Finance Officer (PSF) at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Officer (PSF)

Location: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia
Reports to: Head of Peace and Security Finance Unit
Directorate/Department/Organ: Finance
Division: Peace and Security Finance Unit
Number of Direct Reports: 4
Number of Indirect Reports: 0 
Job Grade: P2
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose of Job

• To provide technical support in financial management, accounting, administrative and treasury services in order to meet legislative requirements and support AU operations.

Main Functions

• Provides support in the preparation and Implement the programmes developed out of the Division’s strategic plan;
• Ensures effective coordination and implementation at various levels;
• Liaise with Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other stakeholders including on relevant matters;
• Prepares and develops reports, budget and work programmes related to the functioning of the Division;
• Provides support to develop resource mobilization strategy with stakeholder’s coordination;
• Manages and supervises employees under his/her supervision with regard to organization and performance evaluation;
• Conducts complex analysis and generate accurate reports in a timely manner for the Division and AU’s internal use;
• Liaise with the various Departments/Units of the Commission for coordination and alignment purposes;
• Prepares budgets for the Division in accordance with relevant frameworks. Support the promotion of the activities of the Division including preparing leaflets, guidelines and fact sheets as may be required;
• Actively contribute in the development of strategies, policies, programmes and plans.

Specific Responsibilities

• Ensures that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained accurately
• Prepares financial management reports to track performance against budget and report the results to management
• Maintains a financial reporting calendar and ensure timely preparation of all financial reports
• Provides advice and ensure compliance with Financial Rules and Regulations and other determined Financial Policies
• Ensures 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 purchase requisitions and purchase order balances.
• Ensures compliance with financial internal controls, and ensure that transactions are processed and assets managed in accordance with AUC Financial Rules and Regulations
• Prepares monthly/annual accounts closure, including bank reconciliations and submission of timely and accurate reports to management
• In close coordination with the supervisor, support the preparation and review of donor financial reports, and endorse such reports before submission to donors
• Ensures monthly and yearly closing as well as any other periodic accounting-related processes are executed in a timely and accurate manner.
• Assists, prepares or consolidates year-end financial statements for inclusion in the AUC Annual Financial Statements to be audited and provide advice, financial interpretations and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to the AUC Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Promotes best practices, transparency, accountability and appropriate working systems
• Plans, coordinate, and supervise the work of the Assistant Accountants;
• Performs any other financial related duties as may be assigned by supervisors
• Maintains the accounts payable and accounts receivable systems in order to ensure complete and accurate records.
• Maintains appropriate financial information systems and accounting records based on the generally accepted accounting principles and international accounting standards;
• Keeps accurate financial records;
• Defines requirements and works with systems units with respect to production of relevant financial reports. Review and deal appropriately with accounts receivable. Take timely action in closing projects financially in the system;
• Coordinates, reviews and endorses responses to audit queries from internal and external audits and ensure the implementation of accounting audit recommendations;
• Supervises the preparation of financial reports, monitoring and supervising expenditures with respect to approved budgets and work plans;
• Monitors, analyses, and approves transactions for entry into the accounting system;
• Analyzes accounts and review/evaluate extra budgetary financial reports. Identifies problem transactions and irregularities in related accounts, resolving them in a timely and effective manner;
• Provides hands on support for efficient and effective financial, budget, and fund management process;
• Answers inquires of related to finance issues to various stakeholders;
• Produces regular financial reports as required or requested;
• Collects and analyze financial data in such areas as forecasting, budgeting, cost reduction analysis.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Management, Accounting, Finance or Commerce or related field with five (5) years of relevant professional work experience in the areas of finance, accounting, financial management, budget, out of which two (2) years of experience at supervisory levels.
• Professional qualification such as CPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent is an added advantage,
• Strong knowledge of IPSAS i and any ERP/SAP is an added advantage.
• A Master’s Degree in Financial Management, Accounting, Finance or Commerce or related field with two (2) years of relevant professional work experience in the areas of finance, accounting, financial management, budget, and experience in team supervision.
• Additional professional qualification such as CPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent  is an added advantage.
• Strong knowledge of IPSAS  and any ERP/SAP is  an added advantage.

Required Skills:

• Conscientious in observing deadlines and achieving results 
• Familiarity with international and regional policy processes and policy analysis in the relevant area 
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing 
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages, fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship
• Accountable and Complies with Rules
• Communicating with Influence
• Learning Orientation.

Functional Competencies:

• Job Knowledge Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Focus.

Tenure of Appointment:

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables. 

Gender Mainstreaming:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US $ 85,212.07  (P2 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US $ 66,751.81 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission

Application Closing Date
28th February, 2025, 11h59 p.m. EAT.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
• Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor's degrees (Bac+3), Master's degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
• The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Candidates from less represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.
• These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.