Background

UNDP Afghanistan works to achieve transformation change that will lead to freedom from poverty and insecurity for every afghan, young or old, man or woman.

UNDP assists in the achievement of Afghanistan’s own priorities outlined in the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and National Priority Programmes, as well as international development frameworks such as the Millennium Development Goals, the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, and other global agreements in which Afghanistan participates.

In partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, UNDP contributes to institutional development efforts and strengthens the capacity of national partners through projects and interventions in the areas of democratic governance, rule of law and security, women empowerment and gender, sustainable management of natural resources and climate change adaptation, resilience to natural and man-made chocks and disasters.

UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Country Director and direct supervision of Deputy Country Director/Strategy and Deputy Country Director/Operations, the Chief Finance Officer manages and oversees the financial resources of UNDP Afghanistan ensuring the highest efficiency of financial management, the provision of accurate and adequately documented financial information, effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilization of financial resources and effective financial controls in the CO. The Chief Finance Officer analyses and authoritatively interprets UNDP financial rules and regulations and provides solutions and advice on a wide spectrum of complex financial management and financial control issues.

The Chief Finance Officer leads and supervises the Financial Management and Oversight Team consisting of international and local professional and support staff. S/he works closely with the Senior Management Team in the CO and actively fosters collaboration between the various CO units and the project teams, HQ staff and Government officials ensuring a successful financial performance of the CO.

Summary of key functions:

• Ensures strategic directions of financial management and financial oversight;
• Effective planning, monitoring and management of CO financial resources;
• Effective financial oversight and controls;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing.

Ensures strategic directions of financial management and financial oversight, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensures compliance of financial management in the CO with UN/UNDP financial rules and regulations, policies, ensures implementation of UNDP corporate strategies, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
• Interprets UNDP`s regulatory framework and develops strategies, approaches and modalities to achieve management targets in the CO;
• Develops operational procedures for financial management and oversight. Designs and establishes systems, tools and mechanisms to improve financial management and oversight;
• Ensures adequate and consistent application of corporate Internal Control Framework (ICF) including appropriate application of ICF roles and monitoring mechanisms in the CO;
• Participates in, and provides analytical inputs to, CO-level planning processes such as formulation of IWP and BSC;
• Carries out business processes mapping and establishment and regular review/update of internal Standard Operating Procedures in financial management and oversight;
• Ensures provision of timely, accurate, and consistent and integrated financial data and analysis for decision-making aimed at enhancing financial control and reducing opportunities for discretion in the use of donor funds.

Ensures effective planning, monitoring and management of CO financial resources, focusing on the following results:

• Oversees consistent analysis, forecasting and planning of all CO financial resources (management and development projects), oversees budget preparation and budget implementation processes, ensures consistency of planning mechanisms and formats with UNDP corporate systems and procedures;
• Oversees adequate expenditure analysis, tracking and recording of expenditures as well as accurate documentation of financial information. Oversees timely reporting on all funds ensuring that correct procedures and formats are adhered to. Oversees recording and reconciliation processes ensuring that appropriate actions and tools are applied;
• Oversees organisation of COs accounting and disbursements, treasury and revenue management functions and recording processes ensuring that accounts payable and accounts receivable functions are correctly implemented in the CO;
• Oversees timely and accurate financial reporting on all financial resources, including ensuring that systems are in place for adequate management of cost-sharing income and preparation of reports to donors;
• Plans as well as oversees implementation of cost-saving and cost-recovery strategies. Ensure consistent and adequate approach to UNDP´s cost-recovery policies in the CO and organisation of cost-recovery mechanisms for services provided within UNDP and to other UN agencies.

