Finance and Administration Support

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Established in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of individuals who are committed to the mission of achieving Zero Hunger. WFP's core values include Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, and it strives to create a diverse and inclusive work environment that reflects the communities it serves. WFP has received numerous accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, recognizing its efforts in combating hunger and promoting security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security worldwide. The organization is dedicated to the professional development of its employees, offering various training and mobility opportunities across its global offices.

Job Overview:
The Finance and Administration Support position is crucial for the effective delivery of financial, budgetary, and administrative support services within the WFP in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This role involves ensuring compliance with WFP financial policies and regulations, monitoring expenditures, and providing technical support to staff in finance and budget matters. The successful candidate will work closely with the Head of Finance and will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, preparing reports, and ensuring that financial resources are utilized efficiently and transparently. This position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders to facilitate informed decision-making and effective financial management.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide procedural and technical support to staff in finance and budget areas to ensure compliance with WFP financial policies, rules, and regulations.
• Monitor monthly expenditure forecasts and prepare expenditure reports to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Regularly monitor sub-imprest bank and petty cash accounts to ensure adequate funds are available and appropriately disbursed.
• Verify vendor claims, advances, and other receivables, ensuring timely payments to suppliers in accordance with WFP finance rules.
• Compile information from various sources to prepare reports related to budgets, accounting, finance, and statistics.
• Retrieve, format, and validate information from financial information systems, addressing discrepancies with the supervisor.
• Perform administrative duties related to monitoring and recording fixed assets, fuel, and spare parts expenditures for vehicles and generators.
• Maintain a web-based register for all invoices and payment transfers, ensuring compliance with WFP standards.
• Monitor and record all expenses in line with the approved budget, ensuring timely processing of payments to external suppliers and cash grants. 1
• Provide guidance and on-the-job training to support staff to ensure consistent service delivery to required standards.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a secondary school education, with a post-secondary certificate in a related functional area being desirable. The role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure while maintaining accuracy in financial reporting. Familiarity with WFP financial policies and procedures is an advantage, as is experience in a similar role within a humanitarian or development context.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is the completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in finance, accounting, or a related field is highly desirable and will enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant experience in collecting and monitoring financial data related to projects and programs. This includes assessing financial health and status, as well as reporting findings to senior leaders. Experience in a humanitarian or development organization is preferred, as it provides valuable context for the financial management practices required in this role.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the regions in which WFP operates.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The role is open to both national and international candidates. WFP offers an attractive compensation package, which includes various benefits and opportunities for professional development. The organization is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. All applications must be submitted through the WFP online recruitment system, and candidates are advised to ensure their profiles are complete and accurate before applying.