Job Description

Background

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.

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.

The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs). UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

The Local Finance Initiative (LFI) programme is designed to unlock the flow of capital to invest small and medium-sized infrastructure projects that are required to accelerate local economic development and private sector development. It is a UNCDF front office capacity that help to deliver local economic development in collaboration with national institutions, local authorities, and SMEs in developing countries.

The UNCDF is seeking to hire an experienced Programme Finance Assistant who will assist the Programme Finance Associate in areas of finance, administration, and procurement of the LFI and Tanzania Country Office Programmes (TCOP). This position will be based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and will report directly to the Programme Finance Associate and work with other staff in the Dar es Salaam office and those in the field.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.Assist in financial management activities of the office

2.Support programme and office administration functions

3.Support budget preparation and cost allocation

4.Support office procurement and other logistics

5.Support office cash management activities, audit, and other functions

6.Other tasks as assigned by the supervisor and the head of office.

The following are key duties of the Programme Finance Assistant – CookFund:

1. Assist in financial management activities of the office

Creation, and implementation of the portfolio/finance management of all Global LFI countries in the accounting system (ATLAS);
Support the preparation of the various financial reports based on our reporting calendar;
Ensure that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; travel claims, and other entitlements are duly processed;
Create and process transactions in the accounting system (ATLAS);
Timely do reconciliations and do corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issue;
Support in following up key documents and progress reports to ensure disbursements match deliverables and progress according to the agreements.
2.Support programme and office administration functions

Work closely with finance associate to manage administration activities of the Tanzania country office and LFI;
Assist in managing day to day office administration activities such as managing cleaners, office administration needs etc.;
Participate in preparation of meetings such as programme board meetings and others;
Assist the finance associate in meeting various financial compliance functions;
Assist the financial associate in her role of ensuring compliance of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with office management.
3. Support budget preparation and cost allocation

Assist in preparation and modifications of budgets and application of income;
Assist in preparation and modifications of the common services budget and follow up and ensure timely payments. Timely preparation of cost-recovery bills for the services provided by elaboration and implementation of the income tracking system and follow up on cost recovery.
4. Support office procurement and other logistics

Proper preparation and control of the supporting documents for payments, review of financial reports for projects;
Initiate vendor creation in Atlas and follow up approvals and all the way to completion;
Provides procurement support by following organization procurement rules and guidelines;
Assist finance associate in periodically procurement plan and monitoring;
Provides support to office maintenance and assets management Provides administrative and logistical support by supervising the logistic processes.
5. Support office cash management activities, audit, and other functions:

Assist in timely replenishment of cash imprest for all staff and including petty cash management, reconciliation and retiring according to UN cash management rules;
Assist in payments of travel advances and working on travel retirements for Tanzania team by adhering UNCDF travel rules;
Assist in project audit and ensures that all documents are make available to the auditors and follow up on the implementation of audit findings;
Serve as back-up for team upon request as needed.

Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Finance Assistant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Finance Associate and Global LFI Manager/Chief Technical Advisor.

Competencies
Accountability
Adaptability and Flexibility
Commitment and Motivation
Communication
Creativity
Other Ethics and Values
Integrity
Planning and Organizing.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Completion of Secondary Education. Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Banking and Finance or Business Administration is desirable but not a requirement.
Long listing candidates may be required to undergo UNDP Accountancy & Finance Test.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years with the completion of Secondary education or 2 years of experience with Bachelors Degree;
At least 2 years of combined work experience supporting accounting and finance functions in a public, private, or nongovernmental organization is required;
Experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably the UNDP global financial and operational management system (ATLAS);
Advanced computer skills including the use of the common Microsoft Office products (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and other general office tools is a plus;
Program management or project management experience in development organizations is a plus;
Experience in managing finances for United Nations and knowledge of UN Programme and Operations procedures; is desirable;
Work experience in the UN system and knowledge of UN Programme and Operations procedure is an asset.

Language
Fluency in English and Swahili are required.