Job Vacancies at UNDP Nigeria - Finance Officer

UNDP is recruiting for a Finance Officer to be based in Abuja. The Finance Officer will work under the supervision of the Senior Project Coordinator and the Representative, UNODC.

This position encompasses NGA/S08 project financial functions as well as related processes within UNODC and UNDP.

It also includes sub-functional specialities such as budgeting, procurement, and human resource administration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Accountabilities:

Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer (Administration) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Budget and finance
• Reviews and analyses data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
• Provides support to managers with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions/revisions.
• Reviews, analyses and provides input into finalization of project and related CONIG budgets.
• Monitors budget implementation and determines/recommends reallocation of funds when and where necessary.
• Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
• Administers and monitors budget resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with UN regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Prepares relevant documentation with respect to budget performance submissions.
• Advises senior management and project coordinators on all aspects of accounts maintenance, budget control, incomes and other financial issues regarding projects implementation, i.e. obligations and future programme/projects budgetary implications.
• Acts as Approving Officer for project and CONIG budgets, ensuring the payment is made against a recorded commitment and requested for goods and services which have been delivered and not paid before, availability of funds against budget lines. Maintains list of authorized personnel to make payments.
• Supervises the closing of the monthly accounts, assists in ensuring timely submission of Management Expenditures data to HQ and the requested financial reports to UNDP; reconciliation and replenishment of bank accounts.
• Acts as a Focal Point of UNODC Management Ledger system for financial reporting.
• Keeps abreast of and maintains contact with officials of local banks and other financial institutions on changes in national law, financial procedures and regulations and matters pertaining to maintenance of office bank accounts, information on exchange rates.
• Ensures strategic financial resource management: Advises senior management staff on co-financing modalities & arrangements, suggests measures for adequate optional utilization of projects funds, and recommends cost savings and redeployments as appropriate.
• Acts as key interface for internal audits and accounts examinations.
• Maintains corporate automated financial systems (ProFi, FOML); supervises upgrades and integrations; trains operations support and other finance staff on their application.
• Establish and maintain a set of sound policies, procedures, standards and tools which are consistent with UN policy and practice in order to ensure proper accounting, financial management and control.

Human resource management

• Assist the project managers and involved Field Office staff in carrying out actions covering the entire span of human resource activities, ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedure.
• Maintains an overview of all project-financed human resources and the development of HR cost against approved project budgets.
• Advises project managers on amendments and changes in HR cost and entitlements and resulting amendment requirements of project budgets.
• Provide expert advice with respect to conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and privileges and entitlements under the Staff Rules and Regulations.

General administration

• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme/project budget, ensuring compliance with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Produce reports for management regarding financial/administrative project issues.
• Supervise administrative staff and/or provide advice to others on administration, financial administration and management information issues and practises (including procurement of supplies and services; transport, travel and traffic, communications, engineering and information technology support and provision of local utilities and service requirements).
• Guide and advise the Administrative Assistant in preparation and implementation of the local procurement plan, taking into account the most effective use of resources.
• Provide expert guidance and leadership to team members on admin/finance matters.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
• Project managers and country Office staff, and HQ staff in the Division for Management, Financial Resources.
• Management Service, Human Resources Management Service (Budget, finance, accounts and administrative officers in UNODC HQ). UNDP and UNHOUSE operational managers and experts, finance officers from counterpart and partner organizations. Banks and finance units in Nigeria.

Results Expected:

• Effective running of financial operations in line with project requirements and rules, and with UN regulations.
• Provision of timely and accurate support to financial project management. Improved administration and reporting of approved budgets, and effective support to project managers in their programming and budgetary practices.

Competencies

• Corporate Responsibility & teamwork:
• Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNODC.
• Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time.
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others.
• Responds flexibly & positively to change through active involvement.
• Accepts additional responsibilities as required by the demands of service.

People Skills:

• Recognizes & responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, & concerns of others; gives credit to the contributions of others.
• Promotes a learning environment; facilitates the development of individual and team competencies.
• Interacts with success in a diverse environment.

Partnering & Networking:

• Initiates and sustains relationships with key constituents (internal/external).
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UNODC.

Results-Orientation:

• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals.
• Establishes clear performance goals, standards, & responsibilities; manages them accordingly.
• Innovation & Judgment
• Contributes creative, practical ideas and approaches to deal with challenging situations.
• Pursues own personal and professional development.

Communication:

• Formulates written information clearly and persuasively.
• Presents oral information clearly and persuasively.

Job Knowledge & Expertise

• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence.
• Executes day-to-day tasks systematically & efficiently.
• Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource.
• Is motivated & demonstrates a capacity to pursue personal development & learn.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced University degree (Masters degree or equivalent), preferably in business administration, finance, accounting or a relevant combination of academic qualification. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: S/he should have At least 7 years progressively responsible experience in finance, administration, budget, business administration or related area, including several years of experience in work with international organizations and development partners in Nigeria

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English; knowledge of a second official UN language an advantage.
• Other Skills Training and/or experience in public management, management innovations and development.
• Technological Awareness Advanced computer skills, including proficiency in WORD and EXCEL processing, and relevant financial reporting and accounting systems (such as PROFI, IMIS, FOML, ATLAS, and other systems)

Deadline is 9th September 2009.

Click here to apply online.