Finance Analyst

Position Purpose

Under the guidance of the DRR, and direct supervision of the Operations Manager & UN Common Back-Office in Brazil, the Finance Analyst is responsible for effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilization of financial resources, and management of the Country Office (CO) Finance Unit. The Financial Analyst analyzes and interprets financial rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex financial issues. The Finance Analyst promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

 The Finance Analyst manages the CO Finance Unit and supervises and leads the unit’s staff. The Finance Analyst works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and Project teams in the CO, UNDP HQs and GSSC staff, and Government officials to ensure successful CO financial performance.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure implementation of operational and financial management strategies and adapt processes and procedures.

• Ensure CO financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow-up comply with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) and strategies. Provide support in closure of audit gaps, implement effective internal controls, and ensure proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system.
• Support office management in preparing and reviewing CO Finance business processes mapping and elaborate/establish internal standard operating procedures in the Finance Unit, and control Finance Unit workflows.
• Provide continuous analysis and monitoring of the financial situation and potential risks; and provide forecasts for allocated development and management projects, transactions, and activities.
• Support country office management to articulate the framework and conditions of contributions within the CO resources mobilization efforts.
• Elaborate and implement cost saving and reduction strategies.
• Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigate anomalies or unusual transactions. Inform senior CO management and other UNDP staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Clear the budget of development projects, manage budgets of management projects and Direct Project Costs (DPC), and organize an optimal cost-recovery system.

• Manage financial resources through planning, guiding, controlling of the resources in accordance with UNDP POPP guidelines.
• Prepare and monitor budgets of management projects in ERP. Provide regular analysis and report on budget approvals and delivery situation of management projects.
• Establish the management projects’ budget preparation/modification monitoring system; and monitor and report on control of budgetary status versus authorized spending limits (ASL) and budgets delivery levels.
• Elaborate proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management.
• Organize cost-recovery and DPC mechanisms for services provided by UNDP ensuring the preparation of pro-forma invoices for UN agencies in ERP and monitor through the ERP tracking system. Ensure cost-sharing financing contributions are properly transferred to UNDP on a timely basis.

Ensure proper control of CO accounts.

• Elaborate internal expenditures’ control system for all transactions, including invoices and General Ledger. Ensure invoices processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP; and travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed in IPSAS compliance.
• Exercise appropriate delegated authorities for transactions approval.
• Ensure timely corrective actions on unposted invoices, including invoices with validation errors, match exceptions, and/or unapproved invoices. Provide timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues.
• Ensure control of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and accounts closure.

Ensure proper CO cash and Treasury management, including risk assessment and adequate security for cash assets on site.

• Provide timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure sufficient funds for disbursements and maintain liquidity level approved by Treasury. Ensure timely identification and recording of receipts/deposit creation for revenue application.
• Identify and record contributions.
• Serve as primary contact with local bank management on routine operational matters including negotiation of exchange rate on replenishments. Serve as member of bank signatory panel.
• Review bank reconciliation and provide documentation to GSSC in accordance with service level agreement.
• Prepare monthly cash flow forecast and ensure sufficient cash balance in local bank account. Liaise with participating UN agencies to obtain disbursement estimate of their cash requirements. Serve as cashier for cash disbursements made on site.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO and guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters.

• Provide support in identifying training needs of UNDP staff for the purpose of capacity development in finance compliance.
• Organize and conduct training for the operations/programme/projects staff on financial management and RBM. Assist in providing regular training and technical guidance/advice on audit and compliance matters, including implementation of Internal Control Framework (ICF).
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in Finance.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A professional accounting qualification from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy, and/or Advanced (Master’s) University Degree in Finance and/or Accounting is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Candidates with professional accounting qualifications from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete the Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.
• Candidates satisfying the two above criteria are exempted from undertaking the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT).
• Candidates with MBA or master’s in finance with no accountancy qualification but with relevant experience must successfully undertake the UNDP Advanced Accountancy and Finance Test (AAFT) to be eligible for shortlisting.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in providing financial management services, and/or managing staff and operational systems is required.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management systems such as ERP financials and database packages is required.
• Experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates is required.
• Relevant experience at the national or international level in providing financial management advisory services and/or risk management is desirable.
• Experience in providing financial and budget support to programmes/project is an asset.
• Experience in working UN system or an international organization is considered an advantage.
• Experience in audit and compliance management will be an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Portuguese is required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/22647