Lebanon Humanitarian Fund Finance Associate

Position Information

Job Title: Lebanon Humanitarian Fund Finance Associate
Department: UNOCHA
Reports to: LHF Fund Manager & LHF Finance Officer    
Grade Level: G6    
Duty Station: Beirut, Lebanon
Career Track: General Service
Career Stream: Finance    
Contract Modality: FTA Local 
Contract Duration: 1 Year

Background and Organizational Context

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA)‘s overall goal in Lebanon is to support the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in his work to ensure a coherent and effective humanitarian response to all people in need in Lebanon. OCHA Lebanon’s focus is to:

Enhance coordination mechanisms at the strategic level, in support of the HC and the HCT to improve planning and monitoring of a joined-up response across all sectors; 
Strengthen situational awareness in a fluid context as well as the analysis of humanitarian needs, gaps and response; 
Mobilize flexible, predictable humanitarian funding under the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF); and  
Advocate for improved protection and humanitarian access.

Position Purpose

The primary purpose of the position is to provide finance support services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Finance Associate also leads on several workstreams including financial components of CA, financial spot checks, tracking of project disbursements, closure deadlines, partner refunds and partner financial reporting. The Finance Associate is a key interlocutor with LHF partners. 
    
The Lebanon Humanitarian Fund Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the finance, programme and project staff in the CO and OCHA HQ as required to exchange information and support programme delivery.

Key Duties and Accountabilities
Under the overall guidance of the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) Manager and direct supervision of the Finance Officer (FO), the Finance Associate will perform the following tasks:

Provides effective support to management of Lebanon Humanitarian Fund financial processes focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Ensure administration of proper financial reporting process is conducted in a smooth and timely manner in line with Operational Guidelines focusing on achievement of results as outlined in the LHF Operational Manual.
• Provides support to the Finance Officer to ensure smooth audit process for all LHF-funded projects including facilitation of contracting external auditing companies, support to the planning and the review/clearance of audit reports and ensuring follow-up on critical audit findings.
• Provide support to the Administration Unit on maintenance of internal expenditure processed by the Unit and ensure expenditure reports to inform further decision-making related to cost plan are processed accurately
• Ensure proper control of all financial documents including spot-check reports, audit reports, waivers and financial authorization

Ensures administration and  implementation of  programme strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure proper and timely communication with and review of partners’ Due Diligence and Capacity Assessment applications to ensure accuracy of their banking information and submitted documentation.
• Provide periodic financial spot-check visits to partner offices, prepare the spot-check reports and ensure visit findings are thoroughly discussed with the partner and recommendations are understood and followed.
• Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing is conducted with LHF partners on LHF procedures and guidelines for accessing grants, working with the OCHA Grant Management System (GMS), complying with the Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) financial rules and regulations and keeping the team up to date on new financial releases through participation in meetings and workshops.
• Provide timely feedback to colleagues and partners by tracking, collecting and reviewing installment requests and projects refund and ensure proper tracking of system to provide feedback to colleagues and partners as necessary.

Perform other duties as requested by the Supervisor and/or Head of Office.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: No

Requirements

Education

• Secondary Education with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance is required or University  Degree in Finance, Business or Public Administration. Part-qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have an advantage.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum 6 years with Secondary education or 3 years  with a  Bachelor’s degree of progressive relevant experience in finance at a national or international level.
• Previous experience working with UN and/or  Humanitarian Organizations is. required
• Familiarity and good knowledge of humanitarian, social, political and economic conditions in the country is desired
• Excellent computer literacy and skills (word, excel, outlook, etc.). and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;
• Availability for travel in the country. 
  Language
   
• Fluency in English and Arabic; 
• Knowledge of French is  desired

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

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

• Business Development: Human-centered Design    
  Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process
• Business Management: Results-based Management    
  Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Business Management: Project Management    
  Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Business Management: Partnerships Management    
  Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with agency strategy and policies
• Business Management: Communication    
  Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
• Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management    
  Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns   .
• Finance: Finance business partnering    
  Able to support business units and add value by innovating and providing solutions to financial issues/queries, including through FAQs, financial tools, advisory, etc. Influences and appropriately challenges non-finance colleagues for
  whom the service is being provided. Understands the operations, opportunities and challenges of the organization. Holds a commercial outlook, demonstrating accountability towards organizational goals.

Keywords
Humanitarian Financing, Funding, Reporting, Partner Engagement, Monitoring, Financial Reporting, Capacity assessment, Risk Management
 

Non-discrimination

• UNOCHA has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
• UNOCHA is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status.