Background Information – Job-specific

As part of the Tunisia Country Program, Cities Alliance has been engaged in Tunisia since 2012, following the Arab Spring, alongside the Center for Integration in the Mediterranean. As of 2015, the Tunisia Country Program aims to promote strategic urban planning in secondary cities, strengthen local democracy and launch innovative studies with the aim of preparing future urban public policies.

The country program provides technical assistance on decentralization, municipal planning, urban policies and strategies, capacity development, community development, municipal services, and urban infrastructure.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of the main functions:

• Implementation of operational strategies
• Budget control and monitoring
• Treasury functions
• Accounting, administrative and office support
• Financial reports
• Strengthening knowledge and sharing knowledge

1. Ensure the implementation of operational strategies, with a focus on achieving the following outcomes:

• Full compliance with UNOPS / Cities Alliance rules and regulations regarding financial processes, financial records and audit reporting and monitoring; Implementation of the effective internal control framework.
• Compliance with standard internal operating procedures in Finance under the supervision of the Program Manager and in consultation with the Cities Alliance Finance Unit in Brussels

2. Ensure budget efficiency, control and monitoring, focusing on achieving the following outcomes:

• Compliance with UNOPS / Cities Alliance rules, regulations and procedures, as well as funding resources procedures.
• Assistance in collecting information for budget preparation.
• Assistance with the review and adjustment of budget revisions of the project.
• Maintain the budget database by checking them and entering them on the system.
• Assistance in reviewing and adjusting project expenses / obligations against approved budgets

3. Provide support for cash management, with a focus on achieving the following results:

• Participate in the Review of Payment Claims before processing is completed to ensure that documentation is complete and that all payment information has been provided; in particular the appropriate accounting codes used; certification of services rendered / goods delivered, payment documents duly completed and signed; all in accordance with the terms and conditions provided.
• Contribute to the Review and confirmation of operational transactions processed in accordance with UNOPS / Cities Alliance policies, regulations, applicable rules.
• Participate in the Review and confirm the validity of expenses by verifying the authorized amounts and ensuring the availability of budget and funds.
• Maintenance and control of the petty cash fund and preparation of the report for replenishment.
• Frequent contacts with the local bank for daily information on exchange rates, interest rates, changes in banking procedures and regulations, etc.

4. Provide accounting, administrative and clerical support, with a focus on achieving the following results:

• Preparation of payments and review of vouchers to ensure completeness and accuracy of accounting code rates; The entry of transactions in the accounting and financing system.
• Track recorded expenses and related contributions to ensure accurate and accurate accounting information.
• Participate in the preparation of a monthly expenditure management schedule and quarterly and annual statements.
• Participate in Analysis of reports, surveys and adjustments as needed.
• Communication with colleagues / partners on areas requiring verification, corrections, additional information, etc. to improve the quality of production and / or submission of accounts and increase the knowledge base in the process.
• Monitoring of cash requirements and expenses.
• Participate in budget revisions in accordance with funding agency agreements and guidelines.
• Contribute to the adjustment of project expenses as needed.
• Appropriate closure of projects and reimbursement of unspent balances to beneficiaries and partners.
• Final budget revisions and final signed financial statements of Country Program projects.
• Participation in the provision of financial support (UNOPS ERP system, PeopleSoft) to office and field staff for project accounting and financial reporting

5. Participate in providing accurate financial information, focusing on achieving the following results:

• Assist in the implementation of reporting systems to meet the requirements of funding resources.
• Contribute to the preparation of financial and statistical reports.
• Contribute to the preparation of periodic financial statements for sharing with funding resources and with partners in accordance with established reporting requirements.
• Contribute to the preparation of financial statements on specific audit certification and transmission projects to beneficiaries of funds and Cities Alliance in Brussels
• Reconciliation of recorded project expenditures.
• Reconciliation of reported expenditure of projects.
• Close monitoring with project managers to provide reports and analysis regarding financial information.
• Resolution of Financial Reporting Tool (UNOPS Financial Information System)
• Participate in the provision of year-end reports, as required and at the request of the supervisor.

6. Facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and knowledge sharing, with a focus on achieving the following outcomes:

• Participation in training for finance operations / projects staff.
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Education / Experience / Language requirements

Training:

• Secondary degree (BAC) with 4 years of experience is required
• Master’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, management will be an asset
• Master / PHD in finance, accounting, economics, management with relevant experience will be a plus

Experience:

• 4 years of experience in finance at national and / or international level
• Experience in the use of computers and desktop software (MS Office 2003 and / or newer versions) and prior knowledge of spreadsheets and databases, as well as experience in handling management systems based on the Web

Languages:

French: Very good knowledge (read, spoken, written) Arabic: Very good knowledge (read, spoken, written) English: Good knowledge (read, spoken, written)