Ensures effective financial oversight and controls focusing on the following results:

• Monitors and assesses the internal and external environment for financial risks, plans and implements financial risk mitigation measures in the CO. Takes action to adjust activities and measures;
• Designs and oversees implementation of internal controls mechanisms, ensuring that ARGUS and other internal control roles (such as the bank signatory panel) are adequately assigned and implemented. Ensures that proper capacities and systems are in place throughout the CO and projects for effective internal financial controls. Promotes the continuous improvement of the financial controls;
• Ensures that HACT financial mechanisms are implemented in line with the UNDP policies and guidelines. Ensures proper oversight, monitoring and recording of NIM financial resources;
• Oversees NIM and UNDP financial audit processes. Ensures adequate coordination and follow-up to financial audits both in the CO and UNDP projects;
• Oversees end-of-the year financial closure processes;
• Plans, implements and oversees financial control activities carried out by the Office of Financial Management and Financial Oversight. Monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalities or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and UNDP HQ on the results of the investigation when satisfactory results are not obtained;
• Oversees management of information for budget planning, analysis and reporting as well as preparation of financial statements to UNDP HQ, Governments and donors.
• Ensure that a complete audit trail is in place to facilitate audits.

Facilitates knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identifies and synthetizes lessons learnt and best practices in financial management;
• Actively promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the CO;
• Systematically builds capacities of national staff and trains CO staff in all areas of responsibility;
• Support UN agencies by providing training and participation in the UN Country Team (UNCT) Operations Management Team (OMT) to facilitate joint and effective common financial services for UN agencies under the OMT;
• Supports the Government by providing training on financial management and reporting of expenditures.

Impact of Results:

The key results have a profound impact on the financial sustainability and performance of the CO. Proper planning and oversight of impact the ability of the CO to mobilize and effectively manage financial resources. Adequate financial controls and functioning of the accounting, treasury and revenue management functions considerably impact the development effectiveness of UNDP in Afghanistan.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Promotes ethics and integrity and creates organisational precedents;
• Builds support and political acumen;
• Builds staff competence and creates an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Builds and promotes effective teams;
• Creates and promotes environment for open communications;
• Leverages conflict in the interest of UNDP and sets standards;
• Shares knowledge across the organisation and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Functional competencies:

Participating in the development of policies and innovative approaches and promoting their application throughout the organisation:

• Actively seeks and promotes innovative methodologies and leads the development of supporting policies/tools to encourage learning and knowledge sharing;
• Develops/participates in development of policies and new approaches and participates in training of staff in their application throughout the organization;
• Promotes UNDP as a learning/knowledge sharing organization;

Influencing organisational change and development:

• Identifies problems central to the organisation´s success, assesses their impact;
• Provides change and development advice, including the design and implementation of change strategies/processes to enable staff/the organisation to deal with change effectively;
• Drives process definition, simplification, and integration efforts throughout the organization;
• Excellent analytical and decision-making skills.

Expert knowledge of own discipline:

• Applies a broad knowledge of best management practices, defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in the area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop personally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Development and application of organisational standards:

• Ensures compliance with the organisational standards for audit, monitoring and evaluation and results-based management and promotes and monitors their application;
• Promotes a culture of accountability in the organization;
• Develops, disseminates and promotes the use of sound methodologies and tools to assist organisational units;
• Analyses audit, evaluation and policy application, extracts key elements and prepares proposals to address areas of weakness in the organisational performance.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced (Masters or equivalent) university degree in Finance, Economics, Business or Public Administration or related field is required.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant progressively advancing professional experience in all aspects of financial management  (financial planning, budgeting, accounting, financial analysis, reporting, internal control) in international organisations or in the private sector in positions at the corporate level (project level experience is not applicable for this position);
• Experience in management of large financial resources (minimum USD 100 million annual volume);
• Experience in funds management;
• Demonstrated ability to analyse and solve complex financial problems, formulate policies and implement change;
• Demonstrated resourcefulness, initiative and judgment;
• Solid technical knowledge and practical experience of application of financial management techniques and methods, technical knowledge (certification) of IPSAS;
• Extensive management experience, experience in management of multi-cultural teams in Finance is a requirement;
• Computer literacy – MS office applications, web-based management information systems, preferably ERM. Experience with ATLAS is an asset;

Language Requirements:

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Application:

• Interested and qualified international candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at UNDP Afghanistan Vacancy Announcement and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at UNDP Personal History Form (P.11 Form). Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.