keep up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to program budgets and the YHF in general;
• -Document and file all financial documents like spot-check reports, audit reports, refund payments and financial authorization for recording purpose and future reference;
• -Perform other duties as required.

Eligibility criteria

Age

• 27 - 80

Nationality

• Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

• 3 years of experience in - with any UN organization is an asset.
• - Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• - Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• - Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• - Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with office technology equipment.
• - Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Area(s) of expertise

• Administration

Languages

• Arabic, Level: Mother tongue, Desirable
• English, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in Finance

Competencies and values

• - Professionalism
• - Communication
• - Teamwork
• - Judgment and Decision-making
• - Technological Awareness:
• - Accountability