*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VACANCY IS OPEN ONLY TO NATIONALS OF SOUTH AFRICA AND NON-NATIONALS WHO HOLD WORK PERMITS FOR SOUTH AFRICA*

Job Setting:

Within the context of declining financial resources, increasingly complex political, economic and humanitarian challenges, and the need to deliver high quality rights-based results within the Agenda 2030 environment, the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office has developed a framework for strengthening UNFPA’s efficiency, effectiveness and presence in the region. The framework sets out a new structure to ensure more effective support to field offices (FOs) in the region, increased operational efficiency throughout the region, strengthened coordination and support for preparedness and resilience-building in humanitarian contexts, and enhanced resource mobilization capacities. The structure will be operationalized through the Regional Operations Shared Service Center (ROSSC) which will consolidate core operational functions in procurement, finance, ICT and administration including human resources. It is intended that FOs will obtain operations service support from the ROSSC.  The Service Center will have the capacity to provide services across all four functions to FOs in the region in varying degrees based on the operational capacities that exist in each office.

The ROSSC will be responsible for financial management services including procure-to-pay services, vendor management, assigned balance sheet account reconciliations, cash transfer transactions (cash advances, expense reports and direct payments) to IPs as per Funding Authorization and Certificate of Expenditure (FACE), value added tax (VAT) management, accounts receivable application, Atlas data quality maintenance and year-end closure activities.   

The ROSSC will be responsible for procurement management services including solicitation, contract award and management. It will provide support to FOs on Contract Review committee (CRC) submissions and provide oversight on local procurement activities.

The ROSSC will also provide oversight and support to Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) quality control on assurance activities and IP capacity building and support audit preparations. The ROSSC will also provide software and corporate systems management support as well as asset, inventory, human resources and travel management services.

Given the exceptional complexity, breadth, reach and volume of the ROSSC portfolio in the area of finance and the challenges inherent in operational support both for middle income countries and the Eastern and South Africa Region as a whole, UNFPA has established the position of Finance Specialist at NOC level to reinforce the leadership and direction of the ROSSC's Finance Team with a focus on FOs with limited staff capacities.

Job Purpose:

Under the overall guidance of the International Operations Manager, the Finance Specialist is responsible for ensuring the highest efficiency in financial management services and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, effective delivery of financial management services, and transparent utilization and management of financial resources of the ROSSC and FOs. He/she analyzes and interprets the financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues. The Finance Specialist promotes a collaborative, client-oriented service approach consistent with UNFPA rules and regulations.

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Accounting, Financial Management or related discipline. A relevant first level university degree combined with a recognized accounting designation (CA, CPA, ACCA) may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• Professional certification from an international accounting body such as ACCA, ICMA ACA, and CPA is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience at the national or international level in financial management, accounting and/or related area with minimum 3 years of supervisory experience;
• Excellent Excel skills; experience with ERP (PeopleSoft) and database systems is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French or Portuguese is an advantage.