Finance Associate, Women's Leadership and Political Participation (WLPP) Section, Wanawake Wanaweza Project

Finance Associate, Women's Leadership and Political Participation (WLPP) Section, Wanawake Wanaweza Project

Advertised on behalf of : Location : DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

Application Deadline : 29-Jun-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Additional Category : Gender Equality

Type of Contract : FTA Local

Post Level : GS-6

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Aug-2018

Duration of Initial Contract : One Year

Expected Duration of Assignment : One Year

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women in Tanzania is implementing its Strategic Note (2017-2021), under which one of the priority areas is women's leadership and political participation. The Women's Leadership and Political Participation Project (Wanawake Wanaweza) Phase II (2017-2021) builds on Phase I (2014 - 2017), and continues to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as per UN Women's global mandate and supports the Government of Tanzania as a Member State to the United Nations to implement international standards, providing suitable technical and financial assistance. The second phase of the project aims at achieving the overarching goal/impact 'Women lead and participate in decision-making at all levels' building on the momentum created and gains made from the first phase. The project is in line with the UNDAP II outcome 'Women and girls increasingly participate in political and public life and are elected to leadership position', the UN Women Tanzania, Country Strategic Framework 2017 - 2021; the UN Women Global Flagship Programme Initiative on Women's Political Empowerment and Leadership, as well as, national gender policy, the SDGs (in particular, Global Goal 5 dedicated to 'achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls', CEDAW and other international and regional commitments, such as the African Union Agenda 2063.

The project operates on three main areas where change needs to happen to effect progress in relation to increasing women's leadership and political empowerment. Firstly, the policy and institution level (policies, laws, standards, norms and practices) to ensure these promote and regulate the increase in women's leadership at all levels. Secondly, at the individual level, to strengthen capacities of women to conduct competitive, well-resourced and innovative campaigns. Thirdly, at the community level, where norms, attitudes and practices often undermine women's rights and gender equality, efforts will work towards reverting these to promote women as accepted, legitimate political leaders. The WLPP project phase 2 will therefore, adopt a multi-sectoral and comprehensive approach, building on the lessons learned and good practices from the first phase of the project implementation while being informed by the findings and recommendations of the end-of-project evaluation of WLPP Project Phase I. Interventions at all three levels are designed to reinforce and support each other by maintaining horizontal linkages and enhancing the creation of synergies among the different programmatic components.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Accounts in Headquarters and the daily supervision of Head of Leadership, Political Participation and Governance and the Operations Manager, the Finance Associate is responsible for the execution of a wide range of financial services and administrative processes under the WLPP Section's projects, ensuring timeliness, efficiency and transparent use of financial resources and delivery of services in accordance with organizational financial rules, regulations, policies, procedures and approved allocations. The Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations, standard practices and guidelines.

The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations Team as well as with the Operations and Programme teams in UN Women HQ for solving complex finance-related issues and information delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Implement financial strategies, in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems

Perform duties in full compliance with UN Women financial regulations and rules, policies and standard operating procedures, including internal controls;
Review and verify financial transactions, activities, and documentation; taking corrective actions as needed and reporting any unusual activities;
Monitor financial exceptions reports for unusual activities or transaction, investigate anomalies and report to the supervisor conclusions and/or present recommendations for actions/decisions;
Draft reports on financial status, procedures, exchange rates, costs and expenditures;
Follow-up on audit recommendations to monitor implementation of corrective actions;
Collect, verify and present information and data for use in the planning of financial resources and the formulation of the Country Office (CO) programme work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements and execution modalities;
Provide assistance in Annual Work Plan entry in Results Management System (RMS) as required.
Provide advice and recommend solutions to a wide range of financial issues;
Monitor the proper functioning of the financial resources management system for office and programmatic budgets and resources;
Implement cost saving and reduction strategies;

2. Prepare and administer CO budgets in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems

Formulate the budget, control allotments, monitor expenditures, and prepare revisions according to the needs of the CO;
Track the appropriate and timely use of financial resources;
Prepare cost recovery documents or bills for the services provided by UN Women to other programmes or organizations;
Create projects in Atlas, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds;
Implement and maintain control mechanism for development projects through monitoring budgets preparation and modifications and budgetary status;
Maintain internal expenditure control system;
Undertake corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions and unapproved vouchers. Respond to RO /HQ requests to resolve financial data issues;
Prepare VAT reimbursements with adequate documentation support;
Input data in Atlas and monitor status. Keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely action and/or decisions;
Manage petty cash fund, cash impress level.

3. Provide finance support to the Programme and Operations team

Review accounts receivables for UN Women projects and follow-up with project managers and finance section at regional office and/or headquarters on contributions, deposits creation in Atlas and their application to AR pending items;
Prepare PO and non-PO vouchers for development projects;
Record and post transactions in Atlas, process payroll, travel claims, MPOs, and other entitlements;
Monitor the setup of budgets in ATLAS to ensure they are in accordance with budgets agreed with donors and are input into ATLAS at the detailed Activity ID level;
Monitor each month over-expenditure of budgets and follow up with Budget Owner;
Monitor regularly transactions posted to projects ensuring actual expenditure has been recorded against correct budget category and activity, take timely corrective actions as required;
Monitor proper follow up of advances to implementing partners, review their financial reports together with project managers;
Monitor the financial status and under the guidance of the Operations Manager implement control mechanisms for management/development projects;
Monitor and proper follow up of all the financial items in Month-end and Year-end closure instructions status and under the guidance of the Operations Manager, take correction actions as required
Keep stakeholders and clients informed for timely actions/decisions and review status reports for quality control;
Provide information inputs to financial reports for Regional Office, HQ Finance and stakeholders
Associate revenue and expenditure in commitment control for non-core projects.
Provide inputs and take necessary actions to facilitate timely financial project closure;
Support financial donor reporting by providing timely information and taking necessary actions as required by UN Women Virtual Global Service Centre for financial donor reporting;

4. Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization

Compile and process information from donors, CO, and programme team, as inputs to various databases and documents.
Prepare drafts for cost sharing agreements including conditions of contributions within resource mobilization efforts, adhering to standard agreements where possible. Follow up on contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts.

5. Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Conduct training and/or helping organize training events and activities; as well as participate in trainings;
Collect and compile lessons learned and best practices in financial management and services. Disseminate to clients and stakeholders as appropriate to build capacity and knowledge;
Contribute to financial business operational practices and management innovations.
The incumbent will devote 70% of the time to support the WLPP Section and 30% to CO Operations.
Key Performance Indicators:

Timely, complete and accurate financial transactions/activities/documentation.
Timely and accurate advice on UN Women financial rules and regulations.
Timely and regular monitoring of financial resources management system and timely expenditure of financial resources.
Timely and accurate support to budget formulation and controlling allotments.
Timely and accurate monitoring of internal expenditures control systems.
Timely and accurate drafting of management financial reports.

Competencies

Core Values:

Respect for Diversity
Integrity
Professionalism

Core Competencies:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
Accountability
Creative Problem Solving
Effective Communication
Inclusive Collaboration
Stakeholder Engagement
Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

Strong knowledge of financial rules and regulations and accounting principles;
Strong knowledge and application skills of IT tools and understanding of management systems;
Strong knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems;
Ability to administer and execute financial and accounting processes and transactions.
Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

Completion of secondary education is required.
Specialized national or international certification in accounting and finance is an asset
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting is an asset.
Successful completion of UN Women Accounting and Finance Test is required.

Experience:

At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in finance;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.
Experience in the use of ATLAS is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Swahili is required;
Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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