Finance Associate – Mogadishu, Somalia

The Finance Associate is responsible for support in the overall management of financial services in the Country Office. He/she facilitates effective execution of processes and procedures in accordance with UNFPA’s rules and regulations, ensuring quality and accuracy of work, and transparent utilization of financial resources.

You will report directly to the International Operations Manager.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

In a global organisation, where many of our people are based in challenging environments, you will play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of critical services relating to the overall management of financial services in the Country Office.
You will facilitate effective execution of processes and procedures in accordance with UNFPA’s rules and regulations, ensuring quality and accuracy of work, and transparent utilization of financial resources. You will work as part of the Operations team and in close collaboration with the Programme staff in the country office, promoting a results- oriented approach and facilitating information exchange between staff.

You will also work closely with programme and project staff providing financial monitoring and analysis of projects and advising managers on expenditure trends and implementation rates.

You would be responsible for:

• Providing finance and accounting services to the Country Office, focusing on achievement of the following results:
   Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for projects; preparation of all types of vouchers and execution of payments.
   Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas (UN financial management system); payrolls are duly prepared and processed; travel claims, and other entitlements are duly
  processed.
   Timely accounts closure.
   Back Up for processing of Financial Accountability Checklists, assisting on this purpose, as required, the Finance Associate.
   Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, and unapproved vouchers. Timely
  response to UNFPA Headquarters, Regional Office and Sub-Regional Office requests to resolve financial data issues.
   Timely corrective actions on erroneous data in Atlas. Preparation of financial reports as required.

   Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables (AR) for UNFPA projects and follow- up with partners on contributions, deposits creation in Atlas and their application to Accounts Receivable pending items.
   Assisting in the monitoring of programme financial performance for all core and non-core resources by providing necessary financial information and analysis, including implementation rate against indicators/results. Detects potential over or under-expenditure problems and suggests remedial action.
   Assisting in controlling files submitted by implementing partners and in having FACE reporting properly formulated for signature by Implementing Partners.
   Assisting in the monitoring of programme and project budgets, coordinating compilation of financial data and providing accurate and up-to-date financial
  information to the Finance Team and IOM as required.
   Assisting in the provision of guidance and training to staff and programme/project managers and Implementing Partners and striving to identify ways in which programme financial needs can be met within existing policies.
   Assisting in the management of the Country Office budget by controlling allotments and monitoring expenditures, and assisting in the preparation of
  budget revisions according to the needs of the office.
   Effective financial recording and reporting system, internal control and audit follow-up, and processing of financial transactions in an accurate and timely way.

•  Reviewing and monitoring of charges for common services, security, and cost recovery taking into account maximum cost efficiency and representing UNFPA’s interests in related negotiations and agreements.
•  Backstopping the Admin/Finance Associate and Administrative Associate in their absence.
•  Ensuring timely processing of advances to partners and liquidation of advances for all CO Programmes, including proper review and filing of signed FACE forms as well as availing signed copies to partners. Timely processing of support cost for these IPs.
•    Maintaining and filing records, and processing financial transactions in an accurate and timely way.
•  Processing of Travel and other entitlements as may be requested.
•    Participating in HACT spot checks and also carrying out reconciliation of Support Costs paid to IPs to ensure compliance with guidelines and identifying inclusion of indirect costs in IP expenditure reports.
•  Undertaking UNFPA specialized courses/training relevant to the incumbent’s assigned responsibilities.
•        Any other related duties.

Work Relations

The Finance Associate is part of the Operations Team of the Country Office, as such you will need to interact with Admin/Finance/Logistics and operations staff from other offices of the Country Office, and sister agencies in supporting the delivery of CO Programme, including also having fluid relations with Programme Staff.