UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Hope

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged and those hardest to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfil their potential.

We provide and advocate for education, health and nutrition services. Protect children from violence and abuse. Bring clean water and sanitation to those in need. And keep them safe from climate change and disease.

The world’s largest provider of vaccines, UNICEF also runs the world’s largest humanitarian warehouse.

Before, during and after emergencies, we’re on the ground with life-saving help and hope.

The Health Section of the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office (NCO) supports the Government of Nigeria to roll-out child survival interventions at country and State level in Nigeria. These interventions are key to reducing the extremely high rates of maternal, infant and child mortality, and poor child development in Nigeria.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Finance Associate will be responsible for providing a variety of specialized tasks in finance functions, ensuring accurate and timely delivery in compliance with UNICEF financial rules and regulations, whilst demonstrating the capacity to research, adapt and evaluate irregular cases, and to recommend improvements to process delivery and design.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Finance manager and the strategic leadership of the Polio Team Lead, the senior finance associate will perform the following tasks:

1. Assist on verifying completeness, accuracy and posting all aspects related to HOPE payment plan/HEALTH related requests, by compilation all data and responding queries by providing payments updates, confirm funds have been transferred to individual accounts successfully, adjustments made to ensure financial compliance, accuracy and completeness of data for payment run. Advise section of discrepancies on bank accounts and assist to correct.

2. Update and maintain payment records and monitoring systems to record and reconcile payments, balances, statements and other data for day-to-day transactions related to HOPE Polio Program activities, Polio Campaigns etc.

3. Selects and enters data from a wide variety of documents, verifying and ensuring accuracy by checking sources, making necessary calculations and assuring inclusion of all relevant data and ensure adherence to internal control procedures.

4. Prepares recurring reports as schedules and special reports, as required for budget preparation, audits or other reasons.

5. Help finalize payments in preparation for year-end Close, grant expiry and financial closure. Ensuring all payments are completed in a timely manner.

6. Liaise with GSSC and FSPs to address all queries raised and make necessary corrections on transactions, unapplied receivable balances/failed payments list. Work closely with the selected FSP and monitor the details of the payment and reporting process that are to be put in place.

7. Initiates correspondence to verify data, answers queries and obtains additional information on HOPE Platform for efficiency and effectiveness of all payments.

8. Maintains liaisons with officials of local banks to obtain day-to-day information on exchange and interest rates, changes in procedures and regulations, and matters pertaining to maintenance of office bank accounts. This includes preparation of recurring reports and bank reconciliation. Prepares detailed cost estimates, and participates in budget analysis and projects, as required.

9.  Performs other HEALTH section related transactions/finance duties, as required

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR GS7 Finance HOPE TA.docx

To qualify as a/an [champion or advocate] for every child you will have… 

• Minimum requirements

• • 1. 1. Education: Secondary Education in any related fields.
       2. Work Experience: At least 7 years of relevant work experience in Financial Management, Accounting. and any other related fields.
       3. Skills: Financial principles within the UN System, Data management in excel, finance reports, .
       4. Language Requirements : English - Proficient/Fluent

• Desirables
  
  1. 1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
     2. Computer literacy, ability to extract excel data and format data and to solve operational problems, HOPE Platform 
     3. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.