Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

E (most hardship)

Non Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Finance Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Regional Controller or Senior Finance Officer and in functional coordination with Division of Resource Management's (DRM) Admin, Finance and Treasury Service (AFTS). In the Country or Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent may be supervised by a Senior Finance Officer, Assistant Representative - Administration, Head of Sub-Office, or other senior positions as delegated by the Representative.

The incumbent is responsible for co-ordinating, guiding, monitoring, advising on, and supporting the financial operations in the area of responsibility (AoR). With the objective to safeguard and optimize the utilization of UNHCR's monetary and physical resources, the incumbent contributes to the establishment of efficient and reliable mechanisms and processes to ensure compliance with UN financial regulations and UNHCR's rules, policies and procedures including, and not limited to, accounts payable and treasury processes, accounting, and implementation of internal control mechanisms, including support to oversight and audit functions.

The incumbent also identifies and manages risks under their responsibility in close coordination with the Risk Management and Compliance Advisor. In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent supports the work of the Regional Controller with authority to discuss problems and seek common ground on which to recommend solutions based on predetermined guidelines provided by higher authority.

The incumbent may directly supervise professional and general service staff.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Oversee and guide integrated financial management and reporting for the area of responsibility (AoR).
- Assess, review, and ensure application of finance-related policies, instructions, procedures, etc.
- Provide advice to management regarding the application of financial policies and procedures and, when necessary, coordinate with the Regional Controller or Office of the Controller, as applicable, regarding the interpretation of such policies and procedures.
- Ensure accounting records are correct and reliable, including' and not limited to timely bank reconciliations, maintenance of open items, timely processing of travel financial transactions, clearance of residual requisitions and purchase order balance.
- In close coordination with the Admin, Finance and Treasury Service, support the preparation and review of donor financial reports, and endorse such reports before submission to donors.
- Ensure monthly and yearly closing as well as any other periodic accounting-related processes are executed in a timely and accurate manner.
- Ensure the maintenance and on-going validity of the Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP).
- Ensure that payments made are timely and accurately, and all month-end and year-end cut-off processes are implemented in line with relevant guidance.
- Supervise the preparation of financial reports, monitoring and supervising expenditures with respect to approved budgets and work plans.
- Ensure that local bank account administration and associated cash management functions are performed in adherence to financial guidelines.
- Perform financial management and control related to Cash-Based Interventions in adherence to financial guidelines.
- Review and certify vouchers, including ABOD and project disbursements.
- Perform project control functions for both directly and indirectly implemented activities, in the absence of a dedicated project control position.
- Coordinate, review and endorse responses to audit queries from internal and external audits and ensure the implementation of accounting audit recommendations.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other relevant duties as required.

Regional financial services applicable to positions in the Regional Bureau only
- In coordination with relevant services in HQ, and to improve cost-effectiveness and process efficiency for operations, implement and manage regional finance-related services such as: vendor and other related master data management and maintenance, invoice posting, travel claim processing, payments, bank reconciliations, accounting housekeeping and period cut-off activities, donor financial reporting, etc.
- Make proposals for the continuous improvement of financial monitoring and control mechanisms, including the streamlining of financial systems and procedures.
- In coordination with DRM's Change Management and Field Support Section, identify and provide training on accounting matters, and recommend or develop training modules as necessary, aiming at the development of financial management skills.
- In close liaison with DRM's System Administration Section and other divisions as necessary, provide and plan activities for rollout of new processes or systems; assist the Regional Controller in monitoring the implementing internal control mechanisms and compliance with UNHCR's financial policies and procedures in the region.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Accounting; Finance; Public or Business Administration;
Economics; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Professional accounting, auditing or financial management designation (CPA/ACCA/CIA/CMA or equivalent)
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Work experience in the field of accounting/finance, project management, business analysis, quality assurance and/or risk management. Excellent knowledge of, and experience in working with, international accounting and auditing standards, with a minimum of two years of practical experience in the audit process and/or in financial statements preparation. Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS). Excellent understanding and/or experience of financial modules a major Enterprise Resource Planning system (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle). Good understanding of project and resource management. Excellent computer skills, in particular in MS Office applications, especially MS-excel. Excellent communication and negotiation skills. Experience of managing people in multinational/multicultural environments.

Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR systems (such as COMPASS, Cloud ERP, Power BI - Results Data Portal). Excellent knowledge of United Nations financial rules and procedures.

Functional Skills
FI-General Financial Management
FI-Financial auditing
FI-International Auditing Standards
FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc)
FI-Financial Accounting - Modified cash-based accounting as per international standards
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

"Essential attributes:
• The ideal candidate should have strong hands-on experience in finance and administration, especially in hardship duty stations. Proven excellence in office management, including previous service as Head of Administration and Finance, is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in inter-agency coordination is essential, including active engagement with the Operations Management Team (OMT), as well as Finance, Administration, and ICT Working Groups, and the Business Operations Strategy (BOS) framework. Familiarity with managing emergency-like operations and the ability to negotiate effectively across UN agencies are critical competencies for this role.
• Strong knowledge of UNHCR systems and applications such as Cloud ERP, Workday, and COMPASS is required, along with the ability to adapt to the evolving technological landscape that supports UNHCR operations.
• The position requires a forward-thinking, solution-oriented professional who can operate effectively in resource-constrained and high-pressure environments. The candidate should demonstrate a solid track record of collaboration with functionally and culturally diverse teams, fostering an inclusive and results-driven work environment.
Desirable attributes:
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and advocacy skills are both written and oral. Cultural sensitivity and familiarity with the regional context are considered strong assets, contributing to effective service delivery and stakeholder engagement.
• Proficiency in Arabic is considered an added advantage."

,

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Finance Officer will report to the Senior Administrative Officer and will be expected to oversee administrative functions during the supervisor’s absence to ensure continuity. The incumbent will work closely with all sections and field offices and, in line with UNHCR administrative and financial rules and regulations, will coordinate administrative and financial resources as well as client-oriented services required for the operation. The role also includes preparing periodic and ad hoc financial reports for UNHCR.

In addition to finance responsibilities, the Finance Officer will continue to handle administrative tasks. Therefore, the role requires strong knowledge of UNHCR administrative and financial rules, regulations, and procedures for processing payments for goods and services.

The incumbent should collaborate closely with other UN agencies on common costs and services and be proactive in identifying innovative solutions. As an alternate member of the OMT, the incumbent will contribute to the BOS and other operational mechanisms that support the One UN approach. The Finance Officer will also serve as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Senior Administrative Officer and help support all country offices.

The region has been severely affected by economic recession, and Syria faces additional challenges due to sanctions, the protracted emergency, and ongoing conflict in many parts of the country. Sanctions have also negatively affected payment processes, requiring the incumbent to liaise closely with RB MENA, HQ Treasury, and other UN agencies in Syria to identify exceptional solutions. At the same time, reduced resources and austerity measures have been introduced across the operation. The incumbent will support the review and implementation of these measures to ensure compliance. The operation also faces complex local currency liquidity issues, which have caused delays in financial transactions. The incumbent will be expected to assist in advocating for and justifying additional resources. With the rollout of the CBI project in Syria, the incumbent will also act as the focal point for cash assistance and provide support on the financial aspects of CBI activities.

Living and Working Conditions:

The Syria operation remains highly complex due to the continued presence of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the potential for new displacement, and the anticipated large-scale return of Syrians from neighboring countries. At the same time, many IDPs are returning to their areas of origin. These significant challenges continue to affect both UNHCR beneficiaries and host communities across Syria.

Syria is a non-family duty station operating in a highly complex environment characterized by uncertainty and frequent security incidents. The movement of all personnel is restricted, coordinated, and closely monitored by security officers.

UN staff are accommodated in designated guesthouses or hotels in Damascus. Offices are located outside the accommodation facilities, specifically on Abdullah Ibn Rawaha Street in Kanawat Basatin, Kafarsouseh.

A UN Joint Clinic is available at the UNDP accommodation facility, providing basic medical services. However, there is a general shortage of medicines across the country. Staff who require medication on a special prescription are advised to travel with an adequate personal supply. UN-cleared medical facilities are available within Syria for emergency medical care.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Accounting, Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Finance, Bachelor of Arts: Public Administration

Certifications

Accounting - Other, Auditing - Other, Financial Management - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance