JOB DESCRIPTION

 

The Finance Associate is responsible for providing support related to payroll finalization and posting, pension administration, financial clearance for separations, third-party payments, US tax reporting, positions and labor schedules management. In addition, the Finance Associate will improve regularly these processes, in a continuous improvement culture. 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

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Perform accounting, processing, auditing and/or internal control tasks, as described in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) such as:

Review payroll results, execute analytical reports and coordinate with Benefits and Entitlements Services to ensure valid employee data setup for pension enrolment, recovery of staff receivables, medical insurance premium, garnishment, deductions for third parties and other earnings and deductions processed through HCM periodic payroll
Provide pension administration support including audit of pension separation clearance documents, timely responses to Country Offices (COs) and other clients/customers on pension separation clearance process and other pension related matters.
Support offices to update of the position information and labor schedules for timely posting of the payroll results to general ledger and Project & Portfolio Management (PPM)
Prepare vouchers for third party payments and support reconciliation of the payments with the payroll deduction register
Coordinate with Benefits and Entitlements Services and Office of Financial Resources Management (OFRM) Treasury to account for unprocessed and unpaid salaries in the receivable accounts.
Support offices in review of the finalized payroll results using standard queries

2. Support financial reconciliation and provide period-end closure support:

Support offices in reconciliation of staff receivable accounts with reports and guidance
Reconcile liability accounts for pension, medical and life insurance and third-party payments
Liaise with Quantum users to resolve transactional errors and provide functional and operational guidance for initiating undertaking corrective action
Under the guidance of the approving officers, prepare adjustment and reclassification entries. Support the supervisor in the preparation of period-end working paper for management and audit review
Process journals and payments for invoices received from the partner agencies and other UN organizations for reimbursable services billing for settlement of employee related inter-agency transactions

3. Analysis of account balances for IPSAS compliance:

Support Country Offices review of financial transactions related to staff benefits and entitlements to verify the expense and liability accounts for conformity with operational guidance, staff regulations, period-end closure procedures and other standard operating procedures
In accordance with the documented standard operating procedures, review the need for categorization of employee benefits expenses, prepare working papers and support disbursement and reconciliation of employee benefits related third party payments

4. Ensure additional reporting/data management, such as:

Assist in maintaining/creating position attributes in coordination with the OFRM/OHR/CO process owners
Liaise with the Country Offices to provide final financial clearance for the separating staff to the Staff Administrative Services
Support enrolment of newly hired staff in the pension plan and process end-of-service pension clearance for separating staff
Assume responsibility for special tasks and projects assigned by the supervisor and other GSSC managers

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

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

HR – Compensation/remuneration – Payroll management

Knowledge of and ability to apply mechanisms and tools to collect payroll data, process payroll, and manage payroll reports
Finance – Accounting (General)

Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
HR – People strategy and planning – Position management

Knowledge of the process, structure, and technology used to maintain positions in an organization in line with the corporate strategy.
Finance – Financial reporting and analysis

Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance.
Business Development – Knowledge Generation

Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Business Direction and Strategy – Business Acumen

Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.
Business Management – Operations Management

Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.
Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Completion of Secondary education is required with specialized certification in Accounting and/or Finance and/or Payroll. OR
University degree in Finance or Accounting is desirable.
Part-qualified accountants from an internationally accredited institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage.
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.
Candidates 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:

Minimum 6 years (with secondary school education) or 3 years (with a Bachelors’ degree) of relevant experience in finance/payroll at the national or international level is required.
Experience in the usage of computers and MS Office packages is required.
Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.
Hands-on experience with UNALL is desired.
Hands-on experience with Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP), preferably with PeopleSoft/Oracle is desired.
Prior experience with the UN or UNDP in a similar role is considered an asset.
Knowledge of IPSAS and/or IFRS is required for external candidates.
Experience in audit and internal control systems is an asset.
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other UN language (French/Spanish/Arabic) desirable.
Disclaimer
Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.
Only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements