Country: Somalia
Closing date: 22 May 2015
Background:
The Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia, adopted in 2012, provides for the conduct of a constitutional referendum and elections. One of the mandates of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM) which was established in 2013 is the provision of policy advice to the Federal Government of Somalia on the constitutional review process and subsequent referendum and preparations for elections. The United Nations has set up an Integrated Electoral Support Group comprising UNSOM and UNDP to provide electoral assistance in line with recommendations of a UN Needs Assessment Mission. This assistance is provided in a phased manner and the initial phase of support will focus on three priorities: the establishment and capacity development of the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC); the development of the legal framework on elections; and the promotion of increased understanding of electoral processes and the legal framework. The bill establishing the NIEC was passed by the Federal Parliament in February this year and the process to select the NIEC commissioners has commenced. The UN Integrated Electoral Support Group led by the Chief Electoral Adviser will work closely with the NIEC, the Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs, Federal Parliament and other stakeholders to provide the necessary technical assistance for the elections and the referendum. A new Joint Programme for Electoral Support to the Federal Republic of Somalia is being established with funding provided through the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
The Finance Specialist working under the direct supervision of the Operations Specialist will be responsible for the financial management of the Joint Programme/Project in line with UNDP rules and regulations.
D**escription of Responsibilities :**
Summary of key functions:
- Effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight;
- Implementation of operational strategies and procedures;
- Project budget management and monitoring;
- Proper control of project accounts;
Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on the following:
- Financial analysis and oversight for all resources under the project;
- Proper planning, expenditure tracking of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
- Maintaining internal controls over all financial processes;
- Ensuring an efficient financial flow process;
- Tracking and reporting to management of key financial performance indicators.
Ensure implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Establish or fine tune financial procedures: e.g. receipts, payments, disbursements and bookkeeping, filing procedures for the project;
- Ensure that financial procedures in place comply with the financial/accounting and procurement requirements of UNDP;
- Continuously analyze and monitor the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for the project;
- Oversee the transparency of the financial processes and the use of funds and compliance with UNDP financial guidelines;
- Ensure timely preparation of quarterly financial reports;
- Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigate anomalies or unusual transactions. Inform supervisors of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
Manage the Project budget and organize an optimal cost-recovery system, focusing on the following:
- Manage all financial resources through planning, guiding, monitoring and controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
- Prepare and monitor projects’ budgets in Atlas;
- Develop proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management;
- Ensure that payment information is properly recorded into the Atlas system on a timely basis.
Ensure proper Project cash management, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Timely review of cash position for the projects to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements;
Timely preparation of monthly cash flow forecast.
Competencies :
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:
- Creates effective advocacy strategies;
- Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.
Results-Based Programme Development and Management:
- Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
- Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
- Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
- Participates in the formulation of project proposals.
Building Strategic Partnerships:
- Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
- Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
- Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:
- Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
- Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
- Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
- Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:
- Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
- Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
- Effective presentation and report-writing skills; strong analytical and strategic skills as well as good written and oral communications skills.
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:
- Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
- Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
- Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
- Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.
Client Orientation:
- Anticipates client needs;
- Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
- Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.
- Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.
Core Competencies:
- Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
- Building support and political acumen;
- Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
- Building and promoting effective teams;
- Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
- Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
- Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
- Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
- Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
- Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.
- Qualifications :
- Education:
- Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy;
- Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have an advantage.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in providing financial management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
- Experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft;
- Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates;
- Familiarity with UNDP financial rules, regulations and processes is highly desirable.
Language:
- Fluency in English.
How to apply:
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their application by visiting: http://jobs.undp.org/ OR