Associate National Project Officer (Budget & Finance)

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 6ZWED0029PA

Grade : NO-B

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Harare

Job Family: Administration

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 26-JAN-2024

 

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

 

Duration of contract: 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
Only nationals of Zimbabwe may apply to this position.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

 

Under the authority of the Director of the Harare Regional Office and the direct supervision of the Finance and Administration Officer, the Associate Budget and Finance Officer will provide technical and operational support on Budgeting, Finance, to UNESCO’s Education, Health, and Well-being unit. The Associate National Project Officer (Budget and Finance) will provide technical and operational support on Budgeting, Finance, to the projects: Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) and O3 PLUS. The incumbent will receive policy guidance, instructions, from Bureau of Financial Management, Human Resources Management, Division of Operations, Security and Safety Section, and Programme Sector ADGs on their respective areas of responsibilities. On matters of financial internal controls, the incumbent receives delegated authority from the Chief Finance Officer as a certifying officer.

 

Specifically, the incumbent shall be responsible for the following responsibilities:

Long Description

General Administration

• Contributing to the review and adjustment of systems and processes, with a view to achieve an effective and efficient program implementation environment.
• Supervising the maintenance of proper inventory, filing, project’s recording systems. Supervising the maintenance, upkeep, safeguard, and operation of project’s assets.
• In coordination with the Finance and Administration Officer, ensuring that HR and procurement processes are in line with UNESCO’s rules, regulations and procedures.
• Providing guidance in managing communication with the HQ on the operational administrative and financial matters and respond to queries efficiently.

Long Description

Finance and Budget

 

• Providing guidance to the project staff in the preparation and consolidation of budgets for resource mobilization.
• Reviewing and analysing the project budget based on the donor agreement, in close coordination with the Finance and Administration Officer, programme/project responsible officers and donor.
• Ensuring donor agreement provisions are accurately translated into project budgets.
• Ensuring strict compliance with UNESCO's rules, regulations, policies and procedures and accounting standards, including IPSAS.
• In close coordination with the Finance and Administration Officer, liaising with BFM and BSP on matters of budget planning and budget preparation and provide relevant information as requested.
• Ensuring that the budget data of the project is adequately and timely entered in the appropriate management systems, and that budgetary transactions are in compliance with regulations, rules, policies and procedures.

Long Description

• Ensuring the sufficient and effective use of budgetary resources through robust monitoring of budget execution and timely provision of information to the Regional Director, the Finance and Administration Officer and the programme/project responsible officers.
• Monitoring and analysing the project budget based on progress made in implementation and take corrective action if required, in close coordination with the Finance and Administration Officer, the programme/project responsible officers and donors. 
• Providing substantive advice and support to project personnel in reviewing project budgets and propose revisions or corrective actions as necessary.
• Process, validate and follow up with Central Services on budget revisions.
• Providing timely reporting on budget implementation to the Regional Director, the Finance and Administrative Officer, programme/project responsible officers and UNESCO Central Services.
• Ensuring that project closure actions are timely performed, in line with UNESCO's rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and project agreements' provisions.

• Providing guidance on the application of financial rules, regulations and procedures and facilitating training as may be required.
• Acting as certifying officer for the project’s transactions, including commitments and payments, ensuring that financial transactions are in compliance with regulation, rules and procedures for UNESCO.
• Ensuring that the project’s financial resources and expenditures are fully and properly accounted for and that the project’s internal control systems are adequate and functioning.
• Monitoring commitments and payments of the project, review and reconcile various clearing accounts, investigate erroneous/invalid entries and take appropriate corrective action, in line with UNESCO's rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Analysing complex or unusual accounting transactions and open items in the accounting system and implement corrective actions, in line with UNESCO's rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ensuring that property, plant and equipment of the project are properly accounted for in the projects' records and that necessary and timely disposal actions are taken, in line with UNESCO's rules, regulations, policies and procedures and project agreement's provisions.
• Processing funds disbursements, funds reservations, Invoices, workflow process monitoring and providing updates.

• Reviewing and processing high value payment requests.
• Preparing JV requests and submitting to BFM for processing
• Monitoring and managing liquidity of the project’s bank accounts and assisting the Finance and Administration Officer in preparing the project’s bank reconciliations.
• Reviewing budgets and financial justifications related to implementation partnership agreements.
• Providing support to project officers on donor reporting and liaising closely with Headquarter services to ensure donor reports are prepared in a timely manner in line with the terms of the funding agreements signed with donors.
• Analysing and providing advice on cash flow requirements of the project and submit cash requests to the Administrative Unit of the Regional Office.
• Performing monthly and yearly financial closure tasks, in close coordination with the Finance and Administration Officer.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Communication (C) Accountability (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Professionalism (C) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in finance, accounting, business administration or economics.

 

Work Experience

• Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in administration, accounting, budget and/or financial management. 
• Experience with budgeting and financial reporting and project finance.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of budgeting and reporting.
• Excellent technical and analytical skills
• Good organizational skills
• Detail Oriented
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent knowledge of MS Excel and strong knowledge of SAP, ERP system.

 

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (oral and written) of English.

 

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 42,446 US $.

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.