Project Finance Senior Associate

The Finance Group (FG) is a critical and strategic business function in UNOPS and serves as  an authoritative and integrated partner in the organization on strategic financial planning and  budgeting, business strategy and practices, financial analysis and risk assessment, financial  management services and long term organisational treasury and investments. As the steward  of resources of a self-financing UN entity, FG is accountable for timely cost recovery and  reporting to partners, maintaining the integrity and transparency of financial management of  resources in accordance with the highest standards of ethics and organisational/international  accountability framework and the accurate and transparent financial reporting to governing  bodies, clients, partners and stakeholders. 

The Project Finance Associate reports to the Project Finance Specialist who provides broad  supervision and guidance. The role contributes to the finance vision of being a true business  partner to UNOPS projects, by providing advice and governance of project financial reporting  and closure.

Functional Responsibilities:

• Project Financial Closure Governance
• Project financial reporting to specialized donors/clients
• Reconciliation of Project clearance accounts
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Project financial reporting to specialized donors/clients: 

• Review of project final financial statement data and supporting documentation for  completeness, accuracy, and correctness;
• Communicate with colleagues on areas requiring verification, corrections, additional  information, etc. to improve quality of the project financial statement;
• Preparation of periodic financial statements to funding sources and external clients in  compliance with established reporting requirements. Ensure Implementation of  reporting systems and reports to meet Funding source requirements;
• Assistance to Finance Specialist with oneUNOPS reporting and analysis;

Reconciliation of Project clearance accounts: 

• Verification of project clearance account (PCA) against UNOPS general ledgers and  clients records.
• Communicate with clients on discrepancies between UNOPS and clients records. ∙ Submission of quarter cash forecast for replenishment of PCA account

Project Financial Closure: 

• Perform and efficiently carryout Project Financial Closure process and ensure projects  are properly closed and residual fund balances are refunded to client/donors in timely  manner.
• Review and clearance of balance sheets accounts.
• Review and clearance of project accounts in accordance to UNOPS financial reporting  guidelines
• Assist with monthly and year-end financial closure tasks.
• Review and prepare write-off journals for projects in deficit.
• Follow up with respective project personnel on fund balance refund rejections and  ensure they are immediately resolved.
• Reconciliation of expenditures recorded in oneUNOPS.
• Reconciliation of expenditures reported via Financial Dashboard.
• Verification and process of refund of project fund balances.

Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing: 

• Assist in training of colleagues upon requests from portfolio managers, the supervisor  and other finance officers on project finance management.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in project finance.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice

Education Experience Language requirements:

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or other relevant field.
• A Master’s degree would be a distinct advantage and may substitute for some years of experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, at either the national or international level, is required.
• Some experience in UN organizations would be an asset

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is required;
• Working knowledge of another UN language, specifically either Spanish or French is an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29636#3