Finance Associate, Islamabad - United Nations Pakistan

Background:

UN-Habitat renewed its presence in Pakistan in late 2005 following the devastating earthquake in the north of the country, facilitating the reconstruction of over 460,000 houses. In addition to the on-going projects in the field of slum improvements and water and sanitation in informal settlements with focus on gender mainstreaming, UN-Habitat Pakistan has been actively engaged in relief and emergency operations, in support of government institutions and partners, to provide assistance in flood-affected areas. It had very extensive programmes in 2010, 2011 and 2012, responding to the countrywide floods in those years. It has presently shelter, humanitarian water and sanitation responses in KP, FATA, Baluchistan and Sindh. Slum improvement interventions with an emphasis on WASH and community infrastructure are undertaking in Karachi and soon in Hyderabad, with the purpose to reduce the incidence of polio, including solid waste management. In addition, district-level vulnerability assessments are being done in Baluchistan and Sindh on DRR and resilience in the context of climate change. UN-Habitat has been supporting the association of municipal water and sanitation (WASA) operators, which have a Secretariat in Punjab province. UN-Habitat has also been actively engaged in providing humanitarian support, through shelter, WASH and community infrastructure to Afghan refugees and ‘temporarily dislocated persons’/internally displaced people in KP and FATA. Finally, UN-Habitat is presently the co-convenor of Strategic Priority Area on DRR/DRM of the One-UN Pakistan Programme 2013-2017.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Country Programme Manager and direct supervision of the National Finance Officer, the incumbent will have the following duties and responsibilities:

– Perform financial functions as per user rights and access in UN-Habitat’s ERP system (Umoja).

– Ensure effective and accurate financial resource management, in accordance with the UN and UN-Habitat’s rules and regulations.

– Assist in the preparation of draft programme and project budgets, including mandatory and other budget revisions as required.

– Undertake proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources.

– Assist in the preparation of monthly cash flow plan in close coordination with Pakistan house bank for smooth disbursement of expenditures.

– Monitor and review documents with regard to utilization of provincial and field budgets, and provide backstopping support as required.

– Verify field financial reports and ensure that expenditures are in line with the UN and UN-Habitat’s financial rules and regulations and are accompanied by appropriate supporting documents.

– Monitor and reconcile accounts payable and receivables.

– Monitor expenditures and compare with approved budget; prepare adjustments as necessary.

– Review requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds (cash).

– Keep track of financial authorization expenditures and their off-setting (IOVs)

– Draft correspondences in response to enquiries in respect of relevant financial and budget matters.

– Provide assistance in the management of petty cash accounts/operational funds.

– Raise commitment, budget revision, disbursement vouchers etc. in ERP.

– Ensure adherence to UN and UN-Habitat’s operational policies, procedures and standards of conduct.

– Perform any other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualification & Experience:

– University Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration is desirable.

– Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience.

– Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyze and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management and claims.

– Advanced computing skills including MS-Office applications.

– Knowledge of UN ERP systems (such as Atlas, Umoja) is preferred.

– Experience in emergency, humanitarian and/or post-disaster operations is preferred.

– Knowledge of UN rules and regulations is an advantage.

– Excellent time and resource management skills.

– Knowledge of local area and community is essential.

– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Required Competencies:

– Ability to work under pressure and difficult conditions.

– Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN values and ethical standards.

– Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues.

– Displays culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

– Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

– Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to UN-Habitat practice areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development.

– Ability to work with minimal supervision.

– Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback.

– Builds strong relationship with clients and external actors.

Required Languages:

– Proficiency in English and Urdu is essential. Knowledge of local languages is an advantage.

Contract Level & Duration:

– UNOPS LICA 6 . Initial 6 months with possibility of renewal subject to availability of funds