Finance Officer at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Officer

Job No: 568092
Lagos: Abuja
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Level: NO-2
Categories: Financial Management

Organizational Context and Purpose for the Job

• The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does - in programmes, in advocacy and in operations.
• The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism.
• To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life - in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions - her or his rights are violated.
• There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens - addressing inequity - not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
• This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How Can You Make a Difference?

• The Finance Officer reports to the Accounting and Finance Manager for close guidance, training and supervision.
• The Finance Officer is responsible for providing support to the supervisors and colleagues in the office by administering and executing a variety of professional and technical financial transactions and processes, applying theoretical skills and thorough knowledge of organizational goals, objectives, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to complete the tasks.
• The Finance Officer when supervising support staff will be responsible for planning and guiding work in progress and for reviewing work completed by subordinate staff to verify accuracy and compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), UNICEF Financial Regulations and Rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of accountability, and ethics.

Summary of Key Functions / Accountabilities

• Support to financial planning and management
• Control of accounts
• Treasury and cash management
• Knowledge and capacity building

Support to financial planning and management:

• Provide support to the financial planning process for CPMP by preparing/analyzing financial data/estimates and documentation verifying relevancy, accuracy and completeness to support budget planning. Provide financial operations support throughout the financial planning and implementation process.
• Review budget expenditures according to allotment and codes and verify compliance with guidelines and procedures. Keep stakeholders informed for timely action.
• Provide technical and operational support on the application, interpretation and implementation of operational policies, procedures and guidelines to the Representative and CO colleagues and stakeholders. Resolve routine financial operational issues and/or recommend (and record) deviation from policies and guidelines to meet objectives.
• Provide technical support to the programme counterparts/committees, e.g. review budgets and financial plans of implementing partners; monitor compliance with HACT framework, including support to assessments, assurance and capacity development of implementing partners.
• Prepare and/or monitor financial exception reports to assess unusual activities and transactions, investigate anomalies, and keep the supervisor informed for timely action.
• Review financial and reputational risks in the transactions carried out by the office and raise flags when action is needed by management.
• Where applicable, support PSFR activities on budget preparation, strategic income projection/ reporting, setting and monitoring performance indicators, revenue and expense reporting, and provide technical advice during strategic planning exercises.

Control of accounts:

• Process the submission of payments (e.g. MIP, travel claims, pension fund, advances to governments etc), journal entries and other financial transactions within scope on a timely basis to the Global Shared Services Center (GSSC), and ensure compliance with budgetary limits, IPSAS and organizational regulations, rules, policies, procedures, standards of accountability, and ethics. Take timely action on outstanding accounts to resolve pending issues. This includes dialogue and follow-up with the GSSC to facilitate timely processing of financial transactions submitted to the center.
• Process (as per delegated authority) the disbursement of payments when done locally via bank letters, checks, or petty cash.
• Process cash receipts and reconcile income contributions to ensure their timely deposit and recording in UNICEF systems
• Monitor, assess and analyze financial transactions, accounting reports and reconciliation of accounts and prepare accurate and current financial information for applicable compliance (e.g. IPSAS, donor reporting, internal policies) and management oversight, planning and/or action.
• Contribute to mandated management/statutory office financial and accounting reports to UNICEF Board/Bodies/Donors, verifying the reliability of data and compliance with organizational guidelines.
• Collaborate with oversight bodies (e.g. UNBOA, OIAI, Evaluation Office, JIU, donors, etc.) to provide answers to requests; and engage with the appropriate colleagues to resolve financial observations and recommendations raised in a sustainable and efficient manner.
• Complete applicable accounts closure activities (monthly, quarterly and yearly) on a timely basis and per closure instructions.
• Review DCT transactions (transfer, adjustments, reprogramming and liquidation) supporting documents to ensure FACE form has been properly entered into the system and the expenditure is broadly reasonable and in accordance with policy.

Treasury and cash management:

• Support the control, operations and management of bank, petty and cash-on-hand accounts in accordance with UNICEF/UN financial regulations and rules and local banking practices. Keep abreast of procedures and regulations regarding the maintenance of bank accounts and exchange and interests rates. Keep supervisor and relevant colleagues informed for timely action.
• Maintain contact with local bank management on routine operational matters.
• Maintain a system to monitor and forecast periodic cash requirements. Provide current information on cash position/forecast to management and make recommendations to ensure sufficient availability of resources for programmes and operations activities.
• Submit monthly bank statements to the GSSC for reconciliation and take necessary corrective action on findings identified by the center.

Knowledge and capacity building:

• Promote a culture of the highest ethical standards and behavior in the management of UNICEF’s resources.
• Support initiatives for management improvement by capturing, institutionalizing and sharing best practices and lessons learned. Recommend improvements in processes and procedures to enhance productivity and performance including implementation of cost saving strategies.
• Participate and/or organize training and learning events to build capacity of staff and stakeholders/partners.
• Support operations of the office as required.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Fulfill any other duties assigned by management to contribute to the efficient financial operation of the organization.

Education

• An advanced University Degree in Accounting, Financial Management, or another related financial field is required. A diploma qualification in CIPFA or its equivalent is an asset.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5 years) years of professional experience in financial management or audit is required.
• Experience in an international organization and/or large corporation is an asset.
• Experience in a UN system agency or organization some of which served in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Advanced knowledge in the Microsoft Suite of Products (including MS Word, MS Excel & MS PowerPoint), and Intranet/Internet is required.
• Experience in database packages, web-based management systems and ERP systems (preferably SAP financial modules) is considered as an asset.
• Experience with IPSAS and/or IFRS is considered as an asset.
• Understanding of principles and standards of accountability and sound application of financial rules and regulations.
• Experience in Data Entry and use of SAP/Vision is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA). 

• The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...
• Builds and maintains partnerships (II)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (II)
• Drive to achieve results (II)
• Innovates and embraces change (II)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (II)
• Thinks and acts strategically (II)
• Works collaboratively with others (II)
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (II)

Application Closing Date
4th January, 2024.