Finance Officer, Accra - UNICEF Ghana

UNICEF Ghana seeks the services of a committed and experienced professional who has strong passion to make a difference for every child. The individual will be appointed to the position of Finance Officer, NOB, Accra. The Finance Officer is responsible for providing support to colleagues in the office by administering and executing a variety of professional and technical financial transactions and processes, applying theoretical skills and thorough knowledge of organizational goals and objectives. H/She leads and supervises the finance team and is responsible for planning, guiding and review of work to ensure accuracy and compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), UNICEF Financial Regulations and Rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of accountability, and ethics. H/She will report to the Chief of Operations for guidance and general supervision. This is a national position. ONLY Ghanaian Nationals are eligible to apply. Qualified females are strongly encouraged to apply. This is Fixed Term position for two years. Details of Job Description is attached

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does - in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children's rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life - in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions - her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education and protection of a society's most disadvantaged citizens - addressing inequity - not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

The Finance Officer is responsible for providing support to the supervisors and colleagues in the office by administering and executing a variety of professional and technical financial transactions and processes, applying theoretical skills and thorough knowledge of organizational goals, objectives and compliance with rules and policies in completing tasks.

The Finance Officer leads and supervises the finance team and 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 Regulations and Rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of accountability, and ethics.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Support to financial planning and management

• Provide support to the financial planning process for Country Programme Management (CPMP) by preparing/analyzing financial data/estimates and documentations verifying relevancy, accuracy and completeness to support budget planning. Provide financial operations support throughout the financial planning and implementation process.
• Review budget expenditures according to allotment and codes and verify compliance with guidelines and procedures. Keep stakeholders informed for timely action.
• Provide technical and operational support on the application, interpretation and implementation of operational policies, procedures and guidelines to the Representative and CO colleagues and stakeholders. Resolve routine financial operational issues and/or recommend (and record) deviation from policies and guidelines to meet objectives.
• Provide technical support to the programme counterparts/committees, e.g. review budgets and financial plans of implementing partners; monitor compliance with Harmonized Cash Transfer (HACT) framework, including support to assessments, assurance and capacity development of implementing partners.
• Prepare and/or monitor financial exception reports to assess unusual activities and transactions, investigate anomalies, and keep supervisor informed for timely action.
• Review financial and reputational risks in the transactions carried out by the office and raise flags when action is needed by management.

Control of accounts

• Process and/or review (as per delegated authority) the accurate and timely processing submission of payments (e.g. 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.
• Process/supervise (as per delegated authority) the disbursement of payments when done locally via bank letters, checks, or petty cash.
• Process and 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.

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 interests rates. Keep supervisor and relevant colleagues informed for timely action.
• Maintain a system to monitor and forecast periodic cash requirements. Provide current information on cash position/forecast to management and make recommendations or take action to ensure sufficient availability of resources for programmes and operations activities.

Knowledge and capacity building

• Support initiatives for management improvement by capturing, institutionalizing and sharing best practices and lessons learned.   Recommend improvements in processes and procedures to enhance productivity and performance including implementation of cost saving strategies.

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

• A first level university degree in accounting, financial management or another related financial field is required. Supplemental formal financial / accounting training may be accepted if university degree is not in a related financial field. Diploma qualification in CIPFA or its equivalent may be considered. Masters degree is an asset.
• A minimum of 2 years of strong professional experience in financial management or audit is required.
• Experience in an international organization and/or large corporation is preferred.
• Experience in a UN system agency or organization some of which served in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel required.
• Experience in database packages, web based management systems and ERP systems (preferably SAP financial modules) is considered an asset.
• Experience with IPSAS and/or IFRS is considered as an asset