Finance Associate

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) serves all the regions and headquarters, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. IPAS consists of a diverse team of subject matter experts in the six practice areas of HR, Administration, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Project Management and Infrastructure. IPAS has three main roles: 

• Support to operations in the field offices: IPAS provides timely advice and supports actively finding of solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. It also provides operational support in specific areas.
• Business efficiency: IPAS recommends changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the field offices. IPAS also ensures transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs.
• Body of knowledge: IPAS contributes to research and coordination within the policy groups and project practitioners. It provides structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.

Functional Responsibilities:

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the IPAS Finance Specialist, the Finance Associate will work in close collaboration with the UNOPS operations, program and project staff. The incumbent will be responsible for providing transactional, advisory and oversight services while performing the following duties and responsibilities: 

Project Accounting: 

• Support in pre-clearning Journals (GLJE) recording transactions which are not possible through normal process of Receipts,Payments or Payroll, or to correct an accounting error;
• Global Support Services (GSS) waiver review and escalation to policy holder. Ensuring GSS rates are applied and posted as per current policy;
• Support HQ units on financial related matters as needed.

Budgets Monitoring and Control:

• Support pre-clearing budgets in conformity with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations and the funding source legal agreement;
• Support in the review and adjustments of project budget revisions;
• Support in the review of the project classification as agent or principal as per IPSAS;
• Support in correctly setting up projects in the system in regards to interest eligibility, cost recovery, etc.

Financial Reporting and Project closure:

• Assist in the implementation of reporting systems and reports to meet Funding source requirements and UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Prepare periodic financial statements to funding sources and external clients in compliance with established reporting requirements;
• Reconcile projects’ expenditure/revenues as recorded in the General Ledger when needed;
• Reconcile expenditures reported from Financial Dashboard;
• Assist Field Offices with Financial reporting and analysis;
• Resolve Financial Reporting system issues with Finance Practice Group and ICT at HQ;
• Provide reports as needed for year end closure activities;
• Assist field offices with the support needed relating to reporting and project closure;
• Review and prepare draft final financial statement related to project closure;
• Follow up with field offices on pending projects due for closure;
• Provide trainings on project closure and reporting to field colleagues, remotely and on-site;
• Develop monitoring tools and dashboards as required

Audit:

• Assist with audits and self-audits and quality assurance activities as required;
• Assist in the preparation of ad-hoc reports as requested by internal/external auditors;
• Coordinate collection of audit samples and requirements during internal/external audit exercise(s);
• Support the implementation of audit recommendations as may be required.

Education/Experience Language requirements:

Education: 

• Secondary education / high school diploma is required;
• A university degree – Bachelor’s / Master’s or equivalent preferably in Finance, Accounting or Business Administration is strongly preferred and can compensate for some of the required years of experience.

Work Experience: 

• Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience in Accounting and/or Project Finance capacity or similar roles (with secondary education / high school diploma);
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (G Suite/MS Office) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required;
• Experience in using ERP software or accounting software is required;
• Knowledge and experience in financial reporting to Public and Government donors is required.

Languages: 

• Fluency in written and oral English required;
• Knowledge of a second UN language (preferably French or Spanish) is required.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28886#4