Finance Officer Unocha

JOB DESCRIPTIONBackgroundThe Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (VHF) mobilizes and channels resources to humanitarian partners to respond to the humanitarian needs in Venezuela. The Fund operates within the parameters of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), with the objective of expanding the delivery of humanitarian assistance by focusing on critical priorities and needs. The VHF was established in September 2020, during the pandemic and has quickly become an important instrument of the humanitarian response in Venezuela, serving as a vital source of funding to address critical humanitarian needs. One of the VHF's strategic priorities has been to promote localization, enhancing participation and direct access to funds for national and local actors in Venezuela.Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Humanitarian Financing Unit- Pooled Fund Manager of the Venezuelan Humanitarian Fund, the Finance Officer position will be placed in Caracas with field visits to different regions of the country and will ensure oversight and compliance with the guidelines of the VHF and respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.Position PurposeThe Finance Officer works with minimal amount of supervision; independently provides accurate reports and timely support to Head of Humanitarian Financing Unit – Pooled Fund Manager with respect to the development of well-formulated medium-term plan and budget proposals and administration of all facets of approved budget. Supports the process of evaluation of capacities of VHF organizations. Processes work and related follow-up in an efficient and timely manner, ensuring that the requirements for the financial and audit process of the VHF projects complies with the VHF guidelines.Duties and ResponsibilitiesSupport administration and implementation of operational strategies and adapt processes and procedures.Review Capacity Assessment process of the VHF including the revision of preliminary screening of prospective partners, registration of Sub implementing partners, the Due Diligence and the UNPP process.Review of project budgets to determine regular costs and variations in the budget expense areas and related issues during the revision and analyzes of relevant budget proposals of the VHF.Support on budget revisions, no cost extensions and reprogramming of projects of the VHF.Review of Financial Reports of the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund to ensure it complies with the CBPF Guidelines and provide feedback to the implementing partners if necessary.Follow up on budget expenditures of VHF projects to ensure future disbursements are approved based on satisfactory Interim Financial Reports.Prepare/finalize annual budget reports of the UFH and perform preliminary analysis of variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.Collaborate with UFH personnel and stakeholders related to payments and deposits of the VHF.Perform Financial Spot Check visits to the VHF partners offices according to the CBPF Guidelines and Operational Modalities and reports the results of financial controls and prepare monitoring reports with recommendations to the VHF partners.Support project Audits of VHF implementing partners, facilitating audit visits, reviewing audit reports, update risk level of partners and provide feedback to the partners of the VHF. Support the refund process, if necessary.Maintain contact with stakeholders providing contractual services for the UHF and provide support and information as required.Provide informative sessions related to the CBPF Guidelines to access funding from the VHF and strengthen the capacities of partners with the compliance of CBPF Guidelines.Prepare materials and other relevant documents for the HC and the Deputy HC related to process of project budget approvals and disbursements, such as Funds transfers, Agreements, Grant Agreements, among others.Communicate effectively of concerns about project proposals, project documents or implementing partners of the VHF to the Fund Manager.Prepare the analyzes of cost-benefit and effectiveness of the project proposals of the VHF.Prepare financial analyzes for Annual Reports of the VHF and other progress reports or ad-hoc requests.Monitor financial records related to the VHF and integrity of various financial databases.Verify the accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous VHF allocations to new allocations issued.Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff and/or Head of Financing Unit on related issues during the preparation of budget reports and other administrative support as required.Keep up to date the documents, reports, and guidelines related to the program budget and the VHF documents in general.Maintain the files and archive documents of the VHF partners on the OneGMS documents tab.Keeps up to date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.Drafts and prepares correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.Monitors and updates bank account movements for projects disbursements of VHF partners.Performs other related duties, as assigned.CompetenciesCore CompetenciesACHIEVE RESULTS – LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.THINK INNOVATEVELY – LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.LEARN CONTINUOUSLY – LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.ADAPT WITH AGILITY – LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.ACT WITH DETERMINATION – LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.ENGAGE AND PARTNER – LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.ENABLE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION – LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.Cross-Functional CompetenciesBUSINESS MANAGEMENTCUSTOMER 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.BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGYBUSINESS ACUMEN: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTKNOWLEDGE FACILITATION: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.Technical CompetenciesFINANCEACCOUNTING (GENERAL): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, policies and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.BUDGET MANAGEMENT: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.AUDIT RISK MANAGEMENT: Ability to address audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT: Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects. Ensures a culture of positive risk management.Required Skills and ExperienceEducation:Advanced university degree (master ´s degree or equivalent) in Business, Finance, Budget, Accounting, Oversight and Compliance, Administrative Services or related areas is required.A first-level university degree (bachelor ´s degree) in combination with two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:Up to 2 years (with master's degree) or 2 years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant experience in finance, budget, accounting, oversight and compliance, administrative services or related area is required.Experience in Audit and financial revisions is required.Experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area is required.Strong analytical skills on budget projects and partner proposals.Demonstrated experience in report writing.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Excellent ability to establish professional relationships.Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners and colleagues to achieve organizational goals.Ability to work with moderate supervision, efficiently, competently, and with integrity with diverse people.Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.Work under pressure in an international and multicultural environment.Willingness to travel in the country.Desired Skills/Experience:Relevant experience within the context of humanitarian affairs is desirable.Relevant experience with the UN Common System organization or other comparable international organization or NGOs is desirable.Knowledge of Pooled-Fund mechanisms guidelines and policies on finance and compliance is an asset.Languages:An excellent command of written and spoken Spanish and English is required for this position.DisclaimerImportant applicant informationAll posts in the NO categories are subject to local recruitment.Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNOCHA's policy on Probation upon assignment.Applicant information about UNOCHA rostersNote: UNOCHA 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 UNOCHA at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.Workforce diversityUNOCHA is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.Scam warningThe United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. 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