Project Finance Manager – P4

Background

The General Operations Team as part of the Bureau for Management Services in UNDP is responsible for premises, facilities, asset management, travel management and BMS Operations. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Headquarters in New York City has embarked on a major renovation project to transform the DC1 building into the central hub for all UNDP headquarters personnel. This comprehensive renovation encompasses a range of key elements such as asbestos abatement, interior design, construction, demolition, curtain wall renovation, interior mullion refinishing, lobby renovation, electrical, mechanical and plumbing system upgrades. In addition, the project involves complete furnishing and restacking of the space in full compliance with design and construction documents.

Given the magnitude of the project, detailed coordination is crucial, demanding cohesive collaboration with multiple stakeholders, ensuring conformance with local, state, and federal regulatory standards. General Operations (GO) team is actively seeking a skilled Project Finance Manager with demonstrated solid financial resources management experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the BMS/GO Director and Programme Manager for UNDP’s Renovation and Consolidation into DC1, the Project Finance Manager is responsible for ensuring the highest efficiency in project financial resources management and the provision of accurate, thoroughly researched and documented financial information, effective delivery of financial services, and transparent utilization of project financial resources.

The incumbent’s main role is to support the Programme Manager and Project Team in project implementation by ensuring effective management of the project through financial monitoring and reporting and preparing recommendation for BMS GO and BMS senior management on making key decisions to ensure smooth implementation of the project.

In essence, this would include the processing of complex financial tasks ensuring compliance with schedules, respond to requests from various contractors, interacting with the Landlord, and preparing comprehensive financial reports for senior management of GO, BMS and UNDP, and various stakeholders. The Project Finance Manager promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across
interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises
that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response.
Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

1) Ensure effective and accurate project financial resources management and oversight and implementation of operations and financial management procedures

• Comprehensive financial analysis and oversight for project resources, providing high-quality professional advice to the BMS/GO management
• Full compliance of financial activities, recording, reporting and audit follow up with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies, ensuring robust internal controls.
• Proper planning, expenditure tracking and financial audits to ensure compliance with UNDP rules and regulations
• Effective organization and oversight of project cash flows, including risk assessment, timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions
• Development and establishment of internal standard operating procedures for the project implementation within BMS/GO ensuring streamlined workflows and adherence to best practices in project financial management.
• Ongoing analysis and monitoring of the project financial position, enabling proactive decision-making and risk mitigation.
• Timely and accurate financial reporting to Programme Manager, BMS/GO, BMS and UNDP senior management to support informed decision-making

2) Ensure proper control of project accounts

• Accurate identification, recording, and verification of all project financial transactions in full compliance with IPSAS, as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.
• Oversight of project account closure processes ensuring accuracy and compliance with financial regulations.
• Timely resolution of project payment voucher issues, budget check errors, match exceptions, and unapproved vouchers though coordination with the project team and BMS/GO to address financial data discrepancies in Quantum.
• Monitoring and follow up on relevant to project-related ASLs in Quantum and ensuring proper management of Accounts Receivables for the project.

3) Ensure Financial Reporting on project expenditure and commitments

• Review project financial reports from the Project Management Company to ensure compliance with agreed terms and conditions
• Regular monitoring and follow-up on monthly, quarterly and annual financial targets as set outlined in annual work plans to ensure timely implementation of project activities and adherence to established deadlines.
• Maintain comprehensive financial records on expenditure, cost re­adjustments, budget variations and resource utilization across all project’s activities.
• Monitor and analyze expenditures to ensure alignment with financial operations and budget allocations, providing accurate budget status updates to project team and Programme Manager.
• Actively participate in project progress review meetings, preparing background notes, reports, analyses, and other supporting materials as required.

4) Ensure effective project assets management

• Ensure proper capitalization of assets in accordance with UNDP policies governing asset classes, estimated useful lives and cost elements, applying the appropriate “CAP” and “NONCAP” profiles.
• Implement asset categorization procedures in line with CAP and NONCAP classifications, ensuring accurate recording in the UNDP balance sheet to trigger depreciation, while expensing non-capital items in compliance with IPSAS and UNDP’s financial policies.

5) Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and sharing

• Sharing knowledge and organizing training sessions for the projects team on financial management principals and UNDP policies.
• Documenting lessons learned and best practices in financial management to promote continuous improvement and knowledge sharing with the project team.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies

Core Competencies – UNDP Core Competencies can be found here

• Achieve Results – LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively – LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously – LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility – LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination – LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner – LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion – LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy – System Thinking:

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management – Project Management:

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management – Portfolio Management:

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Business Management – Operations Management:

• Ability to effectively plan, organise and oversee different parts of corporate operations, simultaneously and in an integrated way, in order to convert the organisation’s assets into the best results in the most efficient way. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Administration & Operations – Building, facilities & office space management:

• Knowledge and ability to facilitate the renovation and upgrade of offices including review of complex engineering/architectural drawings; negotiate technical agreements to ensure fully operational building infrastructure and services; design policy & procedure (POPP) for premises and facilities including space standards; manage premises and facilities; validate financial statement notes on leasehold data

Finance – Financial planning and budgeting:

• Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting.

Administration and Operations – Assets management:

• Knowledge of policy & procedures on PP&E; ability to prepare financial statements on PP&E; maintain Asset Management Module in Quantum, Asset Dashboard; develop supporting tools for assets certification and further enhancements for AM module; design and run training programs, etc. on assets management and assets recording; run AP- AM interface; perform AP-AM-GL reconciliation; perform analytical review of AM reports and asset information to ensure completeness and accuracy of asset information.

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 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 7 years (with master´s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in providing financial management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), SharePoint, Power BI and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably Oracle.
• Knowledge and/or experience of IPSAS and/or IFRS is a plus.
• Prior work experience with United Nations and/or UNDP is desirable.
• Demonstrated financial analysis and oversight experience required.
• Demonstrated experience in accounts receivable, accounts payable and accounts closure required.
• Familiarity with assets management principles and practices desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in project finance operations desirable.
• Familiarity with UNDP financial rules and regulations and Internal Control Framework desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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