Finance Assistant

The Zimbabwe Hurricane Idai Recovery Programme (ZIRP) will fall under the purview of the UNOPS KEMC (Kenya Multi Country Office) Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMC sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and Southern Africa. This includes a large portfolio of Infrastructure, procurement and project management service projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and several Island states.

Project

Following devastation caused to life, livelihoods and property by tropical storm Idai in March 2019, the WB has allocated up to US$ 75 million to finance a recovery project for Zimbabwe. The project addresses both early and mid-term recovery needs in multiple sectors (livelihoods, health, education, agriculture). UNOPS has been requested to manage the WB funds and is establishing a Project Implementation Unit (PIU). UNOPS, via the PIU, will engage multiple UN partner organizations to deliver specific components of ZIRP. The PIU will be located in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe and is expected to be operational for between 2 and 3 years.

The PIU will be established as a facility to support the world bank fund only. As the Fund Manager/PIU UNOPS will be responsible for multiple functions vis-a-vis the ZIRP including the design of an early recovery/emergency response facility, fiduciary management, legal and technical oversight Monitoring and Evaluation, reporting, quality assurance and communications.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Finance Manager, the Finance Assistant in the PIU provides a variety of specialized finance, accounting, and clerical functions related to project accounting and financial reporting. The Finance Assistant ensures high quality, accuracy and consistency of work and promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS financial rules and regulations.

The Finance Assistant works in close collaboration with the UNOPS operations, program and projects’ staff for resolving finance-related issues and information exchange.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Implementation of operational strategies
• Treasury functions
• Accounting, administrative and clerical support
• Financial Reporting
• Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Ensures implementation of operational strategies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up; implementation of the effective internal control framework.
• Input to the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.

Provides support to Treasury, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Review of payment requests for completeness prior to processing to ensure that documentation is complete and all information concerning the payment has been supplied; proper accounting codes used; certification of services rendered/goods delivered is written on the payment document and duly signed by authorized officials; payment to sub-contractors are in compliance with terms and conditions of agreement.
• Review and confirmation of appropriateness of operational transactions processed through the interpretation and determination of applicable policies, regulations, rules
• Review and confirmation of validity of charges by verifying authorized amounts and ensuring availability of budget and funds.
• Frequent contact with the local bank to obtain day-to-day information on rates of exchange, interest rates, changes in procedures and bank regulations, etc.
• Running the pay-cycle and preparation of bank transfer documents.

Provides accounting, administrative and clerical support to the Finance Unit, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Preparation of vouchers and review of supporting documents to ensure completeness, accuracy and correctness of accounts codes charges; entry of transactions in the computerized accounting and finance system.
• Monitoring of financial recorded expenditures and related contributions to ensure timely and accurate accounting information.
• Analysis of reports, investigation and adjustment as required.     
• Communication with colleagues/clients on areas requiring verification, corrections, additional information, etc. to improve quality of output and/or account submission and increase knowledge base in the process. 
• Monitoring of cash requirements and expenditures.
• Provision of finance system support (UNOPS ERP Financial System, PeopleSoft) to field offices and regional office staff for Project Accounting and Financial Reporting
• Ensure the maintenance of a good filing and archiving system for the purpose of achieving quick reference and up-to-date financial records.

Ensures accurate financial reporting, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of reporting systems and reports to meet Funding source requirements.
• Reconciliation of expenditures recorded in oneUNOPS.
• Assistance to Project Managers with oneUNOPS reporting and analysis.
• Provision of ad-hoc financial reports as needed including for Year-End closure

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Participation in the training for the operations/ projects staff on Finance.
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Completion of secondary school or equivalent
• University degree or diploma or certification in related subjects; accounting, business administration is an advantage

• At least 4 years of relevant finance experience is required at the national or international level. 
• Possession of a university degree will supplement some of the required experience.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office 2003 and/or newer versions) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information – Kenya Multi Country Office (KEMC)

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and South Africa. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and several island states.