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For every child, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

Join the Operations Team at UNICEF Ukraine

How can you make a difference? 

Organizational Context: 

The Ukraine Country Office is a large Country Office, with one of the largest budgets in UNICEF globally, that is implementing both a humanitarian and nexus response due to the challenging and sensitive political environment. The revised structure proposed by the office consists of 360 posts with the main office in Kyiv and five zone offices and one suboffice, although this may change with the changing situation on the ground. The Finance/Budget Manager supervises a team of 7 including 1 NOB, 3 NOA, 2 GS6 and 1 GS5, collaborating with all sections across the CO, the RO, GSSC and DFAM.

The Finance/Budget Manager, 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 Regulation and Rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of accountability, and ethics. 

Purpose of the Job: 

The incumbent under the general guidance of the Deputy Representative Operations P5, will oversee the management of the finance functions and budget for the office and is expected to exhibit a high level of maturity and set high quality objectives, both internally and externally, to deliver results.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Support to financial planning and management

• Prepare/analyze financial data/estimates and documentations, verifying relevancy, accuracy and completeness to facilitate financial planning for CPMP and regular management advice (including review of financial figures in PCAs). Provide technical and operational support throughout the financial planning and implementation process.
• Review budget implementation according to allotment, codes and certify compliance with guidelines and procedures. Keep stakeholders informed for timely action.
• Provide technical and operational support on the application, interpretation and implementation of financial policies, procedures and guidelines to the Representative and CO colleagues and stakeholders. Resolve routine financial issues and/or recommend (and record) deviation from procedures and guidelines to meet objectives.
• Evaluate financial and reputational risk in transactions carried out by the office and raise flags when actions are needed by management.
• Prepare and/or monitor financial exception reports to assess unusual activities and transactions, investigate anomalies, and keep supervisor informed for timely action.
• 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 work plans for supervisee/s, provide timely technical guidance, monitor work in progress and review work completed to approve transactions and/or certify/verify accuracy of work and compliance with IPSAS and UNICEF Regulations and Rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Where applicable, advise and 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.

2. Control of accounts

• Supervise the accurate and timely submission of payments (e.g. payroll, MIP, travel claims, pension fund, advances to governments etc), journal entries and other financial transactions within scope to the Global Shared Services Center (GSSC), ensuring 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.
• Supervise the disbursement of payments when done locally via bank letters, checks, or petty cash.
• Supervise cash receipts and reconcile income contributions to ensure their timely deposit and recording in UNICEF systems.
• Monitor and analyze financial transactions, accounting reports and reconciliation of accounts to ensure accurate and current financial information for applicable compliance (e.g. IPSAS, donor reporting, internal policies) and management oversight, planning and/or action.
• Prepare or 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 and to follow to resolution of financial observations and recommendations.
• Assure proper and timely completion of accounts closure activities (monthly, quarterly and yearly) Examine 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.

3. Treasury and cash management

• Manage bank, petty and cash on hand accounts transactions and operations in accordance with UNICEF/UN financial regulations and rules, policies, procedures and local banking practices. Keep abreast of procedures and regulations regarding maintenance of bank accounts and exchange and interest rates. Keep supervisor and relevant colleagues informed for timely action.
• Primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments.
• Maintain a system to monitor and forecast periodic cash requirements.  Provide current information on cash position/forecast to management and make recommendation or take action to ensure sufficient availability of resources for programmes and operations activities.
• Review monthly bank reconciliation and take appropriate corrective actions on findings identified by the GSSC.

4. Supports financial analysis focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Integrate and analyze potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a wide variety of sources.
• Identify key, high level trends across data sets.
• Recognize subtle inter-relationships among multiple issues and sees the potential effects on the overall system or process.
• Make logical, rational, well-reasoned and defensible judgment from the analyses; can extend the underlying rationale to justify and incorporate additional or unforeseen information based on historical information and discussion with Ros/Cos and technical colleagues.
• Use GPEI integrated knowledge to discuss at partnership level and within UNICEF; able to not just solve immediate problems but also place them into a wider context to come up with recommendations for not just one issue but whole system.

5. Support financial planning & monitoring focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Collate and analyze data on contributions, funds allocations and expenditure rates for all funds received by the Country Office.
• Analyze and evaluate data collated as part of the planning process.
• Ensure that expenditure recorded meets donor requirements for eligible expenditure items and that the level of documentation meets their specified requirements and advice on budget performance and, if applicable, suggests budget revisions.
• Ensure all finance and budget-related bottlenecks are resolved for the efficient functioning of the Office.
• Provide guidance on salary forecasting and cost distribution,
• Ensure compliance with closure of grants, including final financial reporting, external audit and updating UNICEF financial accounts, in collaboration with finance staff.

6. Donor Reporting focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support effective resource mobilization and partnerships for the Office by coordinating and providing timely required information and reports with a focus on budgets and finance.
• Support development and refinement of budgets and preparation of investment cases and funding proposals.
• Facilitate partnerships and collaboration with external and internal counterparts in order to improve exchange of data on programme / project implementation, particularly budget and financial elements.

7. Knowledge and capacity building

• Promote culture of highest ethical standards and behavior in management of UNICEF’s resources.
• Contribute to initiatives for management improvement by capturing, institutionalizing and sharing best practices and lessons learned. Implement and/or recommend management improvements 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. 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An Advanced university degree in either Accounting, Finance or Business Administration is required.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in finance, budget or contributions management in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.

Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel required. 

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 
• Experience in managing teams with multiple staff is highly desirable.
• Experience in a UN system agency or organization some of which served in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• 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. 
• Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset. 

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

The 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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable people with disabilities 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.

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Kyiv and the incumbent will be expected be work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.