Background

Following the signing of a Constitutional Declaration on 17th August 2019 between the Sudan Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change, with the mediation support of the African Union and the Government of Ethiopia, the Prime Minister requested that Sudan be declared eligible to the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) on 25th September 2019. In his request, the Prime Minister asked that funding be made immediately available in the three priority areas identified for Darfur, namely Rule of Law; Durable Solutions; and Peacebuilding at the community-level. The rationale behind this request was to promote stabilization and peace consolidation in Darfur with proposed interventions aiming to tackle the causes of violence by working on the findings of conflict drivers. Subsequent discussions with the Government of Sudan endorsed the three priority areas identified for PBF funding: (i) rule of law, (ii) durable solutions, and (iii) peacebuilding at community level.

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Office (El Dein) and the Operations Specialist (El Fasher), the Finance and Administration Analyst is responsible for effective delivery of project implementation support services ensuring effective operational management of project, transparent utilization of financial resources. The Analyst promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Analyst works in close collaboration with the respective CO Programme and Operations teams ensuring successful CO performance and compliance in programme management and finance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Implementation of Operational Strategies:
• Management of Budgets and Cost Recovery System
• Field Office Accounting and Cash Management:
• Facilitation of Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing.

Implementation of Operational Strategies:

• Ensures full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up of audit recommendations.
• Ensures the implementation of effective internal controls and proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
• Actively participates in business process mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance under the supervision of the Head of Office/Operations or Operations Specialist.
• Responsible for the continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation, presentation of forecasts for development and management projects.
• Designs and implements cost saving and reduction strategies;
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and other UNDP staff at the Country Office level of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained;
• Prepares requisitions and supports project staff in preparing requisitions for approval of budget owners;

Management of Budgets and Cost Recovery System:

• Ensures proper financial resources management through planning, guiding, and controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• Prepares and monitors a detailed management budget for the Field Office management project in UNDP's ERP Atlas, based on a comprehensive procurement plan, recruitment plan, cost-sharing systems, and detailed forecast of all other operational expenditures;
• Ensures a thorough expenditure monitoring of the management project, ensures proper financial oversight and compliance with the approved budget. Carries out variance analysis and budget revisions for the Field Office budget;
• Elaborates on proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management;
• Oversees cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UNDP;

Field Office Accounting and Cash Management:

• Reviews and certifies appropriateness of operational transactions ensuring processing by adhering to UNDP financial rules and regulations and best practices;
• Examines payment requests for completeness prior to processing and ensuring that necessary supporting documentation is complete;
• Prepares vouchers as applicable ensuring completeness of supporting documentation, accuracy and correctness of account code charges;
• Responsible for the management of the UNDP bank account at the Field Office level, all bank transactions, and disbursements;
• Ensures ongoing bank to book reconciliation for all financial transactions at the Field Office level.
• Responsible for the financial management of working advances to the projects, preparation of timely reports to the Country Office, reconciliation and clearance in Atlas;
• Ensures the timely preparation of monthly cash-flow forecasts for the projects and Field Office management under continuous cooperation with the project management to obtain their cash requirements;
• Supervision of Field Office petty cash, certifying petty cash replenishment reports and acting as cashier function for on-site transactions;

Facilitation of Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing:

• Advises and provides guidance to Field Office staff on financial and administrative matters;
• Organizes and conducts training for operations and projects staff on Finance and Administration;

• Actively contributes to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Actively engages in learning activities and own career development as determined by the learning plan
• Any other duties as required.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Sound knowledge of Accounting;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost recovery;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral and attitudinal change;
• Excellent computer user skills and good knowledge of ERP finance applications, such as SAP or PeopleSoft solutions.

Management and Leadership:

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master's degree or equivalent in Finance/Accounting, Business Administration, Finance Management or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy. Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• UNDP Advanced Accountancy & Finance Test is required.

Experience:

• 2 years with Masters' degree, or 4 years with Bachelors' degree of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in project/programme formulation, management, accounting, finance, operations, administration or audit services.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
• Sound knowledge of UNDP rules and regulations for Programme and Operations management is an advantage.
• Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Disclaimer

• 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.
• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.