UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Education! 

Organizational Context

UNICEF Niger Country Programme (2023-2027) is aligned to the Government “Programme de réconciliation” and the UNSCDF. The programme supports the government of Niger to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision of the program is that all girls and boys, from birth to late adolescence, survive, thrive, learn, develop their full potential, are protected from all forms of violence and exploitation, and thus contribute to positive social change in their communities.

In its role as the GPE (Global Partnership for Education) grant agent and coordinator of the education sector pool, UNICEF Niger has established a management unit under the Education Programme to oversee the implementation mechanisms of the pooled fund, minimize fiduciary risks, and report to all pooled fund partners on performance in alignment with the Procedures Manual, the partnership framework priorities, and the program objectives. The education sector common fund is a collaborative, multi-partner initiative supporting Niger, anchored by the country's Finance Laws and managed by the Government according to a procedures manual rooted in national systems. UNICEF's role is to coordinate partner support, facilitate the use of authorized procedures, monitor the appropriate and efficient use of resources, and report on field outcomes for the benefit of Nigerien students.

Purpose of the Job

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Education Specialist, the Financial Management Analysis Officer is responsible for providing support to the supervisors and colleagues in the office by administering and executing a variety of professional and technical financial transactions and processes, applying theoretical skills and thorough knowledge of organizational goals, objectives, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to complete the tasks.

The role of the Financial Management Analysis Officer is to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources provided to the government, aligning with the Procedures Manual, Partnership Pact, and program objectives. The incumbent will implement and strengthen internal controls to ensure effective systems for preventing, detecting, and reporting non-compliance.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Support to financial planning and management

- Assess work processes for completeness, adequacy, and compliance with the FCSE Procedures Manual.
- Develop a risk-based system to periodically review sample activities, ensuring compliance with the FCSE Operations Manual.
- Establish a system to document and report internal control weaknesses and address identify gaps by building staff capacity.
- Participate in planning, reviewing, and following up on internal, advisory, and external audits.
- Track the implementation of audit recommendations, providing status updates to the supervisor.
- Identify operational and programmatic risks, proposing mitigative actions.
- Promote value for money, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency, advising on minimizing resource losses (cash, assets, supplies, etc.).

2. Control of accounts

- Promote value for money, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency, advising on minimizing resource losses (cash, assets, supplies, etc.).
- Monitor and manage the budget process, ensuring integrity across all financial transactions.
- Coordinate the collection of financial management performance indicators.
- Ensure full compliance with operational reporting requirements.
- Collaborate with the government counterparts, the Technical Assistance Team, and contributing partners to implement audit recommendations.
- Advise on corrective actions and develop training activities to enhance operational efficiency and performance.

3. Knowledge and capacity building

- Promote a culture of highest ethical standards and behavior in management of UNICEF’s resources.
- Support initiatives for management improvement by capturing, institutionalizing and sharing best practices and lessons learned.
- Recommend improvements in processes and procedures to enhance productivity and performance including implementation of cost saving strategies.
- Participate and/or organize training and learning events to build capacity of staff and stakeholders/partners.
- Support operations of the office as required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

A first level university degree in accounting, financial management or another related financial field is required.
Supplemental formal financial / accounting training may be accepted if university degree is not in a related financial field.
Diploma qualification in CIPFA is acceptable in lieu of relevant university degree, or its equivalent.

Work Experience:

Experience required: A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in financial management or audit is required.
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel is required.
Experience in an international organization and/or large corporation is preferred.
Experience in a UN system agency or organization some of which served in a developing country is considered as an asset.
Experience in database packages, web based management systems and ERP systems (preferably SAP financial modules) is considered as an asset.
Experience with IPSAS and/or IFRS is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in French is required. Knowledge of English or another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (1)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (1) 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [strong and qualified female candidates] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.