Antecedentes

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) support developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively. UNCTAD helps them to use trade, investment, finance, and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.

This position is part of the “Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade” (IMPACT) Project, managed and implemented by UNCTAD. The project is funded by the European Commission (EC) under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) for the ‘Pacific Regional Integration Support’ Programme (PRISE). https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/pacific_en The IMPACT Project closely collaborates and partners with two other PRISE Programme projects managed by the PIFS and SPC. Together all three projects contribute to the broader PRISE Programme Objective.

The overall objective of IMPACT is to boost and increase intra-regional and international trade. The project’s 10 million Euro funding envelop covers 15 countries in the Pacific and is operational till 2024. IMPACT’s specific objective (purpose) is to improve trade facilitation and border/customs procedures. To achieve the objectives, IMPACT will deliver the following Results:

  • Result 1: Improved Pacific ACP country ability to benefit from WTO priority measures;
  • Result 2: Harmonised Customs operations across all Pacific ACP;
  • Result 3. National Single Window systems requirements defined and guidelines prepared;
  • Result 4. Strengthened technical understanding, leadership and statistical capacity;

This position is part of the IMPACT Project Management Team, based in the UNCTAD office in Suva, Fiji.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Summary of Key Functions:

  1. Ensures effective project finance management and monitoring of project budgets for efficient, transparent, and timely financial management in line with UNCTAD/ASYCUDA operational procedures and donor requirement
  2. Provides administrative and operational support to the project.
  3. Prepare budget reports - quarterly and annual financial reports as per agreed work plan.

 

  1. Ensures effective project finance management and monitoring of project budgets for efficient, transparent, and timely financial management in line with UNCTAD/ASYCUDA operational procedures and donor requirement:
  • Review and ensure all request for payments, requisitions and required vouchers, all payments and receipts are in compliance with the UNCTAD/ASYCUDA Rules and Regulations, financial recording/reporting system, and follow-up on audit recommendations; implementation of effective internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
  • Plans, guides and controls the use of programme financial resources.
  • Under the direction of the Project Manager, prepares and manages project budgets, and complete budget revisions in a timely manner.
  • Conducts monthly analysis and monitoring of budget expenditures by maintaining a shadow accounting- tracking mechanism so the financial status of the project is monitored;
  • Participates in project audits, control on the follow up, ensure implementation of all audit findings;
  • Responds to all requests and questions related to programme delivery;
  • Ensures the correct filing and storage of legal documents and binding agreements at project level
  • Exercises proper control and maintenance of (e-)filing of the supporting documents for payments, review projects financial reports and safekeeping of confidential materials; ensures accuracy of all programme filings.
  • Maintains the internal expenditure control system, which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded, and ensure same is done for all programme level filings.
  • Follows upon the acquittal of cash advances issued to project implementing partners;
  • Advise the project team on the specific EU financial guidelines.
  • Acts as the audit focal point and provides information for audits and review;
  • Ensures full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up with UNCTAD/ASYCUDA rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system;

 

        2. Provides administrative and operational support to the project:

  • Maintains all project documentation in electronic and/or hard copy format (including financial records such as supporting documents for vouchers and POs and general filing system on project issues), according to UNCTAD/ASYCUDA policies and guidelines;
  • Provides support to procurement processes including review and compilation of necessary documentations during procurement process;
  • Reviews and verifies invoices and common services expenses (rent, utilities, phone, miscellaneous);
  • Organizes project-related meetings for key partners;
  • Supports the process of hiring and administration of consultancy contracts and administration of human resources within the assigned projects;
  • Coordinates project staff and stakeholders’ travel, including development of logistical notes, maintenance of project calendar;
  • Support entry of travel requests under the Travel and Expense Module and TRIP clearance;
  • Follows up on advances and support travel related queries;
  • Coordinates with UNDP where required for vendor entry and creation of travel profile
  • Responsible for development, maintenance and updating of the asset register for all equipment purchased within the assigned projects;
  • Provides administrative and logistics support to project events and meetings;
  • Ensures timely processing of staff/workshop participants travel claims in line with financial procedures;
  • Ensures overall smooth operational and administrative functioning of the projects for delivery of results

 

 

     3.     Prepare Budget reports- quarterly and annual financial reports as per agreed work plan:

  • Prepare financial ad-hoc reports upon request of PM or by EU Management.
  • Maintenance of accounts receivables for the project and inform PM on need to follow up on contributions.
  • Produces quarterly combined delivery reports for the donors, as well as oversees the preparation of delivery reports and closing of project transactions at year end;
  • Contributes to year end reporting including preparation of annual reports;

Competencias

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Direction & Strategy

Effective Decision Making

  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business Direction & Strategy

Strategic

Thinking

  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP/UNCTAD

Operations:

Administration,

Finance, HR,

Procurement, IT and

Security (Finance)

Financial

reporting and

analysis

  • Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector.
  • Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
  • Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance.

Operations: Administration, Finance, HR, Procurement, IT and Security (Finance)

Audit (General)

  • Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in the public services.
  • Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting.
  • Ability to examine and verify accounts and records.
  • Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny.
  • Understands the law and best practice relating to antibribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies.

Operations: Administration, Finance, HR, Procurement, IT and Security (Finance)

 

Budget

management

  • Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Operations: Administration, Finance, HR, Procurement, IT and Security (Finance)

Accounting

(General)

  • Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Min. Education requirements

  • Minimum requirement -Highschool certification,
  • OR Degree in Accounting/ Finance, Business Studies, Public Administration and/or Management, or related fields can be considered.

Min. years of relevant work experience

  • Highschool with minimum of six (6) working years relevant experience in administration, operations, finance, or project management
  • OR Degree in the relevant field with three (3) years of relevant experience in administration, operations, finance, or project management.

Required skills

  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc)

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

  • Previous experience with the UN or another multilateral/ international organization is an asset.
  • Applicants who have more than 3 years of progressively responsible finance, administrative, operations or project experience will have an added advantage.

Required Language(s)

Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Professional Certificates

  CA, CPA, ACCA etc or accounting related certifications would be an added advantage.