Finance Associate

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  With presence in 170 countries and territories, UNDP endeavors to help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP personnel are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet.

Drawing on the diversity of UNDP’s client needs and partnerships, the Bureau for Management Services (BMS)Office of Human Resources (OHR) is the hub for the global HR function for UNDP, providing strategy, policy setting, guidance, and oversight. In addition, BMS/OHR provides a broad range of HR advisory and talent management services enabling UNDP to deliver fully integrated development solutions at corporate level.  In this context, OHR is focused on the implementation of an ambitious and forward-looking three-year strategy, People for 2030, which will progressively transform UNDP’s culture and enable its workforce capacity to deliver more and better results.

Through People for 2030, BMS/OHR aims to be at the leading edge of HR in the international development sector by developing high quality and innovative human resources solutions and driving transformation across UNDP.

In this renewed and dynamic framework, OHR is seeking high caliber human resources professionals with a strong HR background, and the capacity, commitment, and attitude needed to generate a culture characterized by innovation, entrepreneurship and a focus on delivering transformative outcomes.

The BMS/OHR/Talent Acquisition and People Programme (TAPP) is responsible for the development of new strategic staffing and talent acquisition initiatives with a view to build a Centre for Excellence in Talent Acquisition and Management that caters to UN system agency clients as well as other potential partners.

Under the overall guidance of the Operations and Finance Analyst, the Finance Associate supports the highest efficiency in People Programme operations, as well as other programmes and partnerships within the TAPP team, including timely and accurate donor reporting, financial resources management and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information. He/she analyzes operational rules and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex operational issues. The Finance Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Operations and Finance Analyst, the Finance Associate provides support in execution of financial services in the BMS/OHR/TAPP Team ensuring effective and transparent financial management
• The Finance Associate works in close collaboration with the BMS/OHR New York, BMS/Office of Finance Management (OFM)/Corporate Financial Reporting and Agency Services Team, BMS/Information and Technology Management Office (ITM), as well as the transactional part of HR and finance services ensuring successful operations, human resources management, financial resource management, and client-orientation of the People Programmes.
• 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.

Ensures implementation of the People Programme financial management strategies:

• Ensure People Programmes financial activities, financial recording/reporting system, and follow-up on audit recommendations are in full compliance with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) and strategies.
• Support implementation of effective internal controls and proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system.
• Assist in supporting office management to articulate the framework and conditions of contributions to People Programmes.
• Assist in monitoring People Programme financial resources, reconcile donor accounts and prepare forecasts.
• Support in monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to management on the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
• Support in reviewing and approving cost estimates, including update and development of tools for calculation of JPO/SDP/Seconded expert costs and continuous alignment with UNDP finance policies.
• Assist in monitoring and follow up on contributions from donors to the JPO Programme positions.
• Support in organization of cost-recovery mechanisms for services provided by UNDP to JPO Programmes of UN agencies.
• Assist in controlling and monitoring of co-financing arrangements and processes
• Support in controlling and monitoring of Centrally Management Costs arrangements and processes
• Support end-year reversal of UN Organisations JPO Programme financial transactions from UNDP books.

 Ensure implementation of timely and accurate financial reporting on People Programmes:

• Support implementation of new JPO Programme financial model and suggest improvements as applicable.
• Assists in preparation of reports containing analysis of the People Programme financial situation.
• Support in monitoring and preparation of People Programmes  financial reports to donors and UN Agencies on a timely and quality basis.

Provide accounting and administrative support to the OHR/TAPP unit:

• Ensure proper control of the supporting documents and payment invoices and proper document management including systematic archiving.
• Support in reviewing periodic oversight of financial reports for projects and management funds/budget balance.
• Maintain internal expenditures control system which ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP; and travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed.
• Assist in coordinating and reviewing allocated General Ledger and sub-ledger accounts and support timely project closure.
• Take 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.
• Support in facilitation of JPO travel requests, including organization of airtickets and monitoring of Duty Travel and Training Balances

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Organize training for the human resources team on financial management.
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in financial management.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Fully Qualified Accountant, from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy or Full Completion of the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP). No UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
• Candidates with no professional accountancy qualifications, but with degrees that major in accountancy and/or finance must complete UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited. However, no UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) is required.
• Candidate with no professional accountancy qualifications but with relevant experience must successfully undertake UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (AFT) before shortlisting and must complete the UNDP Finance Training and Certification Programme (FTCP), if recruited.

Experience:

• 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience at the national or international level 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.
• Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required.

Language:

• Fluency in English
• Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/19651