Finance Manager

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East, established to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees. With over 30,000 staff members, UNRWA operates across five areas of operation, focusing on delivering education, health care, social services, and emergency assistance to the most vulnerable communities. The agency is committed to helping Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development despite the challenging circumstances they face. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations, and individual contributions. For more information about UNRWA, please visit their official website at https://www.unrwa.org/.

Job Overview:
The Finance Manager position at UNRWA involves managing a field-based finance team to ensure the provision of accurate, relevant, and timely financial information and advice to various internal and external stakeholders. The incumbent will report to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Operations) and will receive technical guidance from the Director of Finance. This role requires a strong understanding of financial management, including budget preparation, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring compliance with IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards). The Finance Manager will also be responsible for training staff on financial matters, advising on financial resource management, and ensuring due diligence in financial operations. The position demands a proactive approach to identifying areas for efficiency improvements within financial systems and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Manager will oversee the following duties and responsibilities:

• Manage the field-based finance team to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting and advice.
• Train and instruct staff on financial matters relevant to the field operations.
• Provide financial advice to the Field Director, Programme Chiefs, and other managers on management issues and financial envelope management.
• Coordinate the preparation of medium-term forecasts and operating budgets in compliance with IPSAS.
• Review budget submissions and monitor expenditures against budget allotments, reporting on variances.
• Ensure due diligence in disbursements, receipts, and management of financial resources, including internal control procedures and cash flow management.
• Supervise the preparation of monthly financial reports, quarterly budget reviews, and yearly account closing activities.
• Ensure compliance with IPSAS and UN financial regulations throughout the field.
• Develop and maintain financial systems and procedures to balance operational expediency with financial control. 1
• Serve on field committees involving financial matters, such as procurement and tender opening committees.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in finance, accountancy, business administration, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have at least seven years of progressively responsible work experience in finance, accounting, business administration, or related fields, with a minimum of three years at a supervisory level in a large commercial, industrial, or government agency. A solid grasp of accrual accounting standards such as IPSAS or IFRS is essential. Experience with major Enterprise Resource Planning Systems like SAP or Oracle is also required. Candidates must have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and outside their country of nationality or citizenship.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in finance, accountancy, business administration, or a related field is required for this position. A first-level university degree combined with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. All university degrees must be stated in the application, where applicable.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience in finance, accounting, business administration, or related fields. At least three years of this experience must be at a supervisory level in a large commercial, industrial, or government agency. Experience in finance, accounting, budget, audit, and related functions is essential, along with a solid understanding of accrual accounting standards such as IPSAS or IFRS. Candidates must also have relevant international experience outside their country of nationality or citizenship, unless they are already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System.

Languages:
For this position, proficiency in English is required, with a minimum level of UN Level III in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable, with a minimum level of UN Level I in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French, but for this job opening, English is the primary requirement.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is one year, with the possibility of further extension. The incumbent will be required to reside in the field of assignment and may need to travel occasionally within the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East. Applications must be fully completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system, and late applications will not be accepted. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender balance in its workforce and encourages female candidates and candidates with disabilities to apply. A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same or similar posts when the need arises. UNRWA does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.