Finance Officer (P2)

Position Title: Finance Officer (2 Positions)

Duty Station: To be Determined, South Sudan

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment: Special short-term graded, nine months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 22 January 2024

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Context:

IOM in South Sudan has a broad range of programming centered around three broad areas: humanitarian coordination and support; humanitarian response and resilience; and peacebuilding, transition, and development. Humanitarian coordination and support include leading/co-leading the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI) Clusters, Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and management of WASH and Shelter and NFI core-pipelines, humanitarian hubs, and common transport services. Humanitarian response and resilience include CCCM, WASH, Shelter & NFI, health, protection, gender equality and inclusion, mental health and psychosocial support and the management of a Rapid Response Fund. Under peacebuilding, transition and development, IOM South Sudan implements programming on housing, land and property issues, transition and recovery, transhumance conflict prevention, community-based violence reduction, community development and migration management.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Mission and the direct supervision of the Head of Resources Management Unit, and in close coordination with the Senior Regional Resources Management Officer (SRRMO) in the Regional Officer for East and Horn of Africa in Nairobi, the Department of Financial and Administrative Management (DFM) at Headquarters (HQ) and the and the Administrative Centers in Manila (MAC) and Panama (PAC), The Finance Officer will be responsible and accountable for coordinating the budgetary and financial functions of the Country Office and its Sub-Office(s) and providing support in these areas to staff.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Prepare project budget as directed by the Head of Resources Management and ResourcesManagement Officer.
2. Assist in monitoring and overseeing the financial management for all activities in South Sudan including the oversight of financial expenditure and accountability; undertake preliminary financial analysis of projects in the Country Office.
3. Preparation of donor financial reports in accordance with IOM regulations and established procedures.
4. Ensure that accounting data is properly entered in the system, in accordance with IOM financial rules and practices, and maintain accurate records of financial entries including hard copies of all vouchers and supporting documentations.
5. Review the monthly accounting returns for accuracy and ensure that these are submitted on a timely basis and are completed according to IOM Accounting Policies and Procedures.
6. Assist in forecasting cash flows according to activities in the Mission and ensure daily control of funds disbursed; verify that funding is received in accordance with donor agreements.
7. Assist the Head of Resource Management and Resource Management Officer in preparing annual budget for the Country Office, monitor budget control and analyze variances between budget and actual expenditures, and assist in the preparation of budgets for new programmes.
8. Inspect payroll versus budgets, ensuring that salaries are correctly allocated to projects consistent with IOM's projectization criteria.
9. Follow up on advances/long pending balances in vendor accounts and work closely with relevant units to ensure timely settlement and to keep vendor balances to the minimum.
10. Provide support and information to Project Managers throughout the project cycle to enable compliance with IOM’s policies and procedures and any donor-specific requirements.
11. Make recommendations on procedural improvements and train national staff in the relevant areas of accounting and finance. Facilitate and support knowledge building and sharing in accounting and finance.
12. Liaise with other internal functional units of the Mission, and support the Head of Finance and SRMO in liaising with banks, donors and government counterparts and other stakeholders as required in the performance of the accounting function.
13. Liaise with relevant units at HQs, relevant Administrative Centres and Regional Office in Nairobi with regard to the accounting and financial activities of the Country Office.
14. Ensure that payroll and month end process is adhere to within strict deadline in coordination with Head of Resources Management and Resources Management Officer.
15. Supervise and train finance staff on IOM financial policies and procedures.
16. Perform such other related duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Management or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.
• Professional certification as chartered accountant (CA) or certified public accountant (CPA),Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is an advantage.

Experience

• Experience in financial management, financial reporting, accounting, budgeting and purchasing;
• Experience preparing reports, budgets, statistics and coordinate administrative activities; and,•
• Experience with international institutions knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and SAP is highly desirable.

Skills

• Ability to work closely with government and international officials;
• Demonstrated ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Demonstrated ability to prepare clear and concise report;
• Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) an advantage;
• Knowledge of SAP or Enterprise Resource Planning system highly desirable;
• Knowledge of IOM accounting systems, software (Oracle) and procedures a distinct advantage; and,
• Good knowledge of MS Office products, specifically Excel, and good computer literacy skills required.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Arabic and another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.