Finance Risk Analyst

The Finance Risk Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Risk Management Specialist/Head of the Integrated Risk Management Unit and will work closely with different sections of the Programme and Operations in the Country Office. The Finance Risk Analyst is responsible for supporting the Head of the IRMU and the team in implementing the risk management regime and strategies in place through the provision of risk analysis and support

• Afghanistan National Statistics and Information Authority, Income and Labor Force Survey 2020.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM), [December 2022], Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM)
• Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), Afghanistan, IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis, March – November 2022
• ILO, World Social Protection Report 2017-2019: Universal social protection to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, 2017.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the guidance and supervision of the Risk Management Specialist, the Finance Risk Analyst is responsible for proactively analyze financial statements submitted by the UNDP prospective partners as well as support project risk assessments, identify potential risks and supports IRMU to advise the CO management on adjustments required to achieve optimal control mechanisms. The Finance Risk Analyst also supports the head of the IRMU in the CO Audit preparation and implementation of audit recommendations relevant to the IRMU.  The incumbent promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations and works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme, and project teams in the CO.
• 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.
• Assists the Head of the IRMU in identifying and assessing financial risks within UNDP CO, projects, and partner risk analysis: focusing on the achievement of the following results:
• Conducting risk assessments to identify potential financial risks facing the UNDP CO and its projects.
• Analyzing financial statements presented by the UNDP prospective partners to evaluate the impact of various risks on the partners’ financial performance.
• Support the head of the unit in developing risk management strategies and policies to mitigate identified risks.
• Monitoring and reporting on key financial risk indicators to head of the unit.
• Stress testing financial models to assess the organization’s resilience to different risk scenarios.
• Collaborating with other departments such as compliance, internal audit, and finance to ensure a comprehensive approach to risk management.
• Participating in the development and implementation of risk management tools and systems.
• Keeping abreast of the UNDP regulatory changes and industry best practices related to financial risk management.
• Ensures full compliance with the UNDP accountability framework and corporate guidelines on Internal Control Framework as related to the Enterprise Risk Management.
• Continuously analyses and monitors changes in UN/UNDP rules & regulations, policies and guidelines that potentially impact the risk and internal control systems within the CO.
• Operationalizes the mitigation measures and internal control in the Afghanistan’s context.

Ensures the development and implementation of risk and performance management plans, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contributes to the Head of the Unit and Risk Specialist in planning, managing and coordinating implementation of risk management systems, tools and processes in the CO and at the project level; regularly supports in updating the CO risk register in the corporate planning system and other platforms.
• Assess opportunities and risks and works with programme team to maximize opportunities and minimize risk exposure levels; risks are escalated if need be.
• Establish the refinement and development of risk assessment tools to enhance the monitoring and assessment process.
• Monitors and updates the programme & projects risk dashboard for the Afghanistan CO n and supports enhancement of project and programme risk logs.
• Conducts partner verifications and supports the IRMU team in undertaking partner risk assessments.
• Escalates to the Risk Management Specialist matters that require management attention.
• Reviews and analyses partners audited financial statements and contributes to the financial analysis section of the risk reports.
• Systematically builds capacities of CO staff in all areas of responsibility.
• Provide analysis to project risk management cycle, assesses, and proactively identifies critical risks requiring further controls and assurance activities, and advises office units on minimizing risk exposure.
• Provide continuous analysis to projects in formulation of risk management plans and participates in project appraisal to ensure that the risk management framework is properly reflected in project designs.

Ensures effective support of Country Office Audits, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Participates in preparation of annual calendar for audits, including list of projects to be audited based on corporate criteria.
• In collaboration with CO audit focal point (Operations Manager) prepares the checklists and documentation required by the auditors.
• Facilitates, in collaboration with other colleagues, the interaction between auditors and CO teams and/or projects and ensures timely submission of all audit requirements including reports.
• Provides quality assurance for the internal, management and UNBOA audit reports.
• Assists in analyzing risk related audit findings across the board and prepares audit follow-up plans.
• Monitors audit follow-up with the various units/teams, analyzes cross-cutting audit issues across projects and develops an action plan for capacity development activities.
• Liaises with Regional Audit Centre on audit and oversight matters, seek guidance and technical inputs and support as necessary.
• Follow up on the risk related audit recommendations and updates their status in CARDS.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO and guidance to all stakeholders on compliance matters focusing on achievement of the following results

• Organizes/conducts training for the operations/programme/projects staff on internal control mechanisms and risk management.
• Identifies and synthetizes lessons learnt and best practices in work.
• Actively promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the CO.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or a professional accounting qualification is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in auditing, accounting, fraud examination and/or risk management is required.
• Experience and knowledge of internal control procedures is required.
• Experience in report writing is required.
• Knowledge of international standards on risk management (ISO31000, The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Enterprise Risk Management or relevant standards) is desired.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, and experience in handling of web-based management systems are required.
• Previous experience with the UN/UNDP / international organizations / INGOs and familiarity with its policies and procedures, particularly in the applicable job area is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), International Financial Reporting Standards is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English both written and oral is required.
• Fluency in both local languages Dari and/or Pashto is required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/18537