IIEP-UNESCO Dakar is the International Institute for Educational Planning’s (IIEP) Africa-based office located in Dakar, Senegal. IIEP is a UNESCO specialized institute with a mandate to strengthen Member States’ capacity to plan and manage their education systems. The IIEP-UNESCO Dakar, is renowned for its cutting edge educational sector analyses and supports African countries in developing realistic and credible education system development plans in support of the Education 2030 agenda, an essential part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through a well-crafted and targeted capacity development approach, IIEP-UNESCO Dakar contributes to the creation of diagnostic analyses, sector plans and pedagogical tools. In concert, these contribute to more relevant and sustainable educational policies across Africa. IIEP-UNESCO Dakar is also actively involved in knowledge creation for the education sector in Africa. For more information about its activities, please follow this link IIEP Dakar.
Overview Of The Functions Of The Post
Under the overall authority of the Head of Office, the direct supervision of the Administrative and Finance Officer and in close collaboration with the Corporarate Service Unit in Paris, the incumbent will perform a variety of specialized tasks in finance and accounting, monitoring and reporting, ensuring compliance with relevant Financial Rules and Regulations and standards, and established procedures, as follows:
Assist in the timely closing of the monthly accounts in SAP ensuring observation of deadlines, including analysis and clearing of accounts, ensuring compliance with relevant financial rules and regulations, standards and established procedures for the IIEP Dakar Office.
Preparation of the bank reconciliation on a monthly basis.
Monthly review and clearing of IIEP Dakar’s accounts, revision of AR and AP outstanding accounts.
Assist in the review of prior and current budget period commitments, recommitment and cancellation of outstanding commitments.
Payments & Treasury
Prepares all local cash disbursments and bank transfers in a timely manner and ensures the replenishment of the bank accounts.
Records and submit to validation the weekly local bank transfers through IIEP Dakar’s bank.
Prepares cash payments where bank transfers are not possible.
Records and reconcile cash and petty cash transactions and assist in cash management, including preparing cash flow forecasts.
Record non-local currency invoices and route transfers to the appropriate paying entity (including UNDP), ensuring that all invoices including payments to staff, fellows, vendors or clients are posted on a timely basis in line with the organization’s rules & regulations.
Monitor payments, notify payees of status of payments and alert stakeholders for any exceptions. Ensure proper correspondence with banks and relevant UNESCO colleagues.
Prepare, record and reconcile all invoices and pro-forma issued for the IIEP Dakar office as well as receipts upon request.
Assists in the administration and monitoring of core-funding and extra-budgetary resources.
Assist the Administrative Officer in the preparation of internal and donor financial reports when required.
Assist in the implementation of improvements and any processes/financial tools changes
Assists with the review and recording of financial transactions related to assets and inventory.
Act as certifying Officer when necessary and contribute to Master Data Management.
Assist the Administrative Officer and IIEP Paris finance team during the annual audit.
Performs other duties required for the achievement of the teams objectives.
Required Qualifications
Education
Advanced University degree (equivalent to Masters) in accounting, economics, finance, business administration, and/or public administration.
Work Experience
Minimum 2 years of experience in accountancy, financial management and administration, preferably in an international and multicultural work environment.
Skills and Competencies
Advanced knowledge of international accounting norms such as International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), International Financial Reporting Standards IFRS or other.
Strong numerical, analytical and reasoning capacity with ability to define and solve problems.
Knowledge of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP systems), such as SAP, including Finance modules.
Good interpersonal skills. Ability to establish good working relationships with a multicultural team and the community at large to facilitate team-work.
Demonstrated resourcefulness, initiative, maturity, integrity, sense of confidentiality, astuteness and the ability to identify problem areas and solve them effectively and efficiently.
Good oral and written communication skills;.
Very good computer skills including in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Languages
Excellent knowledge of English or French, working knowledge of the other language.
Excellent drafting skills in at least one of the two languages.